Deep Widespread Cuts in Domestic Programs Over Next Five Years

[acmavm]

Under Admnistration Budget.

http://www.cbpp.org/2-27-04bud-pr.htm


CENTER ON BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, February 27, 2004

<snip>

Under the Administration’s budget, overall funding would be cut over the next five years in nearly every broad area of the federal budget related to domestic non-entitlement programs, according to a new analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Funding would be significantly lower in 2009 than 2004 (in inflation-adjusted terms) for non-entitlement programs in every area except defense, international affairs, and science and space.

By 2009, funding for non-entitlement programs in areas such as national resources and the environment, veterans’ health benefits, health, and agriculture would be 10 percent to 20 percent below the 2004 funding levels, adjusted for inflation. Transportation programs, as well as education, training, and social services programs, would be cut by 7 to 8 percent over this period.

The proposed cuts are so large, an accompanying Center report shows, that by 2009, total funding for domestic non-entitlement programs outside homeland security would fall to its lowest level, measured as a share of the economy, since 1963.

Spending Cuts Would Help Finance Tax Cuts, Not Shrink Deficit

While the budget proposes significant cuts in domestic non-entitlement programs, the resulting savings would be small as a share of the budget because these programs make up only one-sixth of the overall federal budget
-MORE-

[rfkrocks]

1. help make it stop!!!!!!!!!!

.. I feel asleep sometime during an impeachment hearing about a bj and when i woke up the us was falling down around me.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. And, there is a multiplier effect...

with a lot of this stuff.

The reduction in SBA funding alone has far reaching effects in small business, and therefore employment, growth.

It's not just the federal checks drying up-- it's what happens to that money when it gets into the economy.

[RC]

3. The next 5 years, huh?

And if we get our country back? If the White House is disinfected of the war loving bu$h&co?
I really think there will be a different outcome here.

[number6]

4. long live the empire

Heil Bushler :evilgrin: :nuke:

[rapier]

5. Only 5 years

Only 5 years. What about 10 or 20.

You will note that no Democrat will even mention cutting defense or 'intellegence' and homeland security of course can only march upwards as well. They are simply not in play. They are the real non discretionary entitlements and account for 60% or more, and rising, of the budget. What are called entitlements now will be cut, not them. As for everything else, of course it gets starved.

While the tax situation is a big factor in this there are deeper issues. Issues of economic 'growth'. Issues of the very nature of our political economy, as it used to be called. Without real growth the bills to be paid in the future will not be.

It is in my somewhat oddball view that growth is going to stagnate for a long long time. This makes the budget situation many times worse.

[modrepub]

6. So

It's OK if my SS check is cut when I retire, I pay more state and local taxes to make up for federal cuts, my benefits dwindle every year and my wife's job is threatened by overseas programers. While the military contractors fleece us everyday and our troops play basketball in Sadam's palaces.

[ramapo]

7. This is the Republican plan successfully implemented

Starve the beast. Cut taxes. Lower revenues. Get the books into the red. Raising taxes becomes political suicide for Dems. Gotta cut programs. Can't cut defense. Non-entitlement programs are chump change hence the calls from Greenspan to cut SS.

The U.S. has been moving in the wrong direction for 30 years. When I was young it was my parent's generation (the greatest generation) that I blamed for so much (Vietnam, pollution, racial problems, etc.

Today I'm ashamed to say it's my generation (the boomers) and our siblings who are turning the country into a regressive corpocracy.

We are a spoiled, greedy, irresponsible, and basically ignorant society.
There is a hard lesson to be learned, that every action has consequences and there's no free lunch. Welcome to the 21st Century.

[yella_dawg]

8. So how long can we ignore our vital infrastructure

before the whole economy simply collapses.

Obviously, a lot longer than the economy will last with a continuous assault on the dollar via insane defecit and debt policies.