Congress on course to avert a shutdown

[cali]

The threat of a government shutdown receded Friday, as Senate Democrats tentatively embraced a Republican plan to immediately cut $4 billion in federal spending by targeting programs that President Obama has already marked for elimination.


The GOP proposal, unveiled late Friday by House leaders, would keep the government running only until March 18 - two weeks past the current March 4 deadline - a shorter extension than Democrats are seeking. But by offering a stopgap measure that cuts only programs Obama has identified as unnecessary, Republicans appear to have broken an impasse over spending that has been brewing since they took control of the House this year.

<snip>

The cuts include $30 million for the upkeep of the Smithsonian Institution's historic Arts and Industries Building, a fund deemed unnecessary because private contributions have covered those needs. An additional $29 million would be saved by eliminating an Agriculture Department program that helps farmers get access to high-speed Internet service. Republicans said this program has been littered with "abuses" and duplicates efforts elsewhere in the government.

The Education Department would lose $468 million for four programs deemed duplicative or ineffective, including the Even Start family literacy program and the Striving Readers program for middle and high school students, which has a large amount of unused funds. Meanwhile, the Federal Highway Administration would lose $650 million from a one-time program for the states that Obama was not seeking to renew in 2012.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/25/AR2011022506943.html

[WCGreen]

1. Everyone should realize that this is a victory for the GOP.....

Not because they are great at governing but because all revenue and tax bills have to start with the House and since the GOP rules the house they will say it was the Republicans, in the face of democrats fighting to keep worthless "pet" projects, that started to bring sanity to the budget process...

There is no bi-partisanship when to electoral rhetoric.

[annabanana]

2. Oh for FUCK'S SAKE!. .Stop giving away the goddam STORE!!

jellyfish... disgusting

[cali]

3. frustrating, isn't it?

[_ed_]

4. The Dems Surrender Again!

Cowards, one and all. Republicans say boo and they jump.