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05-07-2009, 06:36 PM
Well now, Obama has called for $17 Trillion of budget cuts, stating that he is going thru these items, "line by Line" as promised. I guess the prez. has "heard" the the voice of "We The People" and the backlash of the before-hand "silent" majority!! Sounds like he might have gotten the "memo"!!
HOWEVER, wasn't the time for going thru the budget, line by line, BEFORE the budget was actually PASSED?? Now, to get the cuts he wants, he has to buck NOT only his opponents in Congress, BUT his own party members who fought former Pres. Bush on the very same items!! And acoording to the AP, this $17 Trillion would ONLY mount to *one-half of 1 percent of the total $3.4 trillion federal budget *outline approved last week by the Democratic-run Congress.
---Quote---
WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama asked Congress on Thursday to eliminate or trim 121 federal programs for a savings of $17 billion in the coming budget year. Many of the proposed cuts have already been rejected by Obama's allies in Congress, including some programs that his predecessor, President George W. Bush, repeatedly sought to end.
Despite the relatively modest nature of the cuts, , "none of this will be easy" amid the continuing deep economic slump, Obama said. . .
Answering criticism that his cuts were but a drop in a multi-trillion-dollar spending bucket, Obama said: "Some of the cuts we're putting forward today are more painful than others. Some are larger than others. In fact a few of the programs we eliminate will produce less than a million dollars in savings. Outside of Washington, that's still a lot of money."
Obama said that Americans are tightening their belts in these difficult times and want to know if Washington "is prepared to act with the same sense of responsibility." . . . *(insert by GMScott - Duh, like spending almost $400 THOUSAND dollars on a photo op with Air Force 1 in NYC!!)*
The roster of cuts won't be easy for Congress to swallow. Lawmakers from the potent California, New York and Florida delegations are sure to fight the elimination of the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which gives money to states to help defray the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants who commit crimes. President George W. Bush tried and failed to kill the $400 million program several times. . .
Obama has said repeatedly his administration will go through the budget "line by line" to eliminate waste. But the resulting savings are relatively minor compared with the government's fiscal woes, especially a deficit that's likely to exceed $1.5 trillion this year, the latest installment in a national debt now at about $10.7 trillion.
Many of the cuts mirror those proposed previously by Bush but largely rejected by Congresses controlled by both Republicans and Democrats. In fact, Democrats already have pared about $10 billion from Obama's appropriations requests in passing the $3.4 trillion congressional budget plan last month. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090507/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_budget
---End Quote---
Now onto the Obama-termed "Terminations, Reductions and Savings." Notice that ANY money saved with these "Terminations, Reductions and Savings" cuts will ONLY be re-invested back into OTHER govt. programs, so the tax-payer will NOT see any benefit with the "savings"!! Notice ALSO, in the list I have linked to HOW many Education programs are on the chopping block! Gee, I thought Obama was all about every child getting the best education, including a govt. bought college education??!! Apparently NOT!! I highlighted just a few which might be of interest.
---Quote---
*Terminations:*
Abandoned Mine Lands Payments to Certified States, Department of the Interior
*Advanced Earned Income Tax Credit, Department of the Treasury *
Anthrax Vaccine Research, Department of Health and Human Services
Brownfields Economic Development Initiative, Department of Housing and Urban Development
C-17 Strategic Airlift Aircraft, Department of Defense
*California Diesel Emissions Reduction Grants, Environmental Protection Agency *
*Character Education Program, Department of Education *
Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation
*Civic Education, Close-Up Fellowships, and Academies for American History and Civics (3 Terminations)
Department of Education*
Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR-X) Helicopter, Department of Defense
Conservation Reserve Program Set-Aside for Public Access, Department of Agriculture
Corridor H of the Appalachian Development Highway, Department of Transportation
Cotton Storage Payments, Department of Agriculture
Denali Access, Department of Transportation
Denali Job Training, Department of Labor
Economic Action Program, Department of Agriculture
Emergency Operations Center Grant Program, Department of Homeland Security
*Entitlements for Financial Intermediaries Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program,
Department of Education*
Environmental Infrastructure Construction, Corps of Engineers
*Even Start, Department of Education*
F-22 Raptor Fighter Aircraft, Department of Defense
*Foundations for Learning, Department of Education *
Future Combat Systems Manned Ground Vehicles, Department of Defense
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
Health Resources and Services Administration Earmarks (3 Terminations), Department of Health and Human Services
High Energy Cost Grant, Department of Agriculture
Homeland Security Grants, Environmental Protection Agency
Inter-City Bus Security Grant Program, Department of Homeland Security
*Javits Gifted and Talented Education Program, Department of Education*
Joint Strike Fighter Alternate Engine, Department of Defense
Local Government Climate Change Grants, Environmental Protection Agency
Loran-C, Department of Homeland Security
Los Alamos Neutron Science Center Refurbishment, Department of Energy
Multiple Kill Vehicle Program, Department of Defense
*National Institute for Literacy, Department of Education*
Next Generation Bomber, Department of Defense
Nuclear Hydrogen Activities, Department of Energy
Nuclear Power 2010, Department of Energy
Oil and Gas Company Tax Preferences (8 Terminations), Department of Energy
Oil and Gas Research and Development Program (Mandatory Funding), Department of Energy
Oil Research and Development Program (Discretionary Funding), Department of Energy
Presidential Helicopter (VH-71), Department of Defense
Public Broadcasting Grants, Department of Agriculture
Public Telecom Facilities, Department of Commerce
Rail Line Relocation Grants, Department of Transportation
*Ready to Teach, Department of Education*
Reliable Replacement Warhead, Department of Energy
Resource Conservation and Development Program, Department of Agriculture
Rural Community Facilities, Department of Health and Human Services
Rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities Grants, Department of Agriculture
*Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities State Grants, Department of Education *
*State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), Department of Justice
Student Mentoring Program, Department of Education *
Surface Transportation Priorities, Department of Transportation
Transformational Satellite, Department of Defense
Trucking Security Program, Department of Homeland Security
Water Infrastructure Earmarks, Environmental Protection Agency
Watershed and Flood Prevention Program, Department of Agriculture
Work Incentive Grants, Department of Labor
Yucca Mountain Repository Program, Department of Energy
*Reductions: *
Abandoned Mine Lands Discretionary Grants, Department of the Interior
African Development Foundation Program
Agricultural Research Service Buildings and Facilities, Department of Agriculture
Airborne Laser Program, Department of Defense
Aircraft Carrier Build Schedule, Department of Defense
Crop Insurance Premiums/Underwriting Gains & Fees, Department of Agriculture
East-West Center Assistance, Department of State / International Programs
Election Assistance Commission Grants, Election Assistance Commission
Food and Drug Administration Construction Earmark for the National Center for Natural Products
Research in Buildings and Facilities, Department of Health and Human Services
Government Reliance on Contracted Service Support, Department of Defense
Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Program, Department of Defense
Low-Performing Corps Construction Projects, Corps of Engineers
LPD-17 and Mobile Landing Platform Transport Ships, Department of Defense
Market Access Program, Department of Agriculture
Navy CG(X) Cruiser, Department of Defense
Office of Labor-Management Standards, Department of Labor
Payments to High-Income Farmers, Department of Agriculture
Phase-Out Direct Payments to Farms with Sales Above $500,000, Department of Agriculture
Real Choice Change Systems Grants, Department of Health and Human Services
Recruiting and Retention Adjustments to Maintain End-Strength, Department of Defense
Targeted Funding for Alaska Native Villages Infrastructure, Environmental Protection Agency
Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, Department of the Treasury
Voice of America, Broadcasting Board of Governors
*Other savings:*
Administrative Services at Posts, Department of State .....$5 million total upon completion
Branding Activities, Department of Homeland Security ...... $750 thousand annually
Bureau of Information Resource Management Inventory Reduction, Department of State .... Additional warehouse space for other use
*Computer Consolidation, Department of Education ......$8 million in 2009 *
Conferences, Department of Veterans Affairs ...... $18 million in 2009
Contract Consolidation, Department of State ......7%-10% annually
Electronic Correspondence for Immigrant Visa Processing, Department of State ....... $1 million in the first year
Energy Use, Department of Homeland Security ........ $3 million annually
*Healthy Start, Grow Smart, Department of Health and Human Services .... $5.1 million in 2009 *
*International Office Closure, Department of Education ......$713 thousand annually *
IT Infrastructure Streamlining, Environmental Protection Agency ..... $2 million annually
Levy Payments to Federal Contractors with Delinquent Debt, Department of the Treasury ....$2 billion over ten years
Marketing and Regulatory Programs Work Reforms, Department of Agriculture ..... $1.5 million annually
Office Leases, Department of Agriculture .... $62 million over a 15-year lease term
Office of Inspector General Office Consolidation, Department of Health and Human Services .... $2 million total
Office Supplies and Computer Software, Department of Homeland Security .....$59 million annually over five years
Online Judicial Forfeiture Notices, Department of Justice ......$6.7 million annually over five years
Recovery Act Savings, Department of Transportation ... 15%-20% savings on bids in the early months of Recovery Act projects
Rural Development Online Training, Department of Agriculture .... $1.3 million annually
Secretary?s Regional Representatives, Department of Education .... $2 million annually
USDA-IRS Data Sharing on Farmer Income, Department of Agriculture .... $16 million annually
Utility Bill Online Payments, Department of Agriculture ..... $671 thousand annually. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22224.html
---End Quote---
Now I'm NOT advocating for any of the cut or reduced progrms as I have not researched their purpose or the success of their reaching their stated goals, however, I AM just pointing out the ABUNDANCE of Educational programs that are getting axed!! I think the school voucher system in D.C. has already proven itself to be a productive, successful and financially effective program that got the axe and raised the ire of many D.C.er's who benefited from the program with kids who got 1000% better grades and participation in academics. The actual cost of giving vouchers to the parents of these kids was EXACTLY half of what it cost the govt. to send the same kid to the perpetually "failed" and dangerous D.C. public school system that Obama would NEVER consider sending his own kids to!!
BUT, we CAN afford to send BILLIONS of dollars to Hamas terrorist regimes, failed foreign branches of our banks and everybody else in the world etc. etc.!!
More... (http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?t=242181&goto=newpost)
HOWEVER, wasn't the time for going thru the budget, line by line, BEFORE the budget was actually PASSED?? Now, to get the cuts he wants, he has to buck NOT only his opponents in Congress, BUT his own party members who fought former Pres. Bush on the very same items!! And acoording to the AP, this $17 Trillion would ONLY mount to *one-half of 1 percent of the total $3.4 trillion federal budget *outline approved last week by the Democratic-run Congress.
---Quote---
WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama asked Congress on Thursday to eliminate or trim 121 federal programs for a savings of $17 billion in the coming budget year. Many of the proposed cuts have already been rejected by Obama's allies in Congress, including some programs that his predecessor, President George W. Bush, repeatedly sought to end.
Despite the relatively modest nature of the cuts, , "none of this will be easy" amid the continuing deep economic slump, Obama said. . .
Answering criticism that his cuts were but a drop in a multi-trillion-dollar spending bucket, Obama said: "Some of the cuts we're putting forward today are more painful than others. Some are larger than others. In fact a few of the programs we eliminate will produce less than a million dollars in savings. Outside of Washington, that's still a lot of money."
Obama said that Americans are tightening their belts in these difficult times and want to know if Washington "is prepared to act with the same sense of responsibility." . . . *(insert by GMScott - Duh, like spending almost $400 THOUSAND dollars on a photo op with Air Force 1 in NYC!!)*
The roster of cuts won't be easy for Congress to swallow. Lawmakers from the potent California, New York and Florida delegations are sure to fight the elimination of the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which gives money to states to help defray the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants who commit crimes. President George W. Bush tried and failed to kill the $400 million program several times. . .
Obama has said repeatedly his administration will go through the budget "line by line" to eliminate waste. But the resulting savings are relatively minor compared with the government's fiscal woes, especially a deficit that's likely to exceed $1.5 trillion this year, the latest installment in a national debt now at about $10.7 trillion.
Many of the cuts mirror those proposed previously by Bush but largely rejected by Congresses controlled by both Republicans and Democrats. In fact, Democrats already have pared about $10 billion from Obama's appropriations requests in passing the $3.4 trillion congressional budget plan last month. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090507/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_budget
---End Quote---
Now onto the Obama-termed "Terminations, Reductions and Savings." Notice that ANY money saved with these "Terminations, Reductions and Savings" cuts will ONLY be re-invested back into OTHER govt. programs, so the tax-payer will NOT see any benefit with the "savings"!! Notice ALSO, in the list I have linked to HOW many Education programs are on the chopping block! Gee, I thought Obama was all about every child getting the best education, including a govt. bought college education??!! Apparently NOT!! I highlighted just a few which might be of interest.
---Quote---
*Terminations:*
Abandoned Mine Lands Payments to Certified States, Department of the Interior
*Advanced Earned Income Tax Credit, Department of the Treasury *
Anthrax Vaccine Research, Department of Health and Human Services
Brownfields Economic Development Initiative, Department of Housing and Urban Development
C-17 Strategic Airlift Aircraft, Department of Defense
*California Diesel Emissions Reduction Grants, Environmental Protection Agency *
*Character Education Program, Department of Education *
Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation
*Civic Education, Close-Up Fellowships, and Academies for American History and Civics (3 Terminations)
Department of Education*
Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR-X) Helicopter, Department of Defense
Conservation Reserve Program Set-Aside for Public Access, Department of Agriculture
Corridor H of the Appalachian Development Highway, Department of Transportation
Cotton Storage Payments, Department of Agriculture
Denali Access, Department of Transportation
Denali Job Training, Department of Labor
Economic Action Program, Department of Agriculture
Emergency Operations Center Grant Program, Department of Homeland Security
*Entitlements for Financial Intermediaries Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program,
Department of Education*
Environmental Infrastructure Construction, Corps of Engineers
*Even Start, Department of Education*
F-22 Raptor Fighter Aircraft, Department of Defense
*Foundations for Learning, Department of Education *
Future Combat Systems Manned Ground Vehicles, Department of Defense
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
Health Resources and Services Administration Earmarks (3 Terminations), Department of Health and Human Services
High Energy Cost Grant, Department of Agriculture
Homeland Security Grants, Environmental Protection Agency
Inter-City Bus Security Grant Program, Department of Homeland Security
*Javits Gifted and Talented Education Program, Department of Education*
Joint Strike Fighter Alternate Engine, Department of Defense
Local Government Climate Change Grants, Environmental Protection Agency
Loran-C, Department of Homeland Security
Los Alamos Neutron Science Center Refurbishment, Department of Energy
Multiple Kill Vehicle Program, Department of Defense
*National Institute for Literacy, Department of Education*
Next Generation Bomber, Department of Defense
Nuclear Hydrogen Activities, Department of Energy
Nuclear Power 2010, Department of Energy
Oil and Gas Company Tax Preferences (8 Terminations), Department of Energy
Oil and Gas Research and Development Program (Mandatory Funding), Department of Energy
Oil Research and Development Program (Discretionary Funding), Department of Energy
Presidential Helicopter (VH-71), Department of Defense
Public Broadcasting Grants, Department of Agriculture
Public Telecom Facilities, Department of Commerce
Rail Line Relocation Grants, Department of Transportation
*Ready to Teach, Department of Education*
Reliable Replacement Warhead, Department of Energy
Resource Conservation and Development Program, Department of Agriculture
Rural Community Facilities, Department of Health and Human Services
Rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities Grants, Department of Agriculture
*Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities State Grants, Department of Education *
*State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), Department of Justice
Student Mentoring Program, Department of Education *
Surface Transportation Priorities, Department of Transportation
Transformational Satellite, Department of Defense
Trucking Security Program, Department of Homeland Security
Water Infrastructure Earmarks, Environmental Protection Agency
Watershed and Flood Prevention Program, Department of Agriculture
Work Incentive Grants, Department of Labor
Yucca Mountain Repository Program, Department of Energy
*Reductions: *
Abandoned Mine Lands Discretionary Grants, Department of the Interior
African Development Foundation Program
Agricultural Research Service Buildings and Facilities, Department of Agriculture
Airborne Laser Program, Department of Defense
Aircraft Carrier Build Schedule, Department of Defense
Crop Insurance Premiums/Underwriting Gains & Fees, Department of Agriculture
East-West Center Assistance, Department of State / International Programs
Election Assistance Commission Grants, Election Assistance Commission
Food and Drug Administration Construction Earmark for the National Center for Natural Products
Research in Buildings and Facilities, Department of Health and Human Services
Government Reliance on Contracted Service Support, Department of Defense
Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Program, Department of Defense
Low-Performing Corps Construction Projects, Corps of Engineers
LPD-17 and Mobile Landing Platform Transport Ships, Department of Defense
Market Access Program, Department of Agriculture
Navy CG(X) Cruiser, Department of Defense
Office of Labor-Management Standards, Department of Labor
Payments to High-Income Farmers, Department of Agriculture
Phase-Out Direct Payments to Farms with Sales Above $500,000, Department of Agriculture
Real Choice Change Systems Grants, Department of Health and Human Services
Recruiting and Retention Adjustments to Maintain End-Strength, Department of Defense
Targeted Funding for Alaska Native Villages Infrastructure, Environmental Protection Agency
Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, Department of the Treasury
Voice of America, Broadcasting Board of Governors
*Other savings:*
Administrative Services at Posts, Department of State .....$5 million total upon completion
Branding Activities, Department of Homeland Security ...... $750 thousand annually
Bureau of Information Resource Management Inventory Reduction, Department of State .... Additional warehouse space for other use
*Computer Consolidation, Department of Education ......$8 million in 2009 *
Conferences, Department of Veterans Affairs ...... $18 million in 2009
Contract Consolidation, Department of State ......7%-10% annually
Electronic Correspondence for Immigrant Visa Processing, Department of State ....... $1 million in the first year
Energy Use, Department of Homeland Security ........ $3 million annually
*Healthy Start, Grow Smart, Department of Health and Human Services .... $5.1 million in 2009 *
*International Office Closure, Department of Education ......$713 thousand annually *
IT Infrastructure Streamlining, Environmental Protection Agency ..... $2 million annually
Levy Payments to Federal Contractors with Delinquent Debt, Department of the Treasury ....$2 billion over ten years
Marketing and Regulatory Programs Work Reforms, Department of Agriculture ..... $1.5 million annually
Office Leases, Department of Agriculture .... $62 million over a 15-year lease term
Office of Inspector General Office Consolidation, Department of Health and Human Services .... $2 million total
Office Supplies and Computer Software, Department of Homeland Security .....$59 million annually over five years
Online Judicial Forfeiture Notices, Department of Justice ......$6.7 million annually over five years
Recovery Act Savings, Department of Transportation ... 15%-20% savings on bids in the early months of Recovery Act projects
Rural Development Online Training, Department of Agriculture .... $1.3 million annually
Secretary?s Regional Representatives, Department of Education .... $2 million annually
USDA-IRS Data Sharing on Farmer Income, Department of Agriculture .... $16 million annually
Utility Bill Online Payments, Department of Agriculture ..... $671 thousand annually. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22224.html
---End Quote---
Now I'm NOT advocating for any of the cut or reduced progrms as I have not researched their purpose or the success of their reaching their stated goals, however, I AM just pointing out the ABUNDANCE of Educational programs that are getting axed!! I think the school voucher system in D.C. has already proven itself to be a productive, successful and financially effective program that got the axe and raised the ire of many D.C.er's who benefited from the program with kids who got 1000% better grades and participation in academics. The actual cost of giving vouchers to the parents of these kids was EXACTLY half of what it cost the govt. to send the same kid to the perpetually "failed" and dangerous D.C. public school system that Obama would NEVER consider sending his own kids to!!
BUT, we CAN afford to send BILLIONS of dollars to Hamas terrorist regimes, failed foreign branches of our banks and everybody else in the world etc. etc.!!
More... (http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?t=242181&goto=newpost)