The House Budget Committee is set to meet today on a new GOP plan to stave off further cuts in military spending that are mandated by the Budget Control Act's sequestration trigger. The Pentagon will be required to trim $55 billion from its budget next year and House Republicans think they've figured out a way to prevent that: cut programs for the poor, the AP reports:
The Republicans who control the House are using cuts to food aid, health care and social services like Meals on Wheels to protect the Pentagon from a wave of budget cuts come January. [...]
Fully one-fourth of the House GOP spending cuts come from programs directly benefiting the poor, such as Medicaid, food stamps, the Social Services Block Grant, and a child tax credit claimed by working immigrants.
As CAP's Melissa Boteach, Lawrence Korb and Max Hoffman noted in a report last month, with the cuts they are calling for, House Republicans will be protecting "largely useless" weapons systems, preserving funding for unnecessary programs like the V-22 Osprey, and adding two nuclear submarines to the U.S. military's already "overwhelming preponderance of sea power."
At the same time, the GOP plan would, for example, cut food stamps for 2 million people and reduce the same benefits for 44 million others. Nearly 300,000 school children would lose free school meals and hundreds of thousands could lose their Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops last month criticized the GOP's cuts to food stamps, tax credits for immigrant families, and other safety net programs as "unjustified and wrong."
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I hear the violin's playing already.
ReplyDeleteThe tears falling from the bleeding hearts.
Firstly, do not cut senior programs.
Cut ALL the free breakfast and lunch in schools. Allow the kids PARENTS to take care of their own children and get off public assistance.
NO tax credits for immigrants! Why in heck would they receive tax credits anyway?
Sink or swim baby!
I'm tired of paddling for a dozen freeloaders and would rather spend the money to protect what used to be a decent way of life in America.
so no more free cell phones? heaven forbid, how am I gonn call my bookie, my dealer and the nail salon for an appointment?
ReplyDeleteNo more food stamps Gee I might have to give up my fancy car and designer cloths
ReplyDeleteMaybe the catholic church should start paying property taxes on all their churches to fund the entitlement programs.
ReplyDeleteThe Fed govt's priority is supposed to be military and law enforcement - to protect its citizens and their property. Look how far we have allowed them to move away from their original purpose.
ReplyDeleteLet the poor earn their own damn money, just like I had to do.
ReplyDelete215-The Catholic Church does more for the poor than the federal gov't does.
ReplyDelete5;28 As a practicing catholic, I am tired of hearing these pharisee's preaching to us, all while letting my church go to hell in a hand basket under their watch! Where were they during the abuse scandal? How come they haven't take those hypocrites pelosi kerry omalley biden to task for pushing lifestyle choices that go against church teaching!
ReplyDeleteScrew those so called bishops, until they lead they can shut up and sit down!