From the Family Research Council: (I say "hooray" to these proposed budget cuts and hope they pass.) Update note: I need to clarify. The post below refers to a budget to temporarily fund the federal government, commonly known as a "continuing resolution" (CR).
If there's anyone who doesn't feel the love this Valentine's Day, it's the organizations on the Left. Late Friday, House leaders came back to the table with a second budget--and to the disappointment of most liberal groups, it hit the $100 billion bulls-eye. The casualties of these latest cuts happen to be some of the Democrats' biggest allies: the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (PBS and NPR), the Corporation for National Service (Americorps), Legal Services Corporation, Title X "Family Planning" programs (Planned Parenthood), and others. After some frank conversations, House leaders took the advice of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and FRC to hack away as much as possible in this first go-round of the continuing resolution (CR). For years, the liberal political establishment has treated the government like an ATM, withdrawing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars for causes that Washington has no business funding. Most Americans have no idea that this symbiotic relationship between liberal politicians and organizations exists. Yet year after year, Democrats funnel our money to their friends, who in turn, help keep those leaders in power.
This new budget wallops some of those taxpayer subsidies to the Left, as well as ObamaCare--which Republicans are putting on a forced fast. The CR also fixes a number of problems from the FY2010 Omnibus appropriations bill, which is "current law." On the cutting room floor is all funding for UNFPA (which we believe is complicit in China's one-child coercive abortion program), as well as some international "family planning" dollars and $110 million of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program. Under this new proposal, Republicans would reinstate the Mexico City Policy, so no family planning funds can go to overseas organizations that perform abortions. It also fixes the D.C. abortion funding problem and removes the District's dollars for needle exchange programs. And, thanks to the Republicans' "open floor" policy, there could be even more savings in the amendment process.
Since the previous leadership didn't bother to do their jobs and pass a budget, the process will have to be a quick one. Between now and March 4th, when the current CR expires, Congress is only in session two weeks. But now that the President has released his budget, these days are guaranteed to be interesting ones. While the House is trying to straighten out spending through October, the White House is outlining its priorities from October on. Based on the response so far, those priorities could use some work. Experts on both sides are slamming the administration for not taking the deficit seriously. Even his friends in the media aren't holding their fire. "The budget confirms that Mr. Obama is not taking the lead in embracing the kind of far-reaching deficit-reduction plan recommended in December by a bipartisan majority of his fiscal commission," the New York Times blasts. At a time when America needs to be making tough choices, this President is asking for even more money for pet projects like federal level education programs. While his friends prosper, U.S. families will not, as his budget lets a major component of the tax cuts expire. Fortunately for voters, the President will have to get through the House first.