With a March 4th deadline looming to finish the current year federal budget, Congressional Republicans have put forth a revised 2011 spending bill that would cut $61 billion in spending this fiscal year. The $61 billion is short of the $100 billion demanded by Tea-Party backed freshman, although there remains a bit of discrepancy, given that the $61 billion would be based on the remaining 7 months of spending left in the fiscal year.
What is clear is that the proposal cuts domestic spending programs deeply, eliminating many. Specifically, 80% of the cut would come from non-security programs and security related programs would dip by 20% even though funding for the Defense Department is increased by 2 percent over last year's level.
As an example the new resolution eliminates the COPS program and cuts transportation and housing by $15.5 billion, high speed rail by $5 billion, FEMA state and local programs by $783 million, $1 billion from community health centers and nearly 75% of all funding from CDBG. The proposal was immediately rejected by majority Democrats in the Senate.
Debate on the bill is expected to begin on Tuesday so the House can pass it before the President's Day weekend. That would leave little more than a week before the March 4th deadline to work out a compromise with the Senate. If that doesn't happen the federal government will shut down.
Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be contacted at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.
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