The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation that would slash about $65 billion in government spending between now and the end of September. Budget cuts in the middle of the government's fiscal year are a bit unusual. This proposal is being driven by the class of freshman tea-party Republicans who swept into office in November promising restraint on spending. The government does need to get deficits under control gradually. But the 100 billion target demanded by Republicans is an arbitrary rush job to fulfill a campaign pledge. Also, the proposed cuts are lopsided against programs that serve our most vulnerable citizens.
The House cuts would include the following:
- Head Start ($1 billion)
- Job training ($1.4 billion cut)
- Community Health Centers ($1 billion)
- Substance abuse treatment ($200 million)
- Community Block Grants ($341 million)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance fund ($390 million)
- FEMA Food and Shelter ($100 million)
- Title 1 ($693 million)
- Community Supplemental Food Program ($26 million)
- Community Development Fund ($2.95 billion)
- Public Housing Capital Fund ($1.07 billion)
- Housing for the Elderly ($551 million)
Action is needed to stop these extreme and damaging cuts. The Coalition on Human Needs offers ideas to influence the Senate and take action against these cuts.
http://www.chn.org/takeaction/index.html
