May 8, 2009
That’s a really small scalpel, Mr. President.

Posted at 1:10 pm, in: Budget
Tags: Barack Obama, Dianne Feinstein, Maurice D. Hinchey, Mike Ross

When Barack Obama said during the campaign he was going to take a scalpel approach to cutting the budget, I guess he meant it. Unfortunately, he forgot about his former colleagues in Congress and how much they love their pork projects:

President Obama’s modest proposal to slice $17 billion from 121 government programs quickly ran into a buzz saw of opposition on Capitol Hill yesterday, as an array of Democratic lawmakers vowed to fight White House efforts to deprive their favorite initiatives of federal funds.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she is “committed” to keeping a $400 million program that reimburses states for jailing illegal immigrants, a task she called “a total federal responsibility.”

Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) said he would oppose “any cuts” in agriculture subsidies because “farmers and farm families depend on this federal assistance.”

And Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey (D-N.Y.) vowed to force the White House to accept delivery of a new presidential helicopter Obama says he doesn’t need and doesn’t want. The helicopter program, which cost $835 million this year, supports 800 jobs in Hinchey’s district. “I do think there’s a good chance we can save it,” he said.

The news releases began flying as Obama unveiled the long-awaited details of his $3.4 trillion spending plan, including a list of programs he wants to trim or eliminate. Though the proposed reductions represent just one-half of 1 percent of next year’s budget, the swift protest was a precursor of the battle Obama will face within his own party to control spending and rein in a budget deficit projected to exceed $1.2 trillion next year.

One-half of 1 percent? He can’t even get away with that? I love it! There’s not a spending proposal that’s been offered the Dems haven’t supported, but try to cut a half of a percent of the budget and all hell breaks loose on the Hill. I propose they start boxing it out. At least that would be entertaining.