Redstate...
Agriculture
Appropriations Bill Update
There are some jobs that should be eliminated, even without the help of
Obama’s ATM.
Posted by Daniel Horowitz
Wednesday, June 15th
Today, the House is debating the annual Agriculture Appropriations
bill, which appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture and
similar agencies. The committee-passed bill provides a spending
level of $17.25 billion, which is $2.7 billion less than FY 2011
appropriations.
While $2.7 billion is a good start -enough to invoke the most vile
class warfare from Democrats - there is still more to cut. This
is part of a growing pattern with all of the appropriations
bills. The Republican-led committees have offered some solid cuts
around the edges, but fail to strike deeper, more consequential
cuts. Keep in mind that while these cuts might appear
significant, when compared against the profligate baseline of recent
budgeting, they will not reverse the tide of the debt insolvency that
awaits us. That’s one job that Obama’s ATM will not execute
successfully. To that end, the RSC is offering an amendment today
which would cut an additional $1.8 billion from the USDA.
It is also important to remember that our consummate political battle
is not only about a budget figure or crushing debt; it is about
unconstitutional and officious government. We need to eliminate
every government program we can, even if the percentage in savings is
relatively small. Most of these agencies oversee programs that
create dependency schemes and Democrat rent-seekers in government, and
as such, serve no public interest. 19% of all federal
subsidies and welfare programs are under the auspices of the USDA, most
of which lack constitutional authority.
The RSC proposal would cut roughly $780 million from duplicate
agricultural research projects by combining several agencies. We
all know that these bureaucrats think they are doing yeoman’s work, but
I’m sure they can dazzle the private sector with their talents.
The amendment would also cut an additional $1 billion from the “Food
for Peace” program, which offers economic aid to many countries that
don’t represent our best interests. Yes, the Israelis have a land
for peace program, while we have a food for peace program. It’s
enough that we have multiple foreign aid programs run by the State
Department, we don’t need the USDA getting involved in the foreign food
stamps business. The White House is asserting that the cuts will
cause global poverty. He fails to mention that it is actually his
policies related to energy and the weakening of the dollar that are
causing global hunger.
There are also several other amendments pending a vote that will offer
more specific cuts, much to the consternation of the “College of
Cardinals” at the Appropriations Committee. These votes,
scheduled for later this afternoon, will offer another opportunity for
those who desire to distinguish themselves from the status quo in
Congress. Let them know that we are watching.
Read with links at Redstate
|
