WASHINGTON — Since taking office, President Barack Obama has said his administration was combing through the federal budget "line by line” to cut wasteful spending.
Finding it is one thing, getting Congress to sign on is another.
Obama sent Congress a detailed budget Thursday proposing to eliminate or trim 121 programs and save $17 billion next year — not a trifle, for sure, but only about half of one percent of the $1.3 trillion in federal spending for the fiscal year begining in October.
Republicans scoffed that Obama’s cuts were not nearly enough.
"They appear to be a diversionary tactic — an effort to change the subject,” said House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio.
On the other hand, some of Obama’s trims recycled from former President George W. Bush’s hit list drew criticism from some Democrats.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said ending a $400 million-a-year program that pays states and counties for keeping illegal immigrants in their jails "deprives communities of critical funding for public safety services.”
The president defended proposed cuts.
"These savings, large and small, add up,” he said.
by the associated press
Finding it is one thing, getting Congress to sign on is another.
Obama sent Congress a detailed budget Thursday proposing to eliminate or trim 121 programs and save $17 billion next year — not a trifle, for sure, but only about half of one percent of the $1.3 trillion in federal spending for the fiscal year begining in October.
Republicans scoffed that Obama’s cuts were not nearly enough.
"They appear to be a diversionary tactic — an effort to change the subject,” said House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio.
On the other hand, some of Obama’s trims recycled from former President George W. Bush’s hit list drew criticism from some Democrats.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said ending a $400 million-a-year program that pays states and counties for keeping illegal immigrants in their jails "deprives communities of critical funding for public safety services.”
The president defended proposed cuts.
"These savings, large and small, add up,” he said.
by the associated press
No comments:
Post a Comment