Reply #6: First off, we didn't give up any programs. Secondly, funding doesn't work the way you think it does. [View All]

[phleshdef]

All those programs that were funded at lower levels as a result of the new budget still exist and are still receiving funding. LIHEAP for example, still completely exists and will still be used to subsidize energy costs.

But funding for these things is done on an annual (fiscal year) basis. The funding level for that year starts off at ZERO and then Congress can approve a new funding level for it. What happened was, ultimately, they are putting less money into it this year than they were last year. Your criticism comes from a premise that funding would stay the same if Congress doesn't decide to cut it and thats not how it works. The reality is, funding is nonexistent until Congress agrees to a certain dollar amount to give it. This dynamic is why legislatively, its a lot easier to cut something than it is to increase it (and to me its also a flaw in the process that Congress uses to handle the budget).