Fox: "Federal Aid to the States Ripe for Cuts"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,120408,00.html

Economics 101: To cut the deficit in half, as Bush is promising to do, you've got to do some cutting elsewhere. Although this article does NOT present these ideas as "Bush ideas," anything that lands on his desk for a signature and potentially will inch him closer to his beloved "bottom line" will get signed...guaranteed.

Granted, there surely are bloated, over-funded, questionable programs in place at both the state and federal level that DESERVE to be axed. The wisdom with which any trimming takes place is the issue: will it simply be a case of Bush trimmin' more brush at the Crawford ranch to prove his knowledge of elementary school math (100% - 50% = 50%)...? The issue is not entirely a matter of "should" it be done...more like "if" it is done, "HOW" should it be done.

Note in the quotes below the advocacy to put part of the burden for new "highways, schools, and other items" on "the private sector." More Bush Administration support: "You're on your own. Good luck."



QUOTES:

"In fiscal year 2004 the federal government will pay out $418 billion in grants for health, highways, education, and other activities. Grants have increased from 7.6 percent of federal spending in FY1960 to 18 percent by FY2004. The number of grant programs has more than doubled since the mid-1980s, reaching 716 by 2003.

With the increase in grants, federal policymakers are spending too much time on state issues instead of true national priorities, such as security. Ending aid programs would help refocus attention to crucial national issues and would cut the huge federal budget deficit."

"With today’s large budget deficit and the coming fiscal crunch in elderly entitlement programs, grants are a good place to make large cuts to federal spending. State and local governments and the private sector are in a better position to determine whether residents need more highways, schools, and other items. Congress cannot efficiently allocate funds for such services in a diverse nation of almost 300 million people."

[Don_G]

1. Typical

Cut the budgets to the state programs, give them a small grant in several programs and claim responsibility for looking after the state's needs.

[AndyTiedye]

2. and the remaining grants are for "faith based" programs