Here's A List Of Things We Know Are In The Current Budget Deal As Of Now...

[WillyT]

The Ugly, the Ugly, and the Ugly: A Look at the 2011 Funding Deal
By: David Dayen - FDL
Saturday April 9, 2011 7:58 am

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Let’s go with what we know:

• From the Los Angeles Times: “The stopgap measure would fund government operations through Thursday, using $2.5 billion in unused transportation funds. Those cuts would be counted toward the overall reductions.” OK, so what does “unused transportation funds” mean? Initially, I was told that $1.5 billion of this comes out of high speed rail, perhaps the unused funds that Florida sent back to Washington. But I have not been able to confirm that. At any rate, when President Obama said in his speech that “infrastructure projects will be delayed,” this is part of what he means. That’s $2.5 billion on the sidelines that could have gone into transportation infrastructure and construction, i.e. jobs.

• Also from the LA Times: “Democrats pursued reductions from one-time cuts and accounts with surpluses. In the end, about half the cuts, nearly $18 billion, come from such areas.” This matters for the future, because agency appropriations end up becoming the new baseline, so the cuts magnify over time.

• From the WSJ: “Includes $513 billion for defense – less than Republicans and President Obama wanted but more than the $508 billion provided in 2010.” So defense actually gets a $5 billion increase above the 2010 baseline. This is equal to what was in McCaskill-Sessions in December. Defense didn’t get touched.

And WillyT's favorite...

• But that’s not all! From WaPo: “The spending deal agreed to Friday night to avert a government shutdown includes a provision banning the District from spending its own funds to provide abortions to low-income women as well as funding to continue a controversial school voucher program.” Yes, the ridiculous DC voucher program, which Boehner made a personal crusade, got put in at the last minute. These both were Republican programs that Democrats cancelled; now they’re back. And the voucher program will get funding for five years.

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More: http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/04/09/the-ugly-the-ugly-and-the-ugly-a-look-at-the-2011-funding-deal/

And more from the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/us/politics/09fiscal.html?exprod=myyahoo

:kick:

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

1. I notice you didn't highlight the fact that nearly all the Riders were removed.

But that wouldn't fit the pessimistic bent of this article.

One of the Teabagger's biggest promises was that they would defund Obamacare.
They failed.

I guess isn't worth noting, eh?

[WillyT]

2. 1) I'm Only Allowed 4 Paragraphs...

2) I am extremely pessimistic about where we are headed, and who is leading us.

:shrug:

[katnapped]

3. Don't pat yerself on the back yet

They got two more shots in the near future

[bvar22]

4. Obama & Dem Leadership co-sign Republican Plan for America.

Obama has put his Seal of Approval on the Republican frame:

The RICH deserve MORE money,
and The Working class & The Poor should pay for it!
----co-signed by President Obama & the "Centrist" Dem Leadership

President Obama did NOT fight (or even disagree) with the Republican Plan In Principle,
he merely dithered about How Much More the RICH should get.


"Centrism"...because its SO EASY!
You don't have to STAND for ANYTHING,
and get to insult those who do!!!!
:party: