Valentine's Day: Budget Priorities Debate Begins
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WAND Educational Fund
Julie
02/13/2011
Happy Valentine's Day! We are awaiting the release of the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Budget Request, expected later today. You probably heard news about this over the weekend and if so, you know that the Administration plans to have some targeted investments mixed with a 5-year "freeze" in most discretionary spending (that's the spending that Congress gets to make decisions about each year.) What is left off the table for cuts? The Pentagon Budget. Although you may have seen reference to proposed Department of Defense cuts, they really only consist of internal Defense Department restructuring and a modest reduction in the rate of spending increase for some reductions in later years. In contrast, many of the programs likely to be "frozen" or cut will force very dramatic reductions in basic human services and a wide variety of essential activities. Stay tuned to see what the real numbers and priorities will be.
Meanwhile, this week Congress will also be considering spending for this year, FY 2011. The House-proposed spending measure would drastically cut almost all discretionary spending. What is the one thing again left off the table for cuts? The Pentagon Budget!
This week is the beginning of a spring season of budget priorities debate in overdrive.
WAND will provide updates, analysis, and action opportunities for you. Please join with us as we work to shift our nation's budget priorities.
For some background on this year's budget process, check out the resources below.
Article published today by NPR "Obama, GOP Vie for Upper Hand on Budget Cuts".
WAND's budget pie information on FY11 proposed budget here.
WAND's guide of the federal budget process here.
The National Priorities Project examines the numbers mentioned during the State of the Union address here.
