Leaders Discuss How Federal Budget Cuts Affect Michigan
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NBC, News 10, WILX.com
Rachel Thomas
03/05/2011
Citizens from across the state joined national and local leaders in a forum focussed on the federal budgetand how it's affecting people in Michigan.
"If we sat down with checkbook ourselves, what choices would we make on how to set up the budget," said Ruth Flower, a lobbyist from Friends Committee on National Legislation.
Educators, unions, and community groups shared how drastic federal cuts could squeeze or cripple their services.
"When they talk about a $470 per pupil cut in funding that is the entirely wrong direction. Michigan already spends less in its budget on schools than any other state and more on prisons than any other state," said Melvin Hollowell of NAACP.
A federal research organization says the federal government is planning to cut from the non-security discretionary funding which pays for essential services for all states including Michigan. Researchers say there are other options to save money that aren't being talked about.
"We are not talking about revenue and choices we've made as a nation to allow from corporate tax breaks and not talking about the pentagon," said Jo Comerford of the federal research organization, National Priorities Project.
A lobbyist group says military spending had doubled in the last 10 years making the U.S. military budget account for nearly half of global military spending. But lawmakers say focussing on one area isn't the answer.
"You have to remember we have troops in combat in two different locatinos in the world. It can't be just about the Pentagon. We have to get all of our spending under control," said Rep. Mike Rogers, (R) Michigan.
Panel leaders say America's budget needs to protect priorities like human services, quality of life, and education.
