• Obama calls for a 3 year spending freeze on budget
    109 replies, posted
[QUOTE]Washington (CNN) -- Be honest: Stories about the federal budget make your eyes glaze over, right? Unless you're a budget analyst or die-hard political junkie, you probably have no idea what the White House means when it refers to President Obama's plan to freeze non-security federal discretionary spending over the next three years. So what is the president proposing? And who would be affected if Congress adopts his plan? Start with the numbers. When the White House talks about non-security discretionary spending, it's referring to spending on an array of domestic programs -- everything from agriculture to energy -- that add up to $447 billion of roughly $3.5 trillion in the federal budget. It does not include Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Obama's plan to freeze spending would not apply to those or other entitlement programs. And the federal government does not plan to stop paying interest on the federal debt, a move which would have dire economic consequences. You can remove that from the equation as well. Obama also would exempt programs tied to defense, veterans or national security from the freeze on spending. Yet his plan could put the squeeze on agencies such as the Departments of Agriculture or Interior. It could require those and other agencies to spend the same amount for the next three years that they spent this year. "Instead of wielding an across-the-board axe, the president will cut programs that are duplicative or that he believes serve no important purpose," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday. "We are investing in what we believe is important to invest in. We are cutting programs we think have outlived their usefulness and need to be cut." So what could be hit? More precise information won't be available until the White House releases its proposed 2011 budget on February 1, but the plan to freeze certain spending could affect federal housing and transportation programs. The freeze could include the Department of Agriculture, so farmers could feel the pinch. Law-enforcement initiatives at the Justice Department and programs from the Energy Department could be scaled back. If the budget for the Interior Department is frozen, spending on the nation's parks could be reduced. The freeze on spending also would affect American diplomats. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned State Department employees Tuesday the freeze may have an impact on their pay and the way they do their jobs. Federal education programs might also be affected, though the administration has repeatedly said education is at the top of Obama's priority list. The freeze would not affect Federal Pell Grants, said Rob Nabors, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. He declined to provide many other details. Administration officials have stressed that while a specific agency may be affected by the freeze, agency heads would retain significant power to give some programs increases while cutting money elsewhere. So what does the president hope to achieve with the freeze? The White House says it hopes to save $250 billion over the next decade -- a first step in reducing the spiraling federal deficit. "If we can't make these steps, how are we going to go after stuff that we know is politically hard?" Gibbs asked reporters Tuesday. Critics point out, however, that the same programs subject to the freeze today were given an increase of more than 7 percent last year. "Frankly, the government has to make better choices and better plans than throwing things into a big pot [for an economic stimulus plan] in one year and then freezing across the board the next year," said Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University economist. "We have areas in that so-called 'discretionary spending' that urgently need more funding. And to freeze across the board, I think, would be kind of a dereliction of duty."[/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/26/discretionary.spending/index.html[/url] I also heard on CBS News that he froze all salaries for White House staff members.
I wish I was the president [editline]12:41AM[/editline] It must be cold where he lives
Just him trying to look thrifty after adopting spending habits that would put even Bush to shame...
Yeah, I think depression is coming soon now.
he ran against this btw (was very critical when McCain proposed something similar) :smug: this is a really dumb move and will really hurt him later
[quote] Law-enforcement initiatives at the Justice Department and programs from the Energy Department could be scaled back. [/quote] :wtc:, Obama?
[QUOTE=Pvt. Ryan;19868061]he ran against this btw (was very critical when McCain proposed something similar) :smug: this is a really dumb move and will really hurt him later[/QUOTE] Politicians are only different when they're campaigning. Once in office, who gives a shit what they said?
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;19869636]Politicians are only different when they're campaigning. Once in office, who gives a shit what they said?[/QUOTE] Yeah, like that whole uniting the parties thing Obama campaigned about.
[QUOTE=Fables;19868056]Yeah, I think depression is coming soon now.[/QUOTE] ah yes because up until now we were just in a ''Nobody has any fucking money-ion''
[QUOTE=Swimbound;19869920]ah yes because up until now we were just in a ''Nobody has any fucking money-ion''[/QUOTE] You've never experienced a depression, you can't compare. Unemployment in the Great Depression was around 35-40%, compare that to the 10% unemployment currently. Also, what the fuck Obama, why?
These should get more money: )High-Speed rail system )Education )Research )Studies into highway safety Less money here: )Unnecessary "upgrades" to current systems )Bonuses added to bills for votes The same amount: )Military (excluding said unnecessary upgrades) )NASA Legalize and tax (or just tax more): )Marijuana )10% value added tax (10% on everything, from everyone=a lot) That should be a good start.
Hey how many years does Obama have left in his term again? Oh he has 3, what a coincidence.
[QUOTE=ASmellyOgre;19870447]These should get more money: )High-Speed rail system )Education )Research )Studies into highway safety Less money here: )Unnecessary "upgrades" to current systems )Bonuses added to bills for votes The same amount: )Military (excluding said unnecessary upgrades) )NASA Legalize and tax (or just tax more): )Marijuana )10% value added tax (10% on everything, from everyone=a lot) That should be a good start.[/QUOTE] YOU! You go run for president. ASmellyOgre 2012 :patriot:
[QUOTE=ASmellyOgre;19870447]These should get more money: )High-Speed rail system )Education )Research )Studies into highway safety Less money here: )Unnecessary "upgrades" to current systems )Bonuses added to bills for votes The same amount: )Military (excluding said unnecessary upgrades) )NASA Legalize and tax (or just tax more): )Marijuana )10% value added tax (10% on everything, from everyone=a lot) That should be a good start.[/QUOTE] I think the Military should [I]only [/I]get money for unnecessary upgrades. I want hover-tanks by 2015.
[QUOTE=Pvt. Ryan;19868061]he ran against this btw (was very critical when McCain proposed something similar) :smug: this is a really dumb move and will really hurt him later[/QUOTE] I like to pretend that he campaigned for all this stuff like pulling out of the middle east and this budget freeze, but when he actually got into office his advisers were like: "You know those are pretty pretty nice ideas and all but this shit is really fucked up and there's only a few good ways to fix it, and they all suck."
Obama is a puppet, enough said.
[QUOTE=BloodRayne;19870780]Obama is a puppet, enough said.[/QUOTE] Puppet of who?
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;19870877]Puppet of who?[/QUOTE] alkada
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;19870877]Puppet of who?[/QUOTE] Of Yuri, of course! :downs:
[QUOTE=BloodRayne;19870780]Obama is a puppet, enough said.[/QUOTE] a puppet of the JEWS! you can see this i have the evidence but i lost it in a harddrive crash but believe me anyway
I still think we should sell everything east of the rockies.
So he's going to cut Agriculture but not stupid shit like "defense" At least Obama is trying to look like he's doing something. [editline]08:43PM[/editline] Missles are way more important than food.
I'll be voting for a third party next election
About time he started to try and pay attention to the budget.
Someone's been reading "How to Overcome Binge Eating" diet book.
Awesome Pell grants pay for most of my school!!! Thanks Obammy!!
[QUOTE=blackdenton;19871459]Awesome Pell grants pay for most of my school!!! Thanks Obammy!![/QUOTE] there are other sources of money for school
Well, at least we may not have $1m spent by the Dept. of Agriculture to monitor radioactive rabit droppings anymore, at least. Even if we do end up in a depression. [editline]03:05AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Trotsky;19871535]there are other sources of money for school[/QUOTE] Git outta here with yer avatar stealin self.
[QUOTE=Detective P;19871567]Well, at least we may not have $1m spent by the Dept. of Agriculture to monitor radioactive rabit droppings anymore, at least. Even if we do end up in a depression. [editline]03:05AM[/editline] Git outta here with yer avatar stealin self.[/QUOTE] I didn't steal it, biznatch [editline]04:07AM[/editline] it was stolen for me
Obama, you can't just totally stop spending. It's only going to fuck us over later. Also if you get rid of funding for R&D... We're going to be 3 years behind in terms of technological advances forever because of this stupid decision.
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