Some Smoke, Mirrors in That $38B in Budget Cuts

Dem. priorities take the brunt of cuts, but also many accounting tricks
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 12, 2011 8:34 AM CDT
Some Smoke, Mirrors in That $38B in Budget Cuts
The details of last week's $38 billion in spending cuts have both Democrats and Republicans less than happy.   (Shutterstock)

Sure, Congress is patting itself on the back over $38 billion in spending cuts—but many of those savings aren't what they seem, reports the Washington Post. Mandatory programs are protected by law, so $17.8 billion of those cuts will go right back up next year. The $4.9 billion cut from the Justice Department's Crime Victims Fund came from a reserve fund that was not going to be spent. The $500 million in savings from the Pell Grant program had already been made. And the $3.5 billion "cut" from the Children’s Health Insurance Program is mostly money that wouldn't have been spent anyway.

Of the $19.8 billion in domestic discretionary spending cuts, though, the majority will come from programs Republicans have long disliked. The departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services comprise 28% of non-defense discretionary spending, but are in line for 52% of the cuts. The EPA will take a $1.6 billion cut, about 16% of its budget. Still, some Republicans are wary: “I’m not sure that this agreement will look quite as good under the light of day,” says Rep. Bill Huizenga. (More 2011 budget stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X