What’s with the Budget? (CI Post 2/12/18)

Among a couple of shutdowns and several fiscal measures taken to combat them, the federal government has appeared especially disconcerted in the last month. The government shutdown on January 19th came as a result of both parties failing to come to agreement on a spending bill for 2018, due to many Republicans rejecting another continuing resolution, or CR (funding the Gov’t temporarily while postponing a long-term resolution), and Democrats refusing to vote unless protection was re-established for children under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. After a five-day shutdown, funding was renewed by congress until midnight on February 8th. More weeks of confused deliberation followed, eventually leading up to another brief shutdown on the 9th of February.

Second Times a Charm…

As a response to the second shutdown, congress agreed on a two-year spending bill to fund the government, while making significant changes to the federal budget. This bipartisan agreement will add $300 Billion to the national debt due to a Republican-favored $80 Billion increase in defense spending, and a Democrat-favored $60 Billion increase in non-defense spending. The bill also included an $80 Billion increase in disaster relief funding and $6 Billion allocated to treating Opioid addiction. While it may not be a perfect resolution, it did signify congress’s ability to work together on important legislation. Leaders from both parties, through tireless negotiation, finally came together on a bill that raised spending caps in several areas to best serve the American people. This bill was a sign that true bipartisanship may not be impossible after all, as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed: “We have reached a budget deal that neither side loves, but both sides can be proud of. That’s compromise. That’s governing.”

Now, for the juice.

As tumultuous and grueling as the two previous shutdowns and months of delays and short-term funding plans may have been, the resolution of a two-year spending bill would appear to be the long-awaited conclusion… not. President Trump, five days after the resolution, released his own budgetary proposal, and it did no less than send the previous agreement up in flames. The president’s proposal is in direct opposition the two-year spending bill on many key fronts. The budget proposal calls for deep cuts to Medicaid, which would leave its funding below pre-Obamacare levels, and significant cuts to food stamps. In stark contrast to the increases in discretionary spending that congress passed last week, this proposal would slash non-defense spending by more than 40 percent.

Trump’s Proposal: The Facts

• 42% cut to non-defense spending
• 33% cut to the Environmental Protection Agency
• 7% cut to Medicare
• 22% cut to Medicaid and Obamacare subsidies
• $780 Billion increase in defense spending
• Total of $3.7 trillion in deficit reduction, due to $800 billion reduced spending on wars and disaster recovery and more significant cuts in spending
• $550 billion in new tax cuts
• $200 billion allocated to new infrastructure program

In summary, President Trump’s budgetary plan proposes trillions in cuts to spending, especially in non-defense discretionary funding, and billions in new tax cuts. This would slash Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and many other important programs, which millions of Americans in poverty rely heavily on.

So… what?

So, after congress finally reached a deal to assure funding to the government, the President threw a curveball that only added to the diluted, confused discourse that has flooded the government in recent months. While it is very unlikely that any aspects of this proposal will have any significant impact on policy, the Presidential administration does appear to be taking a powerful stance in opposition to the breakthrough congressional spending bill. The marked differences on key positions in the spending bills may once again be indicative of the perpetual state of disarray that has seemingly consumed congress and the White House. Debate will continue on fiscal issues, but the President’s proposed spending cuts may be ones that neither party can bear.

Nevertheless, disarray, dilution and confusion are not unusual in American government, and two weeks into February 2018, we aren’t shocked by more of the same.

Thank you for taking the time to read the first of my weekly current events posts. I hope you enjoyed this week’s event and interpretation. I have ideas for new creative content, including short stories, writing competitions, and more, all of which I will be pursuing soon, so stay tuned! I am incredibly excited to be embarking on this journey with you, the enabled reader, and I hope to strengthen our relationships as the weeks pass. All feedback is greatly appreciated, and productive discourse is encouraged. See you next week!