H.R. 1 -- House Continuing Resolution...Is A Republican Feeding Frenzy

The House Appropriations Committee today introduced a Continuing Resolution (H.R. 1) to fund the federal government for the last seven months of the fiscal year while cutting spending by over $100 billion from the President’s fiscal year 2011 request. This CR legislation represents the largest single discretionary spending reduction in the history of Congress.

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

In the committee's own frothy words, "CR Spending Cuts to Go Deep" -- click on the link and see what cuts are planned. This is Starve the Beast (...feed campaign contributors) at its worst.

Here is the benighted appropriations committee Top 70 list:

· Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies -$30M
· Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy -$899M
· Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability -$49M
· Nuclear Energy -$169M
· Fossil Energy Research -$31M
· Clean Coal Technology -$18M
· Strategic Petroleum Reserve -$15M
· Energy Information Administration -$34M
· Office of Science -$1.1B
· Power Marketing Administrations -$52M
· Department of Treasury -$268M
· Internal Revenue Service -$593M
· Treasury Forfeiture Fund -$338M
· GSA Federal Buildings Fund -$1.7B
· ONDCP -$69M
· International Trade Administration -$93M
· Economic Development Assistance -$16M
· Minority Business Development Agency -$2M
· National Institute of Standards and Technology -$186M
· NOAA -$336M
· National Drug Intelligence Center -$11M
· Law Enforcement Wireless Communications -$52M
· US Marshals Service -$10M
· FBI -$74M
· State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance -$256M
· Juvenile Justice -$2.3M
· COPS -$600M
· NASA -$379M
· NSF -$139M
· Legal Services Corporation -$75M
· EPA -$1.6B
· Food Safety and Inspection Services -$53M
· Farm Service Agency -$201M
· Agriculture Research -$246M
· Natural Resource Conservation Service -$46M
· Rural Development Programs -$237M
· WIC -$758M
· International Food Aid grants -$544M
· FDA -$220M
· Land and Water Conservation Fund -$348M
· National Archives and Record Service -$20M
· DOE Loan Guarantee Authority -$1.4B
· EPA ENERGY STAR -$7.4M
· EPA GHG Reporting Registry -$9M
· USGS -$27M
· EPA Cap and Trade Technical Assistance -$5M
· EPA State and Local Air Quality Management -$25M
· Fish and Wildlife Service -$72M
· Smithsonian -$7.3M
· National Park Service -$51M
· Clean Water State Revolving Fund -$700M
· Drinking Water State Revolving Fund -$250M
· EPA Brownfields -$48M
· Forest Service -$38M
· National Endowment for the Arts -$6M
· National Endowment for the Humanities -$6M
· Job Training Programs -$2B
· Community Health Centers -$1.3B
· Maternal and Child Health Block Grants -$210M
· Family Planning -$327M
· Poison Control Centers -$27M
· CDC -$755M
· NIH -$1B
· Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services -$96M
· LIHEAP Contingency fund -$400M
· Community Services Block Grant -$405M
· High Speed Rail -$1B
· FAA Next Gen -$234M
· Amtrak -$224M
· HUD Community Development Fund -$530M

Don't let 'em do it. Republicans are turning this country into an oligarchy, and they haven't got the depth of understanding to appreciate what it is they are doing. They do know the revolving door into corporate law, and lobbying jobs will be wide open for them and their sycophants when they finally get booted out of Congress. Meantime, they are going to send us all into a Dickensian nightmare.

Here's a note I sent to my representatives via the site, "170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting" (which would be eliminated under H.R. 1).

The House Continuing Resolution (H.R. 1) eliminates federal funding for public broadcasting. And renewable energy, and kills the EPA, and a whole lot of other useful, important things. Don't do it! Don't trash everything that makes this country civilized (as if we haven't already).

Roll back the Bush tax cuts. Increase capital gains taxes. Increase the inheritance tax.

Cut defense spending. Bring the troops home. That will save a fortune

Create a real energy policy that meaningfully reduces our fossil fuel consumption. Make use of least-cost renewables. That will do a lot to fix our trade deficit, and save everyone money, not to mention saving the planet.

Enforce fair trade rules against China, Korea, Mexico, Columbia, and other countries that destroy the environment and all but enslave workers. Stop selling us out with "free trade."

Don't let Republicans walk us into the dark ages. Stand up and fight. Please. This is more important than reelection. Stop working for corporate campaign contributors, and work for your constituents.

Thanks.

Visit Public Broadcasting's site and send a message to your representatives.