TRUMP'S 2017 BUDGET PLANMUST BE STOPPED A CRIME AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
Truth sometimes really is stranger than fiction. America already has the lowest commitment to social spending of any modern state. It is the only modern state that does not believe that its citizens have a right to safe health care. Indeed, even with Obama's health care reforms 30 million remain without coverage (a number that will rise to 50 million if the Republican Health Care Plan passes). However, Trump and his Republican allies want to launch what can only be described as an all out assault on life itself with massive cuts in programs for safety of the planet and the very survival of the poor. It calls for increased spending on military and defense while scrapping key programs for the poor. Despite Donald Trump's promise during his campaign to not cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid, which serves tens of millions of seniors, his budget does in fact call for cuts to these programs. So this is a budget that will hurt the very people who got President Trump elected. This is budget is a crime against America's most vulnerable people. The Trump Budget cuts crucial programs for the poor, the elderly, children and women. The Trump budget will make life even more difficult for these people while showering large tax cuts on the nation's wealthiest people and corporations. Some of the cruelest cuts in this budget include Meals on Wheels. We will point out that Meals on Wheels isn't entirely funded by the government. And has already endured cuts to its federal funding under the former Obama Administration. But cutting federal funds for the program even further is a study in stupidity and cruelty. Meals on Wheels, a program that helps volunteers in their community feed the elderly and infirm. Is trimming down such a thing really a national priority? President Donald Trump's Budget also calls for the elimination of funding for around 66 programs, which includes the National Endowment for the Arts, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Legal Services Corporation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In March, President Donald Trump released his blue print for the plan, and on May 22nd, 2017, Donald Trump released the full version of the budget plan. The full plan contains most of the same cuts outlined in March, but also includes changes to a much larger area of spending: benefit programs. This will require Congress to change the law about who is eligible to receive benefits. There are proposed cuts to Medicaid, Welfare benefits like food stamps, federal employee pensions and farm subsidies. In addition to the defense spending increase outlined in the March budget, the complete budget released in May has included funding for a border wall with Mexico, infrastructure spending and a plan for paid family leave that doesn't work. (USA Today) Trump's "family" leave doesn't cover the whole family. Paid leave is not guaranteed for all who work. The funding is shaky, it relies on states to cut into unemployment insurance funds. And the plan doesn't consider small business owners. (Our Future) In terms of Donald Trump's tax overhaul, the tax overhaul outline Trump released in April proposed big corporate rate cuts, a simpler tax code and big increases in standard deductions. But the plan included few details on how those changes would be made — or paid for. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the federal government would collect $3 trillion to $7 trillion less in taxes over the next budget if Trump’s changes are made. Yet while making all these steep cuts, Trump is sticking to his plan in march to give around $54 billion to an already bloated military budget in the name of
"keeping America safe." On the military budget Mick Mulvaney, said the following:
Never mind that many of these "soft power" items are things that many Americans depend upon to survive. Forget the $54 billion for "national security." If this budget is allowed to pass, it will be a real national security disaster for all Americans. READ FULL BUDGET HERE A New Foundation For American Greatness Fiscal Year 2018 PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BUDGET REDUCTIONS
(Image Source: New York Times)
WHAT WILL BE CUT
(Image Source: The Washington Post, 3-16-17) While these figures are from March, they remain the same in the May budget. REPORTS How Much Will Trump's Tax Plan Cost? (Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget) The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the federal government would collect $3 trillion to $7 trillion less in taxes over the next budget if Trump’s changes are made. RELATED NEWS STORIES Trump's Budget: A Crime Against the Poor Trump’s budget trades workers’ retirement security for CEO tax cuts (The Hill, 6-1-17) 20 Ways Trump's Budget Declares New War on the Poor by Hurting Seniors, People with Disabilities, Children and Single Mothers (Alternet, 5-26-17) Republicans plan massive cuts to programs for the poor (Politico, 5-14-17)
A Budget for Disease and Death Proposed Budget Cuts’ Potential Effect on Public Health (Pew Research, 6-7-17) Trump-Pence budget would weaken response to outbreaks of infectious disease (The Hill, 5-30-17) Trump's Proposed Budget Cuts Trouble Bioterrorism Experts (New York Times, 5-28-17) Trump budget seeks huge cuts to disease prevention and medical research departments (Washington Post, 5-22-17) Despite STDs Surging to 20-Year High, Congress Cuts FY '17 STD Funding (NCSD, 5-2-17)
Key Cuts The cuts to a major disability program in Trump's budget (CBS, 6-1-17) The Key Spending Cuts and Increases in Trump’s Budget (New York Times, 5-22-17) Here Are The 66 Programs That Trump's Budget Eliminates (Zero Hedge, 5-24-17) 6 things to watch in Trump's first full budget plan (USA Today, 5-22-17) Trump’s first full education budget: Deep cuts to public school programs in pursuit of school choice (Washington Post, 5-17-17)
Family Leave: An Empty Promise Trump’s Family Leave: An Empty Envelope for American Workers (Our Future, 6-6-17)
Military Family and Veteran Cuts The forgotten soldiers: Trump isn’t keeping his promises to veterans (News Review, 6-8-17) Trump Budget Cuts Veterans’ Disability Benefits to Pay for VA Privatization (AFGE, 6-2-17) Trump’s budget slashes child care for military families (ThinkProgress, 6-1-17)
Minority Targets Trump Budget Serves Deep Cuts in Many Indian Areas (Indian Country Today, 6-6-17) LGBTQ media highlight repercussions of Trump’s budget proposals (Media Matters, 6-5-17) Tribes Bash Proposed Trump Budget Cuts to Native Americans (US News, 5-25-17) Trump’s Proposed Budget Cuts Critical Programs Impacting LGBTQ People (HRC, 5-24-17) Native Americans Most At Risk From Impact of Climate Change (VOA News, 4-19-17)
Meals on Wheels Oh, yes: the Trump Budget Definitely Does Cut Meals on Wheels (National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare) Meals On Wheels Sequestration Cuts Taking Effect (The Huffington Post, 4-29-13) Even under the Obama Administration, funding for Meals on Wheels received cuts. The program should not be cut any further. Mulvaney: Proposed cuts to Meals on Wheels are compassionate to taxpayers (Politico, 3-16-17)
Reactions to the "Get Rich or Die Budget" Trump's Budget Benefits the Most Comfortable Americans and Sticks It to the Most Vulnerable (Truthdig, 6-4-17) Trump's budget chief just disavowed a big part of his budget (Washington Post, 6-2-17) Even some Republicans say Trump's steep budget cuts go too far (Chicago Tribune, 5-23-17) Congressman Moulton's Response to Trump Budget Proposal: "Slap in Face to Working Families Everywhere" (Congressman Seth Moulton, 5-23-17) Sierra Club Response to Trump's Budget Proposal: "Trump’s budget is rigged for billionaires and CEOs" (Sierra Club, 5-22-17) This Is the Ending Conservatives Always Wanted (Esquire, 3-16-17) Union Chief Strikes Back at the ‘Insanity’ of Trump’s Budget Cuts at the EPA (YaleEnvironment360, 3-21-17) Henry Rollins: Make America Filthy, Hungry, Broke and Stupid Again (LA Weekly, 3-30-17)
War on Women New Stirrings in Trump’s Assault on Women’s Equality and Reproductive Freedom (American Prospect, 6-8-17) Stop the Attack on the Women's Bureau (Huffington Post, 6-7-17) CHARTS The Cost of Imperial Delusions American defense spending is now higher than at any time since World War II The Drop in EPA funding from 1980-2013 In 1970, the EPA was created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment. Now the environmental threats facing our world are even more dire than they were in 1970. Funding for the EPA is more important now than ever. BUDGET SOLUTIONS There is only one real solution to fix America's budget. Raising taxes. Building a Sustainable Future: An Outline of Reform Priorities for Increased US Taxes Consumption Tax Energy Tax Financial Transactions Tax Priorities for Reduced US Taxes GROUPS TO PAY ATTENTION TO The Progressive Caucus The People's Budget (From the Progressive Caucus) BUDGET GROUPS The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget RELATED WORLD FUTURE FUND REPORTS Sick Republican 2017 Health "Care" Plan Success of Social Welfare State THE FUNDING FOR THESE 66 PROGRAMS WILL BE ELIMINATED Agriculture Department — $855 millionMcGovern-Dole International Food for Education Business-Cooperative Service Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account Single Family Housing Direct Loans Commerce Department — $633 millionEconomic Development Administration Manufacturing Extension Partnership Minority Business Development Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Grants and Education Education Department — $4.976 billion21st Century Community Learning Centers Comprehensive Literacy Development Grants Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants Impact Aid Payments for Federal Property International Education Strengthening Institutions Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants Teacher Quality Partnership Energy Department — $398 millionAdvanced Research Projects Agency—Energy Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program and Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility Health and Human Services — $4.834 billionAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality Community Services Block Grant Health Professions and Nursing Training Programs Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Homeland Security — $235 millionFlood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program Transportation Security Administration Law Enforcement Grants Housing and Urban Development — $4.123 billionChoice Neighborhoods Community Development Block HOME Investment Partnerships Program Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program Account Interior Department — $122 millionAbandoned Mine Land Grants Heritage Partnership Program National Wildlife Refuge Fund Justice Department — $210 millionState Criminal Alien Assistance Program Labor Department — $527 millionMigrant and Seasonal Farmworker Training OSHA Training Grants Senior Community Service Employment Program State Department and USAID — $4.256 billionDevelopment Assistance Earmarked Appropriations for Non-Profit OrganizationsThe Asia Foundation East-West Center P.L. 480 Title II Food Aid State Department, USAID, and Treasury Department — $1.59 billionGreen Climate Fund and Global Climate Change Initiative Transportation Department — $499 millionNational Infrastructure Investments (TIGER) Treasury Department — $43 millionGlobal Agriculture and Food Security Program Environmental Protection Agency — $493 millionEnergy Star and Voluntary Climate Programs Geographic Programs National Aeronautics and Space Administration — $269 millionFive Earth Science Missions Office of Education Other Independent Agencies — $2.683 billionChemical Safety Board Corporation for National and Community Service Corporation for Public Broadcasting Institute of Museum and Library Services International Development FoundationsAfrican Development Foundation Inter-American Foundation Legal Services Corporation National Endowment for the Arts National Endowment for the Humanities Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Overseas Private Investment Corporation Regional CommissionsAppalachian Regional Commission Delta Regional Authority Denali Commission Northern Border Regional Commission U.S. Institute of Peace U.S. Trade and Development Agency Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
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