QandO: I'd like it both ways, please...

February 03, 2004

I'd like it both ways, please...
Posted by Jon Henke

New liberal think-tank Center for American Progress illustrates quite nicely (again) that they'd like to use the same arguments no matter what the Bush administration does, if-you-don't-mind-thank-you-very-much.

In Monday's "Progress Report", CAP criticises the Bush administration for irresponsible fiscal policy, titling their piece "The Era of Fiscal Responsibility is Over". Yet, they follow that with a list of programs they are apparently sorry to see cut.

CUTTING AIDS FUNDING: ... And in his 2005 budget, Bush will provide only "$2.7 billion for efforts to battle AIDS and other diseases in poor African and Caribbean countries."

CUTTING RURAL EDUCATION: Though the number has yet to be released, President Bush is "expected to propose cutting rural education." ...

CUTTING ENERGY FUNDING: ... the new budget actually will propose cutting money for energy and natural resources, slicing the energy budget by $100 million.

CUTTING AVIATION SAFETY FUNDING: ... it is proposing a budget that slashes $471 million from the FAA budget – "a 16% cut in spending on air-traffic-control equipment and facilities."

OTHER CUTS: ... According to AP, Bush is proposing slashing the budget for the environment by $2.4 billion. Other cuts to watch for: The new budget will propose cutting community development by from $15 billion in 2004 to $13.2 billion in 2005. And while lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have called for increased spending for highways and mass transit, up to $375 billion over the next six years, Bush is expected to propose spending only $251 billion.

To add insult to injury, the Tuesday "Progress Report" - entitled "All Conservative, No Compassion" - criticises the spending AND tax cuts...

At the same time, massive tax cuts for the wealthy which dwarf these spending cuts emerge unscathed, as the Administration continues its quest to make them permanent.

So, when the Bush administration cuts spending, they're fiscally irresponsible, because they cut spending CAP likes....and when they cut taxes, they're irresponsible because they cut taxes where CAP doesn't like.

Hey, you know there's a good case to be made that Bush is fiscally irresponsible. I've made it. But don't make it by claiming that it's the spending CUTS that are the problem. How about - for a change - pointing to the spending GROWTH that is causing the problem.

Oh. Right. Your guys want that growth....much more of it.

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