Cutting Another $20 Billion, and Fulfilling the Pledge

Category: Misc Keywords: Conservative Principles, House

Dan Holler | February 16, 2011

On Tuesday, the House began consideration of a 7-month continuing resolution, which would fund the government for the rest of fiscal year 2011. When compared to the President’s request, the CR will decrease discretionary spending by $99.6 billion. This is a good start and we are happy to see the numbers moving in the right direction, but these cuts still do not fully meet the requirements House Republicans laid out in their Pledge to America because they contain $19 billion in security cuts that are not part of the Pledge.

Fortunately, the conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC) will offer an amendment to cut an additional $20 billion in spending. These cuts would bring non-security discretionary spending down to the fiscal year 2008 level, $378 billion. The amendment would achieve the additional cuts by a 5.5% across-the board cut of all non-security discretionary spending and an 11% across-the-board cut for the Legislative Branch.

A quick reminder about the Pledge:

Shifting through the budget parlance, it’s clear the $100 billion figure was derived from the policy of cutting non-security (i.e., not veterans or troops) spending back to the enacted FY2008 levels (i.e., pre-stimulus, pre-bailout). As we’ve pointed out before:

The difference between the proposed FY11 level ($478 billion) and the enacted FY08 level ($378 billion) of the 9 non-security appropriations subcommittees, EXCLUDING the 3 security appropriations subcommittees (defense, homeland security, and military construction/VA), is $100 billion.

Heritage Action for America strongly supports efforts to cut an additional $20 billion from the continuing resolution, which would bring the measure fully in compliance with the Republican’s Pledge.

Call your Representative and encourage support of this amendment now.

Dan Holler

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

@danholler

Please Share Your Thoughts

George Colgrove, VA

There is a lot of “non-security” in the DoD and the DHS. I think these areas need to be hit as well.
George Colgrove, VA

There is a lot of “non-security” in the DoD and the DHS. I think these areas need to be hit as well.
Anne M.White

If the basis of the recommendations for this amendment are NOT PRIMARILY from Grover Norquist and Americans for Tax Reform, then it is safe to pass it. But Norquist has motives not evident in his label as a “conservative”. He has backing from questionable people who would like to see the American government in complete chaos and implosion. When will it become obvious that all “conservatives” are not on the same page with those who want a return to the principles of the Constitution and Judeo -Christian foundations for our nation?
Anne M.White

If the basis of the recommendations for this amendment are NOT PRIMARILY from Grover Norquist and Americans for Tax Reform, then it is safe to pass it. But Norquist has motives not evident in his label as a “conservative”. He has backing from questionable people who would like to see the American government in complete chaos and implosion. When will it become obvious that all “conservatives” are not on the same page with those who want a return to the principles of the Constitution and Judeo -Christian foundations for our nation?
http://? George Bostick

Bring the troops back from the M/E and save about 200 M a year
http://? George Bostick

Bring the troops back from the M/E and save about 200 M a year
http://? George Bostick

Opps I meant 200 Billion, the DOD budget for 2010 was over 650 Billion, I was thinging like a Democrat for a moment. Sorry
http://? George Bostick

Opps I meant 200 Billion, the DOD budget for 2010 was over 650 Billion, I was thinging like a Democrat for a moment. Sorry
John Stewart

$500,000,000,000/14,000,000,000,000= 3.57%.
I think anyone could cut that from there budget without batting an eye.
Come on all of you politicians get with the program!
- Nathanael Yellis
  
  John,
  
  You’re right on. These cuts are only a first step.
  
  Take a look at my whiteboard for the scale of cuts against the deficit: http://flic.kr/p/9eSMXR
  
  Nathanael
  - John Stewart
    
    If they cannot find $500b to cut, they are lying through there teeth. It now takes 15 years to educate a student to 12th grade level. Let’s disolve the Federal dept. of “education”.
John Stewart

$500,000,000,000/14,000,000,000,000= 3.57%.
I think anyone could cut that from there budget without batting an eye.
Come on all of you politicians get with the program!
- Nathanael Yellis
  
  John,
  
  You’re right on. These cuts are only a first step.
  
  Take a look at my whiteboard for the scale of cuts against the deficit: http://flic.kr/p/9eSMXR
  
  Nathanael
  - John Stewart
    
    If they cannot find $500b to cut, they are lying through there teeth. It now takes 15 years to educate a student to 12th grade level. Let’s disolve the Federal dept. of “education”.
ORVAL MOSBY

Disolve not only the Dept. of Education but of Commerce as well.
ORVAL MOSBY

Disolve not only the Dept. of Education but of Commerce as well.
David S Moon

The above comments are right on, $100 B. is a drop in the bucket. Get with it congress and do the right thing by the American people. $500 B. would be better.
David S Moon

The above comments are right on, $100 B. is a drop in the bucket. Get with it congress and do the right thing by the American people. $500 B. would be better.
http://rceres543@mac.com Ron from Belleville

These are my favorite must cuts:

Dept. of Ed. – Who do they educate?

Dept.. of Energy – What energy do they furnish?

The EPA – Other than obstructionists who do they serve?

Public Radio and Television – They have their agenda – let them pay for it.

Amtrak – It is a loser and never is on time.

The Postal Service – Privatize it and end long lines and inefficient service.
- Deb Stanley
  
  Your right, I forgot some of these in my posting. We would do good with the RED INK PEN. I’ll even work for free.
- http://www.freeradicalpress.us James S Hall
  
  To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
  To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing
  for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive
  Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
  
  I’m with you for the most part, but we must be careful how we dice and slice services outlined in the Constitution… granted liberties have been taken from the original intent. No provision says you must be taught to read the Constitution so Education is out. EPA should be a canary instead of a power. Energy includes Nuclear… I would prefer it not exchanged as campaign payback to GE. I don’t trust ‘Smart-Grid’ and its parent GE.
  Education is best, close to the product, i.e. at the local and state level. Very happy to see a trend toward restrictions on public union collective barganing, which is responsible for a great deal of the cost increases.
http://rceres543@mac.com Ron from Belleville

These are my favorite must cuts:

Dept. of Ed. – Who do they educate?

Dept.. of Energy – What energy do they furnish?

The EPA – Other than obstructionists who do they serve?

Public Radio and Television – They have their agenda – let them pay for it.

Amtrak – It is a loser and never is on time.

The Postal Service – Privatize it and end long lines and inefficient service.
- Deb Stanley
  
  Your right, I forgot some of these in my posting. We would do good with the RED INK PEN. I’ll even work for free.
- http://www.freeradicalpress.us James S Hall
  
  To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
  To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing
  for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive
  Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
  
  I’m with you for the most part, but we must be careful how we dice and slice services outlined in the Constitution… granted liberties have been taken from the original intent. No provision says you must be taught to read the Constitution so Education is out. EPA should be a canary instead of a power. Energy includes Nuclear… I would prefer it not exchanged as campaign payback to GE. I don’t trust ‘Smart-Grid’ and its parent GE.
  Education is best, close to the product, i.e. at the local and state level. Very happy to see a trend toward restrictions on public union collective barganing, which is responsible for a great deal of the cost increases.
Ron Routten

Before I lost my job in 2010 my company dropped everyones 401k retirement contributions and cut our pay 10%.Has anyone in the federal government had their pay cut 10% or asked to fund their own retirement ! When I here liberals cry and say where would you cut and I would say come walk in my shoes.I would have gladly had my pay cut 20% if I could have kept my job.
Ron Routten

Before I lost my job in 2010 my company dropped everyones 401k retirement contributions and cut our pay 10%.Has anyone in the federal government had their pay cut 10% or asked to fund their own retirement ! When I here liberals cry and say where would you cut and I would say come walk in my shoes.I would have gladly had my pay cut 20% if I could have kept my job.
Deb Stanley

This is the time to cut any and all non constitutional spending. Your commitment is a drop in the bucket. Even if it’s not one of the big 3 cut it.
Only approve the continuance for 3 weeks at a time and just keep adding as much as you can to each 3 week period. It all adds up.
Cut out the EPA, NPR, PBS,DOE, NEA, Planned Parenthood, Acorn or what ever they have changed their name to, money for the Czars, cut the White house budget by 1/2.
Make Obama the party of NO.
It’s time ton PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
Deb Stanley

This is the time to cut any and all non constitutional spending. Your commitment is a drop in the bucket. Even if it’s not one of the big 3 cut it.
Only approve the continuance for 3 weeks at a time and just keep adding as much as you can to each 3 week period. It all adds up.
Cut out the EPA, NPR, PBS,DOE, NEA, Planned Parenthood, Acorn or what ever they have changed their name to, money for the Czars, cut the White house budget by 1/2.
Make Obama the party of NO.
It’s time ton PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
Deb Stanley

How about returning all of the Federal lands back to the states except for military bases.
A lot of states are 50% or more owned by the feds.
All they are doing is shutting down free enterprise.
Deb Stanley

How about returning all of the Federal lands back to the states except for military bases.
A lot of states are 50% or more owned by the feds.
All they are doing is shutting down free enterprise.
Richard Brinkley

Unfortunately, being in CD8, we are without representation in the House. Represenattive Gabrielle Giffords is our elected representative and still rehabbing from the attempted assassination.

This is a clear example of how violence not only hurst innocent people but, in this case, the voters of CD8.
Richard Brinkley

Unfortunately, being in CD8, we are without representation in the House. Represenattive Gabrielle Giffords is our elected representative and still rehabbing from the attempted assassination.

This is a clear example of how violence not only hurst innocent people but, in this case, the voters of CD8.