Sen. Kerry: Some Parts Of Obama’s Budget Are TRoubling

[Mass]

http://www.wbur.org/2011/02/14/kerry-obama-budget

BOSTON — Sen. John Kerry reacted to the president’s budget proposal Monday in Malden, saying he’s only seen an outline of the the president’s proposal, but that it contains some cuts that are troubling.

Part of the “troubling” part of the budget includes a 7.5 percent cut to community block grants.

Kerry said he wants to see the proposal in its overall context before passing judgment. He said this budget will be the most important fight this country has had in many years.

“It is going to decide whether or not America is going to remain a first-rate superpower, or whether we’re going to let hard ideology and extremism eat America’s seed corn so that we don’t grow the jobs of the future,” Kerry said.

Kerry said there are other areas that should be looked at for possible cuts, including oil and gas subsidies.

“Try some of the oil and gas subsidies,” he said. “Try some of the incredible giveaways in 57,000 pages of the tax code.”

I can only agree, but I hope a good discussion will help solve these issues.

[Mass]

1. Here is a good discussion of what it means for MA (and probably most of the country

Now, I am all for creating jobs (I certainly need one) and I like the fact that green jobs will be created.However, how are people who dont have one supposed to survive in this economy.. They certainly are not going to find a job in a minute or two.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2011/02/15/deep_cuts_some_gains_for_bay_state_in_obama_budget/

Deep cuts, chance of gains for state in Obama budget
Programs for poor would take big hit Targeted spending could add jobs

By Donovan Slack and Stephen Smith
Globe Staff / February 15, 2011
E-mail|Print|Reprints|Comments (28) Text size – +
WASHINGTON — The $3.7 trillion budget that President Obama unveiled yesterday would deliver pain to many struggling residents of Massachusetts — from inner-city youths to the elderly — while doling out money for clean energy research and road construction that could create jobs in the state.
...
In Boston, social programs would be severely affected, local officials and advocates said. Fourteen food pantries would get less financial help; so would 6,000 city residents who get vouchers for day care. Fuel assistance for 27,000 Bostonians, including many elderly and disabled, would be reduced.

Cuts would be made in programs that prevent children from getting asthma and lead poisoning in their homes. Pell Grants for students attending college in the summer would be eliminated.

With his budget, Obama is seeking to reduce the federal deficit by $400 billion over 10 years with deep cuts in certain areas even as he proposes to stimulate job growth with greater spending in others, an initiative he calls “winning the future.’’
...
In Boston, social programs would be severely affected, local officials and advocates said. Fourteen food pantries would get less financial help; so would 6,000 city residents who get vouchers for day care. Fuel assistance for 27,000 Bostonians, including many elderly and disabled, would be reduced.

Cuts would be made in programs that prevent children from getting asthma and lead poisoning in their homes. Pell Grants for students attending college in the summer would be eliminated.

With his budget, Obama is seeking to reduce the federal deficit by $400 billion over 10 years with deep cuts in certain areas even as he proposes to stimulate job growth with greater spending in others, an initiative he calls “winning the future.’’

...
Also facing cuts are two signature programs of the Boston Public Health Commission. The city agency has been a pioneer in dispatching health workers to older homes in Dorchester, Roxbury, and other neighborhoods, and working with residents to eliminate the environmental triggers that inflame asthma. That campaign, known as Healthy Homes, aims to spare asthmatic children from trips to the hospital, where treatment can cost thousands of dollars.

It looks like another of these bootstraps budgets that Clinton loved, with very little coming from the rich and way too much from the poor (personal responsibility myth). I should not be surprised as the new OMB director Lew was Clinton's OMB director, but at first view, I find it disappointing. Poor people are hurting. It is good to provide them opportunities, but many are not in a position to take these opportunities and will be left in a worse position.

I guess nobody should be surprised that the GOP wants to cut even more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2011/02/15/house_gop_eager_to_slash_much_more/

On another note, I wonder if my congressman (Ed Markey) is considering challenging Brown. He certainly has tried to raise his visibility these last few weeks, after years where he had been very low profile in MA.