Overview of Federal Budget to be released at 11 AM
According to the Government Printing Office, an overview of the first budget proposed by President Barack Obama is set to be released today at 11 AM. Politico reports the document is 134 pages long.
Here's a link to the page where the GPO announced the title of the budget:
"A New Era of Responsibility: Renewing America's Promise"
For PDF links to the current budget, click here.
As I mentioned in my line-by-line posts on ARRA titles from a couple of weeks ago, the economic stimulus bill appeared to resemble closely a "typical" federal budget. In other words, it looked like gap coverage for budget shortfalls for the rest of this fiscal year, which ends on September 30, 2009, in addition to spending for public works projects.
As soon as the overview of the budget is released I will begin looking at it when I have time as I am drafting the final chapter of my dissertation.
In the meanwhile, why not check it out yourself?
We're in for a bumpy ride in the coming weeks in terms of bipartisan peek-a-boo.
I promise to do my very best to keep those politicians honest about what's in the budget in order to *correct* any *misinformation* the congressional party of "no" might try to promulgate.
**Update (2/26/09 3PM) Here's a link to the overview as posted on the GPO.
11 comments:
A new era of responsibility- perfect title!
I just got off the plane from SFO, but I already heard Boehner complaining. Thanks for the links. This is going to be a real fight with all of those agriculture subsidies. Goes to the heart of those red states. They will feel singled out even though it's over $500,000 (at least that is what CNN said). Also the Wall street income shelter will be a bloody battle as well. but I think he'll win in the court of public opinion.
Good job Skye.
Looking forward to your analysis of the new budget. You are my hero! Well, you and Xena. ;)
Is this like Helen reading Coulter's book? I'm not a detail person, and it sounds like a snore, or eating nails or something...I'm soooo greatful someone is taking this on!! You're the girl!! But you have to take care of your studies first...
No worries; I actually like research and what not (kind of part of the territory with my degree), so I feel like I am able to volunteer something since at the moment I am a grad student (i.e., perpetually broke) and have little free time.
I feel like I am giving something back at least...
Hey Skye, I really like the new look.
I would need to look a lot deeper into our Agricultural Programs to understand the nature of what Obama is promoting in his budget cuts. 500 thousand dollars {did I read that right} isnt really that much for farmers to make or loose--they could easily spend that much just leasing or buying new equipment and such.
I would like to see us eventually looking at more sustainable farming methods and get Hemp {not Marijuana} legalized for crops in the U.S.
Thanks, Catherine. I felt the need to lighten things up a bit :).
Seeing Eye:
The farming thing might not turn out to be a huge problem. I haven't has a chance to get past the Budget Message at the opening of the document this afternoon.
But a quick glance at the Dept of Agriculture section: a portion of $61,000,000 in subsidies/grants are part of a program for rural coop development.
Currently, large producers get money (per the current Farm Bill was originally part of a temporary measure in 1996 that was not allowed to expire and was included in both the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills) regardless of crop prices, losses, or whether or not the land is in production (page 48 of pdf).
Under the new budget, the cap would indeed be at half a million dollars, but farmers could "replace those payments with alternate sources of income from carbon sequestration, renewable energy production, and providing clear air, clean water, and wildlife habitat" (page 48).
Interestingly, ARRA included funding to help farmers develop and construct these technologies.
The budget also provides cooperation with the USDA to help with research and development to help establish markets for these ecosystem services (48).
That's all I can tell you at the moment.
It looks pretty interesting and I am anxious to dig deeper into it.
Also, to hear all your thoughts on it, too! :)
Sorry, seeing eye, I accidentally deleted that last comment.
I'm still getting used to the moderation tabs...
No worries at all about eons. I am just a bit prickly this week; I *really* need to lighten up and after I wrote it I felt like a jerk (slunk away slowly with my tail between my legs...).
They seem like a nice group. And I came in a pissed and shitty...
No, I saw the post, they were shitty to you. One of them was talking smack about you because she thought you would never see it. Imagine her surprise when you showed up and called her on it. Don't roll over for that. I was very upset when I saw that exchange, not because of what you said, but because of who started it and why.
I've got to get into the agriculture sections, that is a portion that will really interest me. I'm not sure that I will be against cuts in agriculture though because it seems that the only farmers who were able to qualify for subsidies were those who practiced the mantra of overproduction to the resulting exclusion of small farmers, spread of disease among farm animals, damage to croplands, use of genetic modification, etc...
Let me go read that before I work myself into a small farm frenzy...
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