House of Representatives' Budget Cuts to Meals on Wheels

An email from the President of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston... IMGH, in conjunction with the Houston Food Bank, administers the Food For Seniors program and AniMeals (pet food deliveries for homebound seniors). I've been volunteering with them for the past 6 years.

"You may have read in the paper about a bill passed by the House of Representatives that would cut a significant portion of national funding for programs like Meals on Wheels. The same bill would likely affect our Refugee Services programs and hit a wide variety of other organizations that many of us hold dear. For example, The Houston Food Bank would be swamped as food stamps are cut; Easter Seals will be devastated as funding for children and adults with disabilities is slashed. The list goes on and on.

Now truth be told I am what is called a Social Moderate and a Fiscal Conservative. That places me right in the middle of the pack called "independent" voters. As a Social Moderate I hold that there are some things that a caring society must do and many things that government should steer away from. I am not pro or anti much - I actually see all sorts of gray.

As a "moderate" Fiscal Conservative I believe that government needs to invest as well as cut - and that growth takes targeted and usually sustained investments. Sometimes government needs to raise more money to make those investments and it is we, the people, who need to determine, as best as possible, the collective will of the country.

Finding the right balance is a hard thing to do. Particularly given the hyper-partisan times in which we live. The divides are deep and at times disturbing. It's absolutely clear that we can't afford everything. We have to make hard choices - and accept cuts in funding for the programs that we support. But we also have to be fair - to put the burden of the majority of the cuts that our governments have to make on the back of the least of us is just unfair. I, for one, as a Fiscal Conservative, want our leaders to stop the political gamesmanship and lead. Conservatism means fiscal prudence. There's lots of ways to be prudent without being unfair."

It's really unfortunate that these misers in the House of Representatives are playing political games and doing everything they can to stall effective government. Meanwhile, the crappy legislation that they do put forth guts essential programs and places additional burden on the elderly.

 

http://www.chron.com/default/article/GOP-measure-shields-lawmakers-office-budgets-3566122.php

GOP measure shields lawmakers' office budgets

ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press
Updated 03:53 p.m., Thursday, May 17, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even as they press cuts to food stamps and a host of other domestic programs, Republicans running the House of Representatives are shielding their own office expense accounts from further cuts.

In draft legislation supported by Republicans and Democrats alike, the House Appropriations Committee would instead freeze the $574 million budget for lawmakers' staff, travel and office expenses.

The spending freeze announced Thursday comes as Republicans are rewriting last summer's budget accord to press cuts to non-defense agency budgets by about 5 percent on average. The overall $3.3 billion Capitol Hill funding bill would absorb a 1 percent cut that comes from cutting back the budget for repairing the iconic Capitol dome, which dates to the Civil War.

"I'd prefer the dome remain a monument to our nation's greatness and not become a symbol for short-sighted austerity," said Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash.

Congress' approval rating rose to 17 percent in a Gallup poll last month, up from a record low 10 percent approval rating in February.

An Appropriations subcommittee is scheduled to approve the measure Friday before lawmakers exit Washington for a week-long vacation.

In two earlier rounds of appropriations bills for 2011 and 2012, Republicans imposed a 10.5 percent budget cut on the House. Their office budgets — officially called the "members' representational allowance" — have been cut by a total of 13 percent from the record $660 million approved by a Democratic-controlled Congress for 2010.

"The nation's budget challenges are far from over, and Congress must continue to lead by example and hold the reins on spending wherever possible, including in our own Capitol complex," said Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky. "At the same time, we must maintain the efficacy of the people's House, and ensure the safety and security of the thousands of people who work in and visit our historic buildings every day. This bill balances both of these needs."

In March, the House passed a budget plan that would force non-defense cuts of $27 billion below levels agreed to in the budget and debt pact forged by President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Since then, Rogers has revealed plans that generally shield some Cabinet departments — like Justice and Homeland Security — from the cuts, while the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Housing and Urban Development will bear a much larger share.

In implementing the GOP budget, authored by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Republicans earlier this month passed legislation cutting food stamps, pension benefits for federal workers, health care and social services programs like Meals on Wheels for the elderly.

"For the most part ... this bill has been protected from Ryan budget austerity," Dicks said in a statement.

Office budgets for members of Congress vary somewhat depending on how far they live from Washington and how expensive it is to rent office space back home. The average office budget is $1.4 million a year, according to the Congressional Research Service, but not every lawmaker spends that much. Staff salaries account for about 70 percent, on average.