In what we hope and trust will be demagogue and vindictive con man Donald "Impeached Forever" Trump's last Federal budget submission, domestic, social safety net and environmental protection programs would be cut significantly in 2021. Not surprisingly, Trump takes the ax to programs he dishonestly claimed he would protect:
"The budget would cut Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program and also wring savings from Medicare despite Trump’s repeated promises to safeguard Medicare and Social Security.
It takes aim at domestic spending with cuts that are sure to be rejected by Congress, including slashing the Environmental Protection Agency budget by 26.5 percent over the next year, and cutting the budget of the Health and Human Services department by 9 percent. HHS includes the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which will see a budget cut even as the coronavirus spreads -- although officials said funding aimed at combating the coronavirus would be protected." (our emphasis)Some agencies were spared in Trump's ugly request, namely the Department of Homeland Security, which has been implementing his brutal immigration policies, and NASA, which the Space Cadet In Chief wants to start preparations for an expedition to Mars (presumably to one-up JFK and the moon shot).
The budget request also makes use of some magic numbers, for example sustained economic growth per year of 3% (2019 growth fell to 2.3% under Trump), and acknowledges that the Rethug goal of closing the deficit in 10 years (2028) has slipped to 15 years (2035). And the red ink is rising:
"Trump’s first budget projected the deficit in 2021 would be $456 billion. Instead, it is projected to be more than double that amount.
Trump has shown little interest in dealing with the deficit and debt, though some GOP leaders say it remains a priority. The $4.8 trillion budget for 2021 would represent a $700 billion surge over levels from 2018."As always, deficits only matter when a Dem is the President, especially if he's an African-American.
If the Dems don't pound and pound on Trump's reactionary budget priorities and his false promises from now until Election Day, they'll be guilty of serious political malpractice.
BONUS: Pounding --
Two days ago: "We will not be touching your Social Security or Medicare in Fiscal Year 2021 Budget.” -Trump— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) February 10, 2020
Today: #TrumpBudget proposes $800 billion in cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Pass it on.
