WP: 2006 Cuts In Domestic Spending On Table

Thursday, May 27, 2004; Page A01

The White House put government agencies on notice this month that if President Bush is reelected, his budget for 2006 may include spending cuts for virtually all agencies in charge of domestic programs, including education, homeland security and others that the president backed in this campaign year.

Administration officials had dismissed the significance of the proposed cuts when they surfaced in February as part of an internal White House budget office computer printout. At the time, officials said the cuts were based on a formula and did not accurately reflect administration policy. But a May 19 White House budget memorandum obtained by The Washington Post said that agencies should assume the spending levels in that printout when they prepare their fiscal 2006 budgets this summer.

"Assume accounts are funded at the 2006 level specified in the 2005 Budget database," the memo informs federal program associate directors and their deputies. "If you propose to increase funding above that level for any account, it must be offset within your agency by proposing to decrease funding below that level in other accounts."

J.T. Young, a spokesman for the White House Office of Management and Budget, said the memo, titled "Planning Guidance for the FY 2006 Budget," is a routine "process document" to help agency officials begin establishing budget procedures for 2006. In no way should it be interpreted as a final policy decision, or even a planning document, he said.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58762-2004May26.html

How much will people put up with before they realize that this country is becoming Brazil (both the country and the film)?

would announce this before the election. Why tell any truths now?

The Bush Administration wants to remind their base that, regardless of any 'minor' problems in Iraq, the reason to vote for Bush is because he will slash domestic programs.

Look for the theme to be picked up by the hardcore conservative voices (they want this message out there), but I think the rank-and-file media will let it pass - that durn librul media!

cripple the federal government so it can't limit corporate power. We're about to live in a world completely controlled by corporations.

Gives the robber barons a free ride to complete fascism.

:kick:

Guess the Churches will take over...