On Monday, President Obama unveiled his proposed 2012 fiscal budget which slashes the deficit by $1.1 trillion over the next decade, but cuts funding to programs that assist the working poor, helps heat the homes of the needy, expand access to graduate-level education, and undermines community-based organizations, much like the one that helped propel him ultimately to the presidency.
Signing off on tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to the tune of $858 billion dollars, for a two-year period last December, Obama’s proposed reductions will squeeze social programs, on average by just over $100 billion, each year.
Although Obama’s budgetary proposals make provision for spending in education, scientific research and critical infrastructure which aims to help spark job creation and restore the U.S. competitiveness, Republican leaders charge that the budget continues on a “reckless fiscal path” and “fails to address the massive federal debt.”
Repeatedly, polls show that Americans place “jobs and the economy”, as the top national priority, even as Republicans continue to trumpet debt and deficit reduction.
The GOP has proposed a series of deep cuts to health, education, job training, and innovation–all of which would be detrimental to the economy, putting even more Americans out of work.
It’s left to be seen what programs do survive the axe-wielding Republicans in the House, where they hold the majority.
