The Budget Deal: What Does It Mean? Will Next Week Be Like This Week?

Late last night we reported that a temporary budget deal was reached to avoid a shutdown of the federal government. So what are the details? How will the nearly $40 billion in cuts from current spending levels effect you and me?

“It’s an agreement between Democrats and Republicans on behalf of all Americans that invests in our country while making the largest annual spending cut in our history,” President Barack Obama said minutes after the deal was announced.

He called it a “worthwhile compromise” that would nonetheless include “cuts that will be painful.”

“But beginning to live within our means is the only way to protect investments we need,” Obama said. “At the end of the day, this was a debate about spending cuts not social issues like women’s health and protecting our air and water.”

- The Policy Racket

The President is saying we need to live within our means? How ironic when he wanted to increase spending over our current levels. In fact the budget that was passed late last night cut $78.5 billion off of the President’s fiscal 2011 request.

Here are the details as we know them.

6-Day Stop Gap Measure

To give lawmakers time to ink the deal it included a prorated, six-day stopgap measure to keep the country running, minus about $2 billion, until Thursday.  The full budget will be voted on next week. Hopefully we don't have a repeat of this week and a threatened government shutdown.

Planned Parenthood and Title X

It also would keep intact funding to Planned Parenthood and resist several other Republican-proposed policy. Democrats insist that 97% of what Planned Parenthood does is preventative services. If that is couldn't the money be given to other organizations that provide preventative services and no abortions in any way? Thus eliminating the possibility money would be used for abortions and end this debate about tax-payer funded abortions.

It will be interesting to see more details as details are released perhaps after the budget is officially passed next week. Hopefully we don't have a repeat of this week (considering only a 6-day stop gap has officially been passed). For now though, both sides are claiming a political victory and pledging to look ahead to fiscal 2012, where far more political pitfalls appear to await.







---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think.

follow me on Twitter and facebook

---

---