We now know more detail about the budget deal that prevented a government shutdown.
So how real are the cuts, and what did each side give up?
The shutdown has been averted, though the drama there was a bit overplayed.
So how good a deal did the two sides hammer out, and does it make any dent in the deficit?
The answers are OK and…are you kidding?
Oh, there are some real cuts, and some window dressing, but considering what House Republicans had originally demanded, the President got off light.
The White House must absorb a 1.6-billion dollar cut in the environmental Protection agency, a cut in Homeland Security for the first time ever, and a half billion dollars cut from international food aid. The Food safety and Inspection Service will lose $10-million.
Cuts to labor, health and education programs were minimal, and well below what had originally been cut in the House budget. Community health centers lose $600-million and Title Ten family planning programs, a big bone of contention, survived but at 2008 levels.
Transportation and housing programs are down about 12%. High Speed Rail took a hit, foreign aid and climate change assistance will return to 2010 levels, as will the budget of the IRS.
The deal also eliminated 4 of the Presidential policy advisors, sometimes called czars. But it largely symbolic since 3 are already gone.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission budget will increase, along with the “Race to the Top education program. The National Science Foundation is up as well, and Head Start for a boost of $300-million. Pell Grants are protected and Health Care Reform lost nothing.
The Food and Drug Administration got more money as did the FBI.
And the Pentagon got a $5-billion raise.
Next comes the fight over raising the debt ceiling, which must be done, and after that, the 2012 budget where Republicans have promised to cut at least $68-billion.
If you need a mental image…think Gettysburg.
The President and Speaker Boehner have one thing in common. Angry colleagues.
Many Republicans, are disappointed with the budget deal and might not vote for it.
Many Democrats are upset that the President gave so much.
To be continued.