Trump budget to slash entitlements by $1.7 trillion!

Axios via Associated Press ^ | 05/22/2017 | Pablo Martinez Monsivais

[SeekAndFind]

President Trump's 2018 budget proposal on Tuesday won't reform Social Security or Medicare — in line with his campaign promise — but it will make serious cuts to other entitlement programs. A source with direct knowledge tells me the Trump budget will save $1.7 trillion on the mandatory side over the next ten years.

Expected reaction: In the past couple days I've spoken to a number of White House officials about the budget proposal. The best summary, from one White House source: "Conservatives will love it; moderates will probably hate it." These mandatory cuts — especially to politically-sensitive programs like food stamps — will make some moderate Republicans as nervous as the recent health care bill did.

• Balanced budget: I am told Trump's budget will balance over ten years. To get there, it will propose tough cuts on both the mandatory and discretionary sides — e.g. to the EPA and State Department — and will assume that the U.S economy will grow at 3 percent instead of the 1.6 percent rate it grew in 2016. The 3 percent growth rate will be reached after a few years, not immediately.
• Where the entitlement cuts are made: From programs including SNAP (food stamps), CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program), and SSDI (Disability Insurance). The budget proposal will also assume that Trump can sign into law the American Health Care Act — the Obamacare repeal and replace bill that passed the House and is now being considered by the Senate. That bill makes substantial cuts to Medicaid.
• How the entitlement money will be saved: The source tells me there'll be an "emphasis on work requirements for able-bodied people" to save money on these social welfare programs.

"Good news" budget items the administration will tout:

1. Student loans: As the Washington Post previewed: "students currently can have the balance of their loan forgiven after paying 10 percent of their income for 20 years. Trump's proposal — which makes good on a campaign promise — would raise the maximum payment to 12.5 percent of income, but shorten the payment period to 15 years."
2. Pell grants: As the Post previewed: "The spending plan supports year-round Pell Grants, which allow low-income students to use the money for three semesters of college, instead of two. That way, students can take a full load of courses year-round and earn a degree faster."

[henkster]

I can already hear the screaming.

[napscoordinator]

Great news. Sure throws water on the navy ship story. Trump’s brilliant period.

[Principled]

I wish.

I don’t receive entitlements but I am forced to pay for them for others. I don’t even get to choose to whom I give charity. It is forcibly stolen from me and given to those chosen by government.

[wbill]

MMMMMMmmmm....Dem frustration. Music to my ears.

I'd suspect that millions of illegals self-deporting will shave a few percentage points out of the budget, too.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Yep. Me too. The liberals will scream that he’s taking food out of the mouths of babies. All the usual stuff will be said. Lack of compassion for the poor and all that. Taking food out of people’s mouths. Evicting people from their comfy Section 8 housing. Women and children and vulnerable minorities hurt hardest. Etc.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

The source tells me there'll be an "emphasis on work requirements for able-bodied people" to save money on these social welfare programs.

That'll make the "never-worker's" heads explode!

[Retired Chemist]

I have a problem with describing Social Security & Medicare as entitlements seeing I paid into them for almost 60 years.

[SaxxonWoods]

Congress will change those cuts to little or nothing is my prediction.

[Drango]

believe it when I see it...Then I’ll really believe it when it’s passed.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Another way to reduce the budget:

Reduce the number of weeks one can receive unemployment money back to the 26 weeks it was for years!

[Army Air Corps]

Wailing, gnashing of teeth...

[IronJack]

The libs are already inking up the boo-hoo presses. Expect to drown in stories of starving crippled children and whip-wielding overseers flogging a new generation of welfare slaves.

[NELSON111]

>>>Trump budget to slash entitlements by $1.7 trillion!

Which is exactly why it will never happen. So...I'm not sure what the excitement is for. The democrats will not go for it...and all they need is 22ish spineless republicans...and this is toast. The swamp is never going to go for it and the GOP is not going to shut the government down to support it.

This is DOA. Not being a debbie-downer...just being a realist. If anyone wants to make a wager...I'm game...have your pay-pal ready.

[cableguymn]

DOA.. Ryan and The Turtle will see to it.

The swamp needs more draining.

[cableguymn]

They will change the - to a + You can take that to the bank.

[Uncle Miltie]

No President’s budget gets enacted.

[DoodleDawg]

The $1.7 trillion in costs are over ten years. Are $170 billion per year in cuts enough to offset the planned increases in spending for Defense, Infrastructure, and Child Care and still balance the budget?

[Dave W]

That has been changed to 26 weeks years ago....at least in Virginia, so I assume that is true elsewhere.

[Don W]

Conservatives will love it; moderates BARKING MOONBAT LEFTISTS will probably hate it.

FTFY