AmeriCorps awaits large increase in federal funding

Boston Globe ^ | 11/27/2003 | Jennifer C. Kerr

[RJCogburn]

Hobbled by management and money problems, the AmeriCorps national service program stands to get a huge funding boost from Congress that could swell its ranks of volunteers next year.

Rolled into the $373 billion spending bill worked out by congressional and White House negotiators this week was $444 million for AmeriCorps -- an increase of more than 50 percent over the past fiscal year. It's also about $10 million more than the amount requested by President Bush for the struggling program.

[RJCogburn]

Clinton's baby gets fed.

[Fledermaus]

Total waste of money.

[clee1]

The federal agency that runs AmeriCorps -- the Corporation for National and Community Service -- has been plagued by mismanagement and financial troubles.

So what can we do to fix the problem? I know! We'll do what politicians always do with their failed feel-good programs... give it more money!!!!

For the love of God! When are our "civil servants" gonna quit spending my tax dollars on this crap?

[lilsparky]

Misguided or mismanaged as the organization may be (there is nothing unique about that) my daughter leaves in January for 10 months of service to community and country with Americorps (the NCCC) and I am very proud of her for doing it.

[banjo joe]

So what can we do to fix the problem?

Yep, more dough. Don't fire (or, in the case of gubmint, reassign) the incompents and malfeasants.

[ImpotentRage]

Isn't it possible for President Bush to stop ANY of this excessive spending and funding? I am so disgusted with taxpayers money being given to anyone, anytime. AmeriCorps should be been done away with years ago - this is disgusting!

[RJCogburn]

Isn't it possible for President Bush to stop ANY of this excessive spending and funding?

First he would want to.

I believe he proposed increased spending, though not as much as in this measure. When you've already agreed that it is good to increase you have lost most of the battle.

Sorry, but when it comes to domestic agenda, the tax cut an exception, Bush is pretty much a RINO.

[Fzob]

The federal agency that runs AmeriCorps -- the Corporation for National and Community Service -- has been plagued by mismanagement and financial troubles.

Great idea. Let give them more money to pay volunteers.

Freaking maddening boondoggle

[raybbr]

...funding boost from Congress that could swell its ranks of volunteers next year.

Are vounteers getting paid? This makes no sense. How does an increase in funding translate in more volunteers? This is just like high school student forced to "volunteer" to get into college.

Bush is almost done in my eyes. He is leading all those who believe they are entitled to government funds right to the trough.

[Ed_in_NJ]

$444 million for "volunteers?"

Sounds like this admin. has borrowed the i42 Dictionary!

Pure crap!

[RJCogburn]

Bush is almost done in my eyes

My eyes are a bit clearer.

[varon]

So what can we do to fix the problem?

Oh, that's easy. Give it more diversity ;-)

[gaspar]

Now, are you ready to admit that he is a Rockefeller Republican?

[lilsparky]

Americorps "volunteers" aren't strictly volunteers. They receive a living allowance of approximately $400 per month (before taxes), basic uniforms, room and board (and no, that's not hotel rooms) and basic medical coverage. At the end of their 10 month commitment - 1700 hours of service with formal projects, and 80 hours of individual service projects, they are eligible for a $5000 education grant.

My daughter is part of a group of 300 who will start in January in Denver. They train for four weeks, then divide up into teams of 15. They go out to various projects for 6-8 weeks at a time - could be anything from rebuilding trails in national forests, to building playgrounds in inner cities, to tutoring kids in rural schools. They then return to Denver to regroup, retrain, and go out on their next project.

Some of them are also part of the FEMA disaster response team. When there is a large disaster, natural or otherwise, they pack up and go to the disaster site and do what needs to be done for displaced victims.

[Kay Ludlow]

Are volunteers getting paid? This is one of the great governmental scams, in my opinion - of course they're getting paid! The organization that wants Americorp volunteers puts up $3800/year, and the government pays the balance of "a modest living allowance" as well as providing up to $4725 a year in an account for college expenses or paying off student loans. Our local environmental radical group has 3 of these "volunteers" working full-time to lobby local government to implement increasing land-use restrictions in order to "save the watershed". I learned about how it works at a presentation given by the Riverkeeper Alliance on how to get staffing to set up an organization locally that would take legal action against local government to implement Riverkeeper's interpretation of environmental law. Leftist groups are getting young people dirt cheap to work in a radicalized environment in hopes of gaining new converts, and we the taxpayers are footing the bill. Outrageous!

[RJCogburn]

Now, are you ready to admit that he is a Rockefeller Republican?

Sure.

A RINO at best

[RJCogburn]

Good for your daughter and I think it's wonderful to be proud of her.

I think that this is a crazy boondoggle, a bad idea, building playgrounds and trails is something I don't think I want to pay for.