Posted on 05/07/2009 1:26:40 PM PDT by nickcarraway
ABC News' Yunji de Nies reports:
Speaking in Eisenhower Executive Office building this morning, President Obama touted the $17 billion in budget cuts as a step toward building, "a government of the 21st century - a government that is more efficient and more effective. A government that does what we need it to do - and nothing we dont."
Flanked by the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Peter Orszag and Rob Nabors, the president said Americans are tightening their belts and making tough decisions and that Washington must do the same.
"We can no longer afford to spend as if deficits do not matter and waste is not our problem," Obama said.
The president laid out a number of examples of the more than 100 programs that will face cuts or termination, saying that many of them were outdated or ineffective.
The $17 billion in cuts add up to roughly one half of one percent of the $3.55 trillion budget. Still, the president said the savings are significant.
"These savings, large and small, add up. The 121 budget cuts we are announcing today will save taxpayers nearly $17 billion next year alone. Thats a lot of money, even by Washington standards," he said.
The president also spoke about other areas where his administration will save money, including healthcare, defense and the elimination of no-bid government contracts.
"All told, by the end of my first term we will cut the deficit in half. Over the next decade well bring non-defense discretionary spending to its lowest level as a share of Gross Domestic Product since 1962. We will also continue to look for ways we can save taxpayers money. And I know there are many in both parties in Congress committed to cutting spending and eager to work with us."
Then I wonder what he thinks the $3.4 TRILLION is?
Yes, $17B is a lot of money. But not as much as you have increased the deficit, Barry.
This guy is a clown.
OPM*
*Other People's Money
“A government that does what we need it to do - and nothing we dont.”
Doesn’t sound so articulate there.
“Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem.” - Ronald Reagan.
$80 billion? The last Republican Congress budget for fiscal 2007 had a deficit of $160 billion. You gonna cut that in half you flaming-non-American-asshat!!!!
Obama: "I need some of this walking around money from your jar..."
A cheeky sonofagun. Amazing that he can keep himself from snickering in public at just how easy it is for him to get away with his BS.
fixed
“These savings, large and small, add up. The 121 budget cuts we are announcing today will save taxpayers nearly $17 billion next year alone. Thats a lot of money, even by Washington standards”
No, it’s not. Can the MSM still call him a silver-togued fox after laughable statements like this? Or does it not count if they don’t report it?
$17 billion sounds more impressive than $3.4 trillion.
his whole administration seems to be based around the George Lackoff theory that the average American Sheeple cannot get his mind around nor distingush between a billion, a trillion, or a gazillion....
“All told, by the end of my first term...”
Oh, so he’s going to have more than one term? This can’t be his “first term” if he isn’t re-elected in four years. Don’t we usually let the American voter decide that?
Thats a lot of money, even by Washington standards....I heard some radio commentator today who said it is the equivalent of turning off one light bulb on the Vegas Strip.
Is that what he meant by CHANGE?
I fully expect to see this imformative, easy to understand graph prominently displayed on all the nightly news casts. /s
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