Posted on 03/14/2002 4:38:27 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Republicans in the House of Representatives will unveil details of a fiscal year 2003 budget Wednesday that includes nearly $399 billion for national defense, the largest increase in 20 years. But that budget will not be balanced, or maybe it will.
House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) says the budgetary commitment to national defense answers a question on the mind of many Americans.
"Our country has been attacked and we are at war," Nussle said Tuesday at a press conference to preview the budget. "Americans are asking, 'Is our country safe? Is my family safe?' and our budget answers with a resounding 'Yes!'"
The budget resolution includes $37.7 billion for homeland defense, twice the amount spent for internal security by the federal government prior to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The money will support efforts to counter bio-terrorism, protect food supplies, secure borders, and provide resources for first responders at the local and state levels.
The budget will be in balance, depending on whose definition of "in balance" is used.
"We have a balanced budget," Nussle proclaimed, quickly adding, "If it was not for September 11th, we would have a balanced budget."
He said the economic stimulus package, increased spending on the war effort, and the financial assistance offered to New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., immediately following the attacks, "has basically, completely eliminated the surplus."
House Majority Whip Tom Delay (R-Texas) stressed that, while the budget will not be balanced immediately, Republicans have no intention of running long-term deficits.
"Because of the events of September 11, we are running a short-term deficit," he admitted. "But this Congress is committed to bringing the budget back into balance as quickly as possible."
Delay seized on a comment made Feb. 11 by Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) on the PBS program The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, possibly to head off any Democratic criticism of deficit spending.
Lehrer asked Daschle if Democrats' only plan to pay for increases they propose in social spending is to oppose new tax cuts.
"Well, no ... you asked what should we do and obviously there's an array of things that have to be done that I think ought to be examined more carefully," Daschle said.
"We haven't made any final decisions with regard to the allocation of defense money, the allocation of homeland security dollars; how we're looking to spend the discretionary, domestic money that the president's proposed in his budget," he said.
But Delay says Democrats can't have it both ways.
"Unfortunately, some Democrats have said they don't want to cut spending, however, they are still looking at the, 'allocation of defense dollars and the allocation of homeland security dollars,'" he said, quoting Daschle. "The Democrats seem poised to either raise taxes or raid defense."
Delay also rebuffed demands by Daschle that the president consult with congressional leaders prior to planning specific military actions in the war on terrorism.
"We will allow the president to carry out this war, as commander-in-chief, as he sees fit without laying out for the terrorist his plans for the future as to how he's going to carry out the war," Delay said, promising to fund the execution of the war.
The Republicans' proposed budget will also include a $10 billion 'reserve' fund for national defense and homeland security, which the president can request Congress to appropriate from as needed.
Delay says it will be "interesting to see if the Senate can even pass a budget." But he warns that squabbling over social spending will not get in the way of fully funding the war against terrorism.
"The House will be leading the way with a fiscally responsible budget," he concluded. "If we can't get one in agreement with the Senate, we will use this one for our appropriating process."
The Republican budget resolution is expected to be released Wednesday.
Good! At least I know that some of my tax money is going to something useful.
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