Blog
More federal budget cuts leads to a smaller safety net for the future
By on 04/13/2011 @ 03:32 PM
Deven D. Anderson – Senior Program Associate for Youth & Young Adult Initiatives.
Last week the world of social media was abuzz with young Americans sharing their thoughts, fears, and concerns over a partial government shutdown. (Last time there was a government shutdown there was no Twitter or Facebook and many of us were in Elementary school.) However, late Friday night a deal was struck between the GOP and Democrats to extend the financing of the government for an additional week which averted the looming shutdown. In press releases by both parties each side claimed victory in the aftermath of the deal. GOP emphasized the dramatic cuts that they won in the six month spending bill while the Democrats celebrated the preservation of favored programs to include Head Start, Pell Grants and scientific and medical research programs.
Yet a closer look to what is actually in the spending bill will tell a different story; one that will affect low income communities, women, and youth of color. One of the most talked about by lines during the budget standoff was that concerning of federal funds received by Planned Parenthood – the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. While many were fighting for maintaining the funding of Planned Parenthood however the 11th hour deal proposed cuts include $600 million cut to Community Health Centers which will stunt the growth of new health centers. Other proposed cuts include:
- Elimination of the Affordable Care Act’s Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) which would have allowed the creation of qualified nonprofit health issuers to offer health plans to individual and small group markets.
- Elimination of the Affordable Care Act’s Free Choice Voucher programs provides the opportunity for employers to offer “vouchers” their employees who earn less than 400% federal poverty level to use their employer’s health insurance contribution for exchange plans, which can be more affordable and offer a better value for the worker.
- $504 million cut from The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program which support low-income women and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing foods to supplement diets.
- Elimination of summer pell grants. According to Angus Johnston blogger for studentactivism.net in a recent post said “as course offerings are being scaled back at campuses across the country, ending aid for summer classes will make it even more difficult for low-income students to complete their degree requirements in a reasonable time.”
- $390 million cut to the low-income heating assistance (LIHEAP) which assists low income households, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, primarily in meeting their immediate home energy needs. $942 million to Community Development Funds that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs.
Outside of the proposed cuts also include “riders” specifically for the District of Columbia which will limit local funds for abortions for low-income women and also institutes the DC Opportunity Scholarship program which will expand private school vouchers which has been considered a long time divisive issue.
The budget crisis has re-introduced the catch phrase of “deficit reduction” which translates to a smaller safety net for Americans young and old during these uncertain times of economic challenges. This afternoon, President Barack Obama will address the deficit and budget in the wake of new talks on the expected vote on raising the debt-ceiling. Republicans have already stated that any deals will include steep spending cuts in order to win their support on raising the $14.3 trillion debt limit.
There is still a chance that most of the proposed cuts will not be included in the final bill which is expected to be introducing on the House floor this week. Each of us has an opportunity to lend our voices in this deficit reduction debate that will have a large impact on our local communities. Will you join us? For more information on how to become involve with BlackYouthVote! please contact us at 202-772-3171 or blackyouthvote@ncbcp.org