Appropriations

Democrats alleged Friday that the GOP approach to Homeland Security funding will shortchange disaster victims, including those affected by flooding in the Mississippi River Valley and by tornadoes in Alabama.

The charges came as the House Appropriations Homeland Security subcommittee approved by voice vote a DHS bill for 2012 that cuts spending by $1.1 billion compared to current funding and $2.7 billion compared to what President Obama had sought.

The bill, which will proceed to a full committee markup May 23, is considered the least controversial of the 12 appropriations bills this year. Much larger cuts are planned for labor, transportation and foreign-assistance funding.

House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) said the new Homeland Security appropriations bill released Thursday will hurt the ability to fight terrorism and handle disasters within the U.S.

“Although this allocation is not as drastically cut as some, there are still several short sighted cuts and unnecessary provisions in this bill. For instance, State and Local Emergency Grants are cut by a staggering 55 percent below the enacted level and 70 percent below the previous fiscal year,” Dicks said.

Overall, the bill cuts $1.1 billion from current spending for Homeland Security and $2.7 billion below President Obama’s request.

Federal Emergency Management Agency grants are cut the deepest, by $2.1 billion.

“This is penny-wise, pound-foolish thinking, as the Republican majority fortunately sees the merit in helping states and localities rebuild after a disaster but not prepare for one before it happens,” Dicks said.

The GOP’s spending bill for the Homeland Security Department cuts $1.1 billion from the current level of funding, with the largest cut coming to disaster aid to states and localities.

The bill, made public Thursday, comes in at $2.7 billion less than President Obama had requested for the department this year.  It will be marked up Friday by subcommittee.

The Homeland Security appropriations bill cuts $2.1 billion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency state and local grant program, which the committee has deemed wasteful and backlogged. To balance this out, it adds to the federal Disaster Relief Fund.

The cut drew fire from the subcommittee's top Democrat, Rep. David Price (D-N.C.).

"Congressman Price believes that state and local preparedness grants are unacceptably low in this bill.  Of course, that is mainly the result of an inadequate allocation for annual homeland security funding.  We’re finally getting to see some of the real-world implications of the completely unrealistic budget the Republican majority passed just weeks ago," Price spokesman Andrew High said.

Washington Mayor Vince Gray pleaded with Congress on Thursday to grant the District freedom to spend local funds as it sees fit and said the recent budget battles in Congress show more than ever that D.C. should be freed from the broken annual appropriations process.

Testifying before the House Oversight subcommittee that oversees D.C., Gray said the current appropriations process is costly to the District and opens it to the risk of a government shutdown such as that which almost occurred in April due to wrangling between Democrats and Republicans.

Gray said, "[T]he lengthy and complicated federal appropriations process ... has severe effects on the District government.

“This flaw was made abundantly clear barely a month ago, when the District was forced to spend its very limited funds preparing for a potential shutdown,” Gray said. 

Oversight full committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) signaled at the hearing that he is supportive of granting the District budget autonomy, with strings attached.

Issa asked Gray whether he would be able to offer Congress contingency plans showing the District can operate, in the event of a shutdown, entirely on locally raised funds.

Gray said afterward that he was encouraged by Issa’s comments and that discussions with him are underway. Issa told reporters he is vetting a bill that would grant budget autonomy.

He said that D.C.’s budget powers would be enhanced by allowing it to tax income where it is earned. He pointed out that only 30 percent of those working in D.C. live and pay income taxes there.

Lawmakers are being given the choice to opt out of receiving print copies of daily and permanent editions of Congressional and Federal publications as the Government Printing Office looks to reduce unnecessary printing and wasteful spending.
 
The GPO is currently conducting a survey across Congressional offices to see how many, if any, would be willing to cease receiving paper copies of the Congressional Record and Federal Register, among other publications.
 
“We’re doing a survey to see who wants the Record,” said William Boarman, Public Printer of the United States, in testimony Wednesday before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch.
 
“Obviously, if a number of members opt out, that’s going to create a savings right away and may change the way we actually do business,” he added.
 
The survey has reportedly been undertaken at the behest of the Committee on House Administration to identify efficiencies in the GPO, according to a committee staff member.
 
Last week, committee chairman Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) and Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight, circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter encouraging lawmakers to opt out of receiving paper publications. Read more...

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The GOP 2012 budget resolution, if passed, would give appropriators a top line of $1.019 trillion to spend in 2012, the House Budget committee spokesman said Wednesday.

This so-called 302(A) allocation is not immediately apparent in the budget documents released Tuesday by the committee.

The $1.019 trillion is $72 billion less than 2010 spending levels, which were $1.091 trillion, and $109 billion below President Obama's 2011 request, which was never enacted.

The GOP 2012 budget resolution assumes the GOP is victorious in its fight on 2011 spending and is able to get $61 billion in cuts compared to 2010 this year. Spending would then decrease another $11 billion next year under the plan being presented by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).