House GOP to slash environmental, arts funding (o noes)

Associated Press ^ | Jul 22, 2013 4:22 PM EDT | Andrew Taylor

[Olog-hai]

House Republicans Monday proposed slashing cuts to environmental programs and funding for the Smithsonian Institution and the arts as they unveiled the latest legislation to implement the second year of budget cuts required under so-called sequestration.

The $24 billion spending measure would gut the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency with a one-third cut and cuts the National Endowments for the Arts by almost half. Overall, the measure funding the Interior Department, EPA, national parks and federal firefighting efforts is cut by 19 percent below funding approved in March.

It takes a more modest approach to the national parks with a slight increase over levels mandated by sequestration, the across-the-board cuts forced by Washington’s failure to strike a bipartisan budget accord. And firefighting efforts would benefit from $1.5 billion in “emergency” funds on top of the spending limits set by the GOP’s austere budget plan. …

[stevem]

Why not cut massive amounts from the IRS, the Justice Department and anything funding Obamacare?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Art” today can be a booger with a hair in it!

[Eva]

Art is not something that the government should be involved in. This is not the Middle Ages and we don’t have any Cistene Chapel to paint.

[Necrovore]

They slash it now, but it will be put.back in during the argument for some other spending bill. How about these wimps really cut some spending, like defund the kennedy/bush medicare atrocity, or foodstamps for illegals? They wont do any substantial cuts at all. This I nothing more than political theater.

[RightGeek]

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I’m waiting for a return of federal land takings to the states act. Seriously, there is absolutely NO, ZERO legitimate reason for the federal government to have taken:

Nevada 84.5%
Alaska 69.1%
Utah 57.5%
Oregon 53.1%
Idaho 50.2%
Arizona 48.1%
California 45.3%
Wyoming 42.3%
New Mexico 41.8%
Colorado 36.6%
Washington 30.3%
Montana 29.9%
Hawaii 19.4%

[IronJack]

gut the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency with a one-third cut and cuts the National Endowments for the Arts by almost half

Stand by for the inevitable stories of environmental rapine and starving artists ... well ... starving.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

there is absolutely NO, ZERO legitimate reason for the federal government to have taken...

The states should all just go in, tear down all the fedgov signs and auction off the land at bargain basement prices to ranchers, oil men, and land developers.

[GeronL]

better to abolish than cut the rate of growth. I guess they are making room for handouts to LaRaza and LULAC

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

There are some legitimate takings, such as Indian reservations and military reservations, plus a few of the “national crown jewels”. However, the takings by “presidential proclamation” need to end and be reversed.

It is for the best if this is done in a methodical manner by a willing congress, which avoids many court fights. It should be done as part of a systematic reduction in presidential power, and restoration of civil rights.

[Postman]

DEFUND HUD!!!

[bert]

Hud is the symptom

Obama is the black plague

[drbuzzard]

Actually the EPA was founded under Nixon. You can thank Jimmah for the Department of Education and the Department of Energy. Both of those could use the axe.