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Judi Lynn

(160,598 posts) Thu Jul 18, 2013, 03:28 PM Jul 2013

House proposes massive cuts to US aid, diplomacy

Source: Associated Press

House proposes massive cuts to US aid, diplomacy
By BRADLEY KLAPPER, Associated Press | July 18, 2013 | Updated: July 18, 2013 1:19pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans proposed slashing billions of dollars in U.S. diplomacy and overseas aid programs Thursday in legislation that will face fierce opposition from the Obama administration and the Democratic-led Senate.

The House Appropriations Committee's 2014 foreign operations bill would give full funding to embassy security, with the goal of preventing a repeat of last year's deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya. The measure also would maintain security money for allies Israel and Jordan.

But it would cut heavily in other areas, taking spending down to $34.1 billion. That's $8 billion or about 20 percent lower than last year. Along with proposed cuts to the Internal Revenue Service, the measure includes some of the most severe elements of the GOP's cost-cutting effort.

"Given all of the country's needs and fiscal realities, we must prioritize our very limited funds on only the most important international activities," said the committee chairman, Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/House-proposes-massive-cuts-to-US-aid-diplomacy-4672300.php

14 replies

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Highlight:

House proposes massive cuts to US aid, diplomacy (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jul 2013 OP

So, the GOP carla Jul 2013 #1

When I hear these types of stories . . . aggiesal Jul 2013 #14

moronocracy nt Deep13 Jul 2013 #2

Perhaps it's time for Iraq to start repaying us for freeing them? AndyA Jul 2013 #3

Oh, they used the oil money to reimburse us alright. RC Jul 2013 #6

Benghazi N/T Tribalceltic Jul 2013 #4

Sure, cut $ billions from diplomacy and give it to the military. sinkingfeeling Jul 2013 #5

Yeah, what could go wrong? RC Jul 2013 #7

Diplomacy's for sissies. We gotta show them we're a man! n/t Judi Lynn Jul 2013 #9

Then they'll be oh so shocked and appalled when 10 years from now, China owns Africa Richardo Jul 2013 #8

A related recent Pew poll re. tea party support for cutting foreign aid: pampango Jul 2013 #10

Well of course. How can we keep our war spending up if diplomats keep preventing wars? SunSeeker Jul 2013 #11

Good point! Where would we be without destruction? n/t Judi Lynn Jul 2013 #12

Didn't these gopers also Iliyah Jul 2013 #13

carla

(553 posts)

1. So, the GOP

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Jul 18, 2013, 03:32 PM

Jul 2013

admits the country is basically broke and can't keep up it's responsibilities. Repuke governance =malfeasance.

aggiesal

(8,922 posts)

14. When I hear these types of stories . . .

Reply to carla (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 18, 2013, 04:44 PM

Jul 2013

from my RW friends here in Orange County CA.,
I always tell them
"This is your tax-breaks at work. What are you complaining about?"

Deep13

(39,154 posts)

2. moronocracy nt

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Jul 18, 2013, 03:35 PM

Jul 2013

AndyA

(16,993 posts)

3. Perhaps it's time for Iraq to start repaying us for freeing them?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Jul 18, 2013, 03:36 PM

Jul 2013

I seem to recall the Republicans saying Iraq's oil money would be able to reimburse the United States for the cost of ousting Saddam Hussein.

They weren't lying to us, were they?

RC

(25,592 posts)

6. Oh, they used the oil money to reimburse us alright.

Reply to AndyA (Reply #3)

Thu Jul 18, 2013, 03:44 PM

Jul 2013

Only our government didn't see a cent of it, not even in taxes.

Tribalceltic

(1,000 posts)

4. Benghazi N/T

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Jul 18, 2013, 03:39 PM

Jul 2013

sinkingfeeling

(51,469 posts)

5. Sure, cut $ billions from diplomacy and give it to the military.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Jul 18, 2013, 03:43 PM

Jul 2013

RC

(25,592 posts)

7. Yeah, what could go wrong?

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Reply #5)

Thu Jul 18, 2013, 03:44 PM

Jul 2013

Judi Lynn

(160,598 posts)

9. Diplomacy's for sissies. We gotta show them we're a man! n/t

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Reply #5)

Thu Jul 18, 2013, 03:59 PM

Jul 2013

Richardo

(38,391 posts)

8. Then they'll be oh so shocked and appalled when 10 years from now, China owns Africa

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Jul 18, 2013, 03:56 PM

Jul 2013

Dumbfucks.

pampango

(24,692 posts)

10. A related recent Pew poll re. tea party support for cutting foreign aid:

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Jul 18, 2013, 03:59 PM

Jul 2013

Partyers are more likely than all other Americans to support reductions in foreign aid and the budget of the State Department (but not the Defense Department)

Americans who identify with the Tea Party movement are more likely than all other Americans to support reductions in foreign aid and the budget of the U.S. State Department. But they are less likely to back trimming military spending and anti-terrorism efforts. This may be because Tea Party sympathizers are generally more hawkish than their fellow countrymen.

About three-quarters of Americans believe that Washington should reduce the government’s budget deficit through a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, with the greater share coming from belt tightening, according to a mid-February Pew Research Center survey. But 57 percent of Tea Party leaning Republicans think all deficit reduction should come from spending cuts.

In particular, Tea Party sympathizers would like to see a cut back in aspects of American soft power. More than eight-in-ten would decrease aid to the world’s needy, compared with 43 percent of all other Americans who support such economizing. And 41 percent of Tea Party adherents would reduce the State Department’s budget.

But U.S. hard power continues to receive Tea Partyers’ backing. Only 15 percent want to cut the Pentagon’s budget (compared with 27 percent of all other Americans who favor such action) and just 13 percent support reducing spending on anti-terrorism defenses.

http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/03/04/will-budget-cuts-isolationism/