Back to the Budget: Competing Philosophies in Congress

Where do you want your tax dollars to go? Do you want to spend fewer tax dollars overall? Or, would you pay more for things that matter to you? What would you pay, if anything, to improve healthcare, education, and security?

Returning from their spring recess, Congress must go back to debating the budget, a sticky issue that has divided Republicans in the House and put the legislature at odds with the White House.

New House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio) is trying to reconcile two House Republican groups - those who want to spend less overall, called fiscal conservatives, and those who want to increase spending on healthcare and education, called moderates.

What do Republican fiscal conservatives want?

Fiscal conservatives in the House say it’s irresponsible to exceed the $873 billion discretionary spending cap proposed by President Bush. They say it’s time to show constituents that they’re serious about fiscal restraint. And since they’re not pushing for ways to square the tax cuts or extra savings in mandatory spending, fiscal conservatives say the discretionary spending cap is essential.

What is discretionary versus mandatory spending?

Mandatory spending equals defense and security spending at 21 percent of the entire budget, Medicare and Medicaid at 21 percent, and Social Security at 21 percent. Add in another 12 percent of mandatory spending on programs like welfare, unemployment, military retirement benefits, and farm subsidies, and that leaves just 25 percent of the budget that’s left to play around with.

Then again, at least 7 percent of that goes to the interest on our national debt, another mandatory expenditure. So, what’s left over? Just 18 percent of federal spending that is not considered mandatory, but discretionary.

What do Republican moderates want?

Republican moderates in the House say that social programs have been left behind and they want another $7 billion to even things out.

The moderates’ proposal looks just like the budget resolution passed by the Senate, which would provide an extra $7 billion to healthcare and education programs.

Some fiscal conservatives say it was a mistake to let the Senate vote first, since their more expensive proposal has obviously influenced moderates in the House who are worried about upcoming elections in swing districts.

How could Republicans’ choices affect the November elections?

Fiscally conservative Republicans say that voters want to see that the Party is serious about keeping to the budget. Moderate Republicans say that voters care about health care and education as well as local projects, called earmarks in Congress.

Fiscal conservatives want to cut earmarks to save money, but many representatives want to keep earmarked projects in the budget because they will benefit their states.

If House Republicans are unable to come to a compromise and pass a budget, they will give Democrats ammunition for the upcoming November elections.

Democrats hope that Republican voters will find it frustrating that their party could not pass a budget despite having power in the House, the Senate, and the White House.

Although the Republican Party is in power, it is not necessarily unified. President Bush’s low approval ratings have encouraged some Republicans in Congress to separate themselves from his philosophies, causing varying Republican viewpoints and groups to emerge.

For more on earmarks, click here.

Emergency supplemental

In addition to the general budget, Congress is working with another spending bill - an emergency supplemental that would provide $72.4 billion in fiscal 2006 for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $27.1 billion for hurricane relief.

The House already passed its version of the bill, at the cost of $91.9 billion total. The Senate has added some expensive items to the tab, including $400 million for Abrams tanks and $230 million for V-22 Osprey aircraft. Although the Pentagon requires these vehicles for the operations in the Middle East, some legislators say the expense could be a part of the defense budget, instead of the supplemental.

The Senate has added unrelated items as well, including $500,000 for a geological survey to evaluate Hawaii’s reservoirs and dams. Democratic Senator Patty Murray (Washington) would like to include a $1.2 billion veterans’ contingency fund that would protect their health care in case of shortfalls. Republican Senator Christopher Bond (Missouri) would like to add money for National Guard troops.

If the Senate passes a more expensive supplemental, they will have to fight for the extras in a conference committee with the House. The Senate version is likely to cost about $10.5 billion more.

What do you think?

What programs are worth your tax dollars? Should funding for Iraq and Afghanistan be included in the general budget?

Your input matters

Since there are competing philosophies about spending within the majority Republican Party, it is an especially important moment to let your representatives know what you think?

Your representatives DO care what you think. Especially now -- 2006 is an election year and many representatives will be looking to reconnect with their constituents. Let your congressmen and women know what you think! Give your senators a piece of your mind! To find your reps, click here.

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Article Posted on: 4/27/2006