Did Koch Industries Write The Budget Deal?

Did Koch Industries write the budget deal? Or is it just a coincidence that so many of the the things Republicans demanded — and got — just happen to line up with the financial interests of the billionaires who fund the Tea Party and much of the “conservative movement?” Cutting money for the EPA, alternative energy efficiency, high-speed rail, efforts to fight climate change — even prohibiting NOAA from creating a Climate Service … it reads like an oil tycoon’s wish list.

Before you read this, remember that they just finishing pushing through another huge tax cut for the rich. Always remember that tax cut deal any time you hear about “deficits” — which were caused by tax cuts for the rich and increases in military spending. And before reading about the cuts below you should know that this buget “cut” deal increased the military budget by another $5 billion. From Talking Points Memo,

One of the hardest hit institutions is the Environmental Protection Agency, whose power Republicans have sought to curtail in recent years through a variety of legislative means. The agency will receive $1.6 billion less in funding than current levels, a 16 percent drop, including a $49 million reduction in climate change programs …

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also saw a $142 million reduction in funding and is prohibited from creating a Climate Service.

In addition … programs aimed at boosting energy efficiency for power plants and transportation also were major targets. Energy efficiency and renewable energy were cut by $438 million while fossil energy R&D was reduced by $226 … Funding for high speed rail, all $2.9 billion of it, was zeroed out entirely. …

Get it? What we just went through was “You stop that energy efficiency and climate change stuff, or we will shut down the whole government.” The EPA is cut 16%. And just who benefits from these cuts, which do serious damage to the country? I’ll let you guess (hint — read the title of this post.)

I wonder what this budget will do to real estate prices in coastal areas – the areas that are threatened by rising seas?

WHOSE Priorities?

And what about our country’s priorities? Actually, really just the priorities of the parties in the budget talks … just as with the “deficit commission” there weren’t any low-income people, teachers, construction workers, unemployed, police officers, etc. in that room. I mean, cutting AIDS prevention, childrens’ health programs, science research, education, flu prevention, safe drinking water, police?

Did I mention the tax cuts for the wealthy and another $5 billion increase in military?

… just over $1 billion in cuts to programs preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, $600 million cuts to community health care centers, and $78 million to research on health care costs. Funding for health co-ops created under the Democrats’ health care law was zeroed out.

… National Science Foundation saw a $43 million cut in its research funding from its current levels but a major $444 million cut from the President’s initial request. …

Defense was not cut from current levels, instead increasing by $5 billion. FEMA first responder funding was cut by $786 million. Contributions to the U.N. and international organizations were cut by $377 million.

In addition, from AP,

$468 million from several education programs …

$276 million from pandemic flu prevention programs, as requested by Obama.

$1 billion from Environmental Protection Agency clean and safe drinking water projects.

$1 billion from an account for prevention of AIDS, tuberculosis and other diseases.

$600 million from community health centers.

$578 million from the Army Corps of Engineers.

$504 million from food aid to poor mothers and their infants.

$414 million from grants to state and local police departments.

$3.5 billion in unused Children’s Health Insurance Program funds.

$500 million from eliminating summer school Pell Grants for college students from low-income families.

How about these for killing JOBS and the economy?

Did I mention the tax cuts for the wealthy and another $5 billion increase in military?

$946 million from construction and repair of federal buildings.

$350 million from Labor Department programs, including grants for community service jobs for senior citizens.

$2.5 billion in leftover highway money unavailable under current budget caps.

Did I mention the tax cuts for the wealthy and another $5 billion increase in military? In case I didn’t mention it, they just passed another huge tax cuts for the rich, and this budget “cut” includes another $5 billion in spending on military.

Update: See the full list here.

This post originally appeared at Campaign for America’s Future (CAF) at their Blog for OurFuture. I am a Fellow with CAF.

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