Energy Star, Organic Certification, High-Speed Rail - So Many GOP Funding Cuts, So Little Time

[hatrack]

WASHINGTON, DC, January 21, 2011 (ENS) - USAID, Energy Star, high speed rail, organic certification and weatherization are among the federal environmental and sustainable business programs that would be eliminated by the House Republicans' plan to cut government spending by $2.5 trillion over the next 10 years. Made public Thursday, the Spending Reduction Act of 2011 is proposed by members of the conservative Republican Study Committee, which is chaired by Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan.

EDIT

The environmental programs that would be cut if this proposal makes it through the legislative process and is signed into law by President Obama would save the government a little over $8 billion, according to savings estimates provided by the Republican Study Committee.

They are:

* Intercity and High Speed Rail Grants. $2.5 billion annual savings

* New Starts Transit capital investments in public transit to reduce congestion and improve air quality. $2 billion annual savings

* U.S. Agency for International Development. $1.39 billion annual savings

* Applied Research at Department of Energy. $1.27 billion annual savings

* Department of Energy Grants to States for Weatherization. $530 million annual savings

* FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership. $200 million annual savings

* Beach Replenishment. $95 million annual savings

* Eliminate the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program. $56.2 million annual savings

* Energy Star Program. $52 million annual savings

* Eliminate taxpayer subsidies to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. $12.5 million annual savings

EDIT

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2011/2011-01-21-094.html

[Warren DeMontague]

1. Meanwhile, there will be endless amounts of cash for the Military and Drug War.

As usual.

[phantom power]

2. Looks like the standard "things that piss off liberals" agenda

:eyes:

[hatrack]

3. "If we can just eliminate funding for Amtrak & NPR, the Republic will be SAVED! Praizzz Geeeezus!"

:puke:

[phantom power]

5. Have you seen this gem of conservative mentation:

In this society, being car-less is a significant empediment being a full citizen. Such situations make you dependent on the collective, and to the schedules of mass transit. Car-less is no way for an american to live.

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2011/01/greatest-comment-evah.html

Oh, and bonus:

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/stuff-happens/?src=twt&twt=NytimesKrugman

[kestrel91316]

4. Kestrel's alternative:

1) Legalize hemp/marijuana - remove it from the DEA schedule altogether, regulate and tax it like alcohol.
2) Cut the DoD budget by 2%.
and 3) Keep your mitts off all those programs listed.

We'd be SO much better off. But of course it won't be done, and Obama will cave to the repukes' demands on this, because bipartisanship is so important.

[Kolesar]

7. "Tax it"

It grows everywhere, given the chance.

[kestrel91316]

11. Yeah, but the vast majority of Americans are far too lazy and unmotivated

as it is to take advantage of that.

Tomatoes will practically plant themselves, and yet, how many Americans actually bother to grow them even if they have the space and the climate? They'd rather buy cardboard tomatoes at the market than lift a finger to grow their own.

[hootinholler]

12. I think number 1 can be done administratively

Just produce the stamps that don't exist which are the basis of the federal law used to prosecute marijuana possession.

-Hoot

[Kolesar]

6. "Home weatherization" programs reduce the demand for foreign oil

...in addition to helping the "least among us".

[jwirr]

8. Yeah, and don't forget they are backing all of this up with the oversite

investigation into climate change. They are not only targeting the stimulus but also the environment. All they want is to make things worse by 2012 so they can have the whole government back in their hands. But I think all of this is going to backfire on them. They are visible to all of us.

[damntexdem]

9. The barbarians have been invited inside the gates.

And they are starting the rape and vandalism.

[pscot]

10. Paraphrasing Myrtle Mae Simmons:

People get run over by trucks every day. Why can't something like that happen to the Republicans.