Despite all the talk about budget cuts, neither Democrats or Republicans at the national level have so far been willing to propose significant cuts in entitlement programs that make up the largest share of the federal budget. Pres. Obama did not address entitlement cuts in his budget. How likely are Republican congressional leaders to propose significant entitlement cuts as they move forward in the budget process?
Democrats are so hypocritical that if Republicans commence the debate on the issue DNC will run ads that Republicans are throwing granny on the street. They simply have to form a bi-partisan committee to come up with proposals.
Depends on the level of courage. I am not seeing that much. Nobody want to be first.
Significant cuts to entitlement programs will need to be driven from the White House. Congressional leadership in both parties will remain unwilling to take the backlash from the Medicare/SSA population without Presidential support.
Talk is cheap. When it comes down to making the hard decisions they will not be able to make any meaningful changes.
Republicans LIVE to kill socially beneficial programs - Corporate welfare, that's totally fine, but screw a bunch of poor / working / different Americans.
It has to happen eventually. I hope Republicans are smart enough to start doing this in a way that doesn't kill them politically. That’s tough to do.
Entitlements for the poor and middle class will be proposed for slashing. But not for the rich.
It takes two to tango. The only way this will happen is if the President and Congress hold hands and leap off the bridge at the same time.They (both parties) know the reality of such cuts to the American voters.
This is the last area that should be cut. There is plenty of other places, such as defense, and those tax breaks, that could be reduced or eliminated first. Assistance to helping Americans survive are not "entitlements". Neither is Social Security. Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Unemployment, etc...take those away, especially now, and even the staunchest conservatives may have an uprising. Would our national legislators give up their tax-payer health care? Or Social Security checks if they don't really need them?
Until the Republicans have the political will to address means testing or raising the age for Social Security they are being duplicitous about this issue.
Neither side has the 'cojones' to take the lead. Playing chicken.
The Utah Legislature spent the first few weeks of the 2011 session cutting 7% from the base budget. What do you think of the base budgeting process?
THE REPUBLICAN SKY IS ALWAYS FALLING!
For the third straight year I have heard the same agencies say "we have been cut to the bone" but then each year after those cuts they seem to survive just fine.
It does succeed in keeping agencies on the defensive and scaring the crap out of a lot of people until the "leadership" can swoop in at the last minute and save the day by restoring cuts.
The base budgeting process only matters if they are unable to agree on a final budget. After much weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, they will agree on a final budget.
It is a shameful process that gives the legislators a black eye.
I think they are just trying to show that "We are doing something". As people realize exactly how their budget cut ideas will affect them personally, they are not going to be happy.
I would rather say it is a tool for setting the budget. I question the word "valuable". It does shine a light on where cuts can be made if they need to go that far.
Why those amateurs on the hill can't let the professionals in the Governor's office handle the budget is a mystery.
The base budgeting process is stupid because it does not take into consideration the needs in various areas and the over spending in other areas.
A base budget makes sense if it's wisely used. I do not think our legislators can use it wisely.
It's a way for them to look better when they "find money" to fund the things that they were "going to have to cut".
Respondents include -
Fred Adams, Stuart Adams, Jess Agraz, Jeff Alexander, Patrice Arent, Bruce Baird, Tom Barberi, Jeff Bell, Tom Berggren, Mike Bertelsen, Rob Bishop, Laura Black, Chris Bleak, Curt Bramble, Ralph Brown, Dave Buhler, Ken Bullock, Ric Cantrell, Maura Carabello, Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Lou Ann Christensen, David Clark, Peter Corroon, Lew Cramer, Richard Davis, Brad Daw, Alan Dayton, Margaret Dayton, Brad, Dee, Joseph Demma, John Dougall, Randy Dryer, Donald Dunn, Becky Edwards, Wendy Fisher, Ronald Fox, Natalie Gochnour, David Hansen, Jeff Hartley, Jeff Hatch, Lyle Hillyard, Bruce Hough, Scott Howell, Eric Jergensen, Mike Jerman, Kirk Jowers, Chris Kyler, Fred Lampropoulos, Douglas Larson, Larry Lunt, Matt Lyon, Ben McAdams, Gayle McKeachnie, JT Martin, Ethan Millard, Brett Millburn, Karen Morgan, Mike Mower, Val Oveson, Scott Parson, Jason Powers, Lauren Richards, Robin Riggs, Don Savage, Bryan Schott, Jennifer Seelig, Patrick Shea, Tim Sheehan, Randy Shumway, Soren Simonsen, Mike Styler, Todd Taylor, Gary Thorup, Michael Waddoups, Chuck Warren, Christine Watkins, LaVarr Webb, Todd Weiler, Ted Wilson, Carl Wimmer, Mike Winder, Thomas Wright
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