This proves Bush doesnt care about the little guy
 

Bush to cut Community Housing programs

Bush Plans Sharp Cuts in HUD Community Efforts

Fri Jan 14, 3:26 PM ET
Politics - washingtonpost.com

By Jonathan Weisman, Washington Post Staff Writer

The White House will seek to drastically shrink the Department of Housing and Urban Development's $8 billion community branch, purging dozens of economic development projects, scrapping a rural housing program and folding high-profile anti-poverty efforts into the Labor and Commerce departments, administration officials said yesterday.

The proposal in the upcoming 2006 budget would make good on President Bush's vow to eliminate or consolidate what he sees as duplicative or ineffective programs. Officials said yesterday that economic development programs are scattered too widely in the government and have proved particularly ineffectual at HUD.

Advocates for the poor, however, contended that the White House is trying to gut federal programs for the poorest Americans to make way for tax cuts, a mission to Mars and other presidential priorities. Administration officials would not say how much the consolidation would save, but it could lead to steep funding cuts. That is because the HUD programs would have to compete for resources in Commerce and Labor budgets that are not likely to expand to accommodate the shuffle.

"I'm always willing to look at consolidation, but clearly they're using consolidation as a shield for substantial budget reductions," said Rep. Barney Frank, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over housing and community development programs.

The plan was detailed in a December memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget to HUD. The document provides one of the first concrete examples of the types of cuts in the works as the administration comes to grips with a soaring deficit.

"The purpose of the exercise has nothing to do with achieving or not achieving savings," said one administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid preempting the Feb. 7 release of the president's fiscal 2006 budget request.

"What we are trying to accomplish is to meet our obligation to people living in distressed communities, to hold communities accountable for helping those people and to become more efficient in the process," another official said.
HUD programs to be moved under proposal Program's annual cost Destination
Community Development Block Grant $4.7 billion Commerce
Youthbuild USA high school dropout outreach $62 million Labor
Brownfields Economic Development $23.8 million Commerce
Rural Housing and Economic Development $23.8 million Eliminated
Empowerment Zones/Renewal Community $9.9 million Commerce

SOURCE: Office of Management and Budget | Graphic: The Washington Post

Congressional housing aides say the $4.7 billion Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program -- the bulk of the community planning budget -- could be cut as much as 50 percent. Cities have become dependent on HUD's development programs, especially the CDBG, which has existed for 30 years, city officials said. Stanley Jackson, director of the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development, said the city has used CDBG grants of $21 million to $22 million a year for clinics, recreation centers, day-care facilities, literacy programs and housing development.

With housing and property values skyrocketing, the need for such programs for low-income families has never been higher, he said.

"If this is a backdoor way of eliminating a program like CDBG, it would have a profoundly negative impact on cities," said Jim Hunt, a vice president of the National League of Cities and a city council member in Clarksburg, W.Va.

Under the plan, the CDBG program -- which provides multipurpose development grants to state and local governments -- would be sent to the Commerce Department. The Urban Empowerment Zones and the Renewal Community programs -- both of which offer tax incentives for development in urban or other troubled areas -- would also go to Commerce, as would the Brownfields Economic Development Initiative, designed to revitalize abandoned industrial sites.

Youthbuild USA, a $62 million program to teach teens home-construction skills, would be sent to the Labor Department. The $24 million rural housing and economic development program would probably be eliminated.

HUD would maintain the Home Investment Partnerships to build or buy affordable housing, homeless assistance programs and housing assistance for AIDS sufferers. The budget would eliminate $260 million in economic development projects earmarked for this year by lawmakers. HUD could ultimately lose a quarter of its $31 billion budget.

White House officials said HUD employees would have to stay on the job to oversee outstanding grants for some time. But with Bush promising an aggressive attack on domestic spending, the 817 HUD community planning and development employees are girding for the worst.

"It's a body blow," said one career employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of being fired.

The proposal could face an uphill fight in Congress, said Frank, who called the proposal "just appalling." With budgets tight, vested interests in the Commerce and Labor departments would be expected to favor their programs over the newcomers from HUD. "It wouldn't even be a fair fight," he said.

Moreover, HUD has evolved into an agency designed to support urban interests and low-income citizens, while Commerce and Labor are more receptive to business needs. Indeed, community development programs at HUD are far larger than those at Commerce and Labor, said Saul Ramirez Jr., executive director of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials and a former deputy secretary of housing. The Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration has a $320 million budget, a fraction of CDBG's allocation.



"If there are any programs in Commerce that encourage direct economic development to some of the most disadvantaged and blighted areas, those programs are dwarfed by these programs," he said. "If [consolidation] is what they want, the reverse should be proposed."

One White House official agreed that HUD programs have more of a community focus, while the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration is more interested in economic growth. But, he said, "they're funding a lot of the same things."

HUD's city focus may be why the White House is dismantling the HUD programs, Frank charged. "HUD is the place where mayors and urban interests can put up the strongest fight," he said.

HA!
Thats for all you suckas how voted for him!
BOO YA! lol :thumbsup: :sorry: :lol:

Yup, every liberal president from Roosevelt to Carter's social programs are being cut.
HUD/section 8 properties in my area are being evacuated and turned over to be sold as for profit real estate ventures.
In fact, I'm working on a purchase for a client right now in which the land that was developed into a PUD was obtained via eminent domain. It had some houses on it and some of it was farm land (non working) that was in city limits. She went to work, all excited about her new home. When she told one of her co-workers her new address, she found out the co-workers parents had owned some of the land for 70 years and were forced to move when the development was green lighted by the city. She plans to hang a photograph of the area prior to development in her new home because she feels bad about it and wants to appease any old spirtis that may be hanging around. ;)
Living in a totalitarian fascist state isn't bad as long as you're in one of the upper classes. Y'all take cover. Oh and God bless.

In my area of Boston a small one bedroom apartment sells at about 300 to 350k. A reasonably sized 2 bedroom would be 500+. I do not know how a "normal income" family could own here. They can't. All of MA is insane. I've searched for condos for 150k and only a tiny handful are available. They are somewhat remote, or need a lot of work. You cannot get a decent house here for less than 300k, unless it is remote. This "plan" is awful. As if we needed any more proof that Bush hates the poor. I guess "hate" is strong but who else would you treat so badly but an enemy? He sucks, man. :distress:

The rural population elected him. The sad thing is, even with policies that hurt them, most of the rural population would still vote for Bush today. They're too afraid that the liberals are going to come confiscate their guns and Bibles.

It literally makes me ill. I have an old e-mail account I went to clean out and there were some pro-Bush e-mails in there from my aunt, who I now feel like shaking. I am just flabberghasted. She's certainly not rich and she comes from poverty because her father died when she was about 9. Her mother was left to raise 5 kids on Social Security. See my conundrum? As they say on Morning Sedition, "Wake up sheeple!"

Hmmm....
 

a trip to Mars to locate the OBL & those darn tootin' WMD's I bet (Cant forget the U.S. has to protect the population of Mars from radical extremist too) :thumbsup:

:shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :lol:

Come west young woman. I just saw the cutest bungalow townhouse with wood floors, fireplace and a clawfoot tub for $160,000.

But not too far west, don't come to Cali. It's the same, but worse. :distress:
Wow, really, GDW? yum! Wish I could!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Well...
 

in Oklahoma ya can get the same for around $40,000...For $160,000 you can by a small mansion or a newly built 3 Bedroom 2 Bath 2 car garage with acreage.

I'm drooling. That's awesome and in my price range.

I'm half tempted to buy it as an investment property.
California real estate is a whole other matter. But it is beautiful there so...

I was lucky
 

I bought a little (very little LOL!) manufactured home (2bd 2ba) for $85k up in the mountains above Chico right before the interest rates started going up. That was 2 years ago and my little place could appraise over $100k right now! I've heard of people selling their homes in CA and moving east and paying CASH for a HUGE home, with lots of land! If my heart wasnt tied to this corner of the world, I'd GO! But, as someone else said, its pretty here in CA, some parts prettier than others, but hey! Course, where Amber lives you deal with folks with attitude, noise, dirt, traffic, mad rush at 3 am etc.....believe me I know, I commuted via BART train for an hour to get to the city to go to law school...

idiots who voted for Bush...like...ummmm the majority of America!?! haha...

sorry...hard core conservative here, Ann Coulter is one of my heroes! But I don't judge people who have different political views than myself! Differences, and the ability to express them are what makes us Americans...

but...having said that...the initial post on this thread is full of liberal bias! Gee and I wonder why...could it be because it was written by someone at the Washington Times...almost as worse as the New York Times (why don't the terrorists attack New York Times building?!?...well I know why...cause it be because they are the terrorists best friends!) ;)

Do you mean the Washington Post? The Washington times is owned by the Reverand Moon and is basically a mouthpiece for conservative pravda.
Speaking of the New York Times, ever hear of Judith Miller?

you GO Girl!
 

you mean the ill gotten votes from machines that were tampered with? or the "default" votes that should have gone to Kerry? I would lay you odds if every vote in Ohio were examined the way they should have been, Bush would not have carried that state, nor would he have won that bogus election. PUH LEEZ.

btw: apparently you arent in that group of people that will be affected by this particular shortfall. pat yourself on the back. but have no fear, sooner or later, this evil administration will do something that WILL affect you and then you will have to admit that it was all due to your own shortsightedness.

:nod:
I was gonna say, I hope he/she is rich, cause that's who bush works for... :mad:

If Ann Coulter is one of your heroes, you must be deaf because you obviously can't hear the **** that spews from that gaping hole in her face. :thumbsup:

A true conservative would never confuse a true bastion of journalism like the Washington Post with the likes of the Washington Times! Moonie would recoil in horror and make you surrender your right to call yourslf a conservative. :laugh:

"...just another sad love song..."

the same tune over and over again!

The truth has been called many things...so I suppose if you would like to call it ****...you could!

come now...I made a typing error that I didn't catch until now...I know Im not going to live this one down...lol :)

Yes, and the liberal agenda would suite this country much better :laugh:

"eat, drink, and murder the unborn"...the slogan of every liberal!

no the liberals on this board diet and kill the unborn :laugh:

There's...
 

liberals on this board? Wow, ya dont say :lol:

Man, I always thought the Ledge was the a haven for us "Independent" voters, Man am I ever disappointed...Boo-frikkedy-hoo!!! :thumbsup:

How rude. I take offense to that.

As do I. :mad:

Exactly what truth are you talking about, dear? Ann Coulter has said:

-Women should not be allowed to vote.
-There should be a poll tax for voting.
-Children under 18 should be flogged publicly if they commit crimes.
-We should invade Muslim countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity.
-Joe McCarthy is one of the greatest men in our country's history.

Shall I go on? Call it what you will and it may be your "truth," but the truth it most certainly isn't. It's a load of sensationalistic bull**** that is spouted off to get people fired up, get them talking, and get them to buy your book to see what ridiculous crap you're going to say next. Gimme a break, dear.

Sorry guys...I don't want to offend anyone at all! im not a crude person...

I just have to call it like I know it to be...

perhaps a better way to phrase it would be "pro-choice"...

but murder it still is...call it what you'd like!

I think its odd how those who are Against abortion are called "Anti-choice" like it is a "negative thing" yet those who are "Pro-choice" are given that "pro" positive spin on things...hmmm

anyways...don't want to offend you guys...sorry if i did...forgive me :)

Classy! :thumbsup:

I've never heard them referred to as "anti-choice." They're called pro-life.

And, since you're conservative, do you support capital punishment? Did you support the war in Iraq? If your answer is yes to one or both of those questions, you're just as much a "murderer" as us crazy liberals. :nod:

I have no problem with what Ann says...especially about invading their countries and converting them! In an interview if asked if she had any regrets after saying that...she simply replied..."Yes...I didn't say it loud enough"... :nod: And I am ALL for a poll tax!

Alot of Ann's quotes are taken out of context...if you would actually READ HER stuff...instead of off something as pathetic as Air America (btw...is that still on?) or some other liberal garbage place, you would actually read it in context!

Exactly. And in addition to that, you calling someone who hates gay people a hero of yours doesn't sit well with at least on gay person on this board (moi) and I assume not all the others as well.

I don't see how the subject can possibly be viewed in such a simple way.

I support War in Iraq...murder and self defense are to different things...someone who is attacking you...and you kill them...its not murder...

a helpless baby in a mothers womb...who gets its brains sucked out as it actually screams in agony...THATS murder.

And I have mixed feelings about Capitol punishment!

I'm very much against the Iraq war, despite dissention's weird preeption of my preceptions :laugh: And VER VERY much for the death penalty. I personally think the new form of Death Penalty for real serious murderers should be a bear pit, where they get ripped to shrerads by hungry ferocious bears. And then there's abortion, shouldn't be a legal thing, but is neccasary in extreme cases but overall wrong.

:shocked: :eek: Well, that says quite a lot, doesn't it? And I won't hesitate to say that that is simply horrible. Offensive? Uh, yeah, I would think so. Please don't start telling all of us that there is only one truth and we should all accept it.

You poor deluded creature. :xoxo:

If you agree with her about killing Muslim leaders, invading their countries, and converting them to Christianity, I question your empathy and your knowledge about the world we live in. It was an offensive, ridiculous comment and if you can't see that, you're beyond help.

I've read three of Ann Coulter's "books" and every one of them is filled with lies and half-truths. They are what they are: fiction. You can tell me how she's taken out of context, but I've heard it all before from Ann herself and it's always bull****. Spin if you must, though. Just last spring she went on O'Reilly and said the war was going "magnificently well." If you take that as the truth, you're just as sadly misinformed as she is.

And, yes, Air America is still on. It's doing fabulously in the ratings for a first year radio network, too.

Iraq was not attacking us.