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President’s FY 2010 Budget Faces Criticism
On Wednesday, March 11, Senate Democrats announced their intent to change President Obama’s FY 2010 budget plan, despite agreeing with his budget priorities. While Democrats have been hesitant to indicate specific differences between the President’s plan and their own, they have articulated that the Senate would not pass the budget as currently proposed. The Blue Dog Coalition is planning to issue its guidelines to House Budget Chairman John Spratt (SC) next week in hopes of influencing the budget process.
Republicans have been more vocal in their criticism of Obama’s budget plan, indicating their intent to provide daily criticism of the proposal as well an alternative plan.
Obama Signs “Imperfect” Omnibus, Urges Future Earmark Reductions
On Wednesday, March 11, President Obama signed the $410 billion 2009 omnibus spending bill, The Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (H.R. 1105). The bill passed the Senate on Tuesday, March 10, on a 62-35 vote to invoke cloture, after the Senate voted down over two dozen Republican amendments.
H.R. 1105 completes work on the nine remaining FY09 appropriations bills and increases spending over FY08 by about 8 percent, or roughly $30 billion. The bill was signed just before the expiration of the short-term continuing resolution (H J Res 38) that continued funding of federal programs at FY 08 levels and expired on March 11.
The omnibus allocates $3.6 billion for ETA and level funds most workforce programs. It provides $861.5 million for Adult, $924 million for Youth, and $1.5 billion for Dislocated Worker training.
The bill increases funding for YouthBuild by 19 percent, or $11 million, for a total of $70 million; increases funding for Reintegration of Ex-Offenders by $35 million for a total of $109 million; provides $330 million more for State Operations for a total of $2.8 billion; and provides a 9.6 percent increase in the Senior Community Service Employment Program for a total of $50.2 million.
To access our chart of workforce program funding, pleas click here.
Second Stimulus Considered
On Wednesday, March 11, House Appropriations Chair David Obey (WI) announced that the House Appropriations Committee is considering a second stimulus package, only weeks after the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was signed into law.
Economists have predicted that both a second stimulus package and additional funding for banks are necessary. House Democrats blame the Senate for cutting the recovery bill, reducing the total stimulus amount from the $819 billion passed in the House to the $787 billion which finally passed both chambers. On Thursday, March 12, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that she wanted to see how the new stimulus played out before looking into drafting another one.
Volunteer Service Program Expansion in House
On Wednesday, March 11, the House Education and Labor Committee approved the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act (H.R.1388), a bill expanding national volunteer service programs. The bill was approved on a 34-3 vote and would expand programs such as AmeriCorps, SeniorCorps, and Learn and Serve America. In addition, the bill creates a Veterans Corps for those with military experience, and a Clean Energy Corps to increase service projects focused on clean energy such as weatherization of homes, local recycling expansion, and “green” housing construction.
The Committee approved an amendment to create a Social Innovation Fund, which would provide seed money for nonprofits and individuals who are taking on social problems by implementing initiatives in the private sector. Lawmakers are hoping to increase the number of these programs, such as Green for All, an organization which promotes green job creation and training.
The measure provides $97 million for FY 2010 in addition to authorizing funds “as necessary” over five years. The House is expected to consider the bill during the week of March 16, while Senators are currently considering the Serve America Act (S.277), a bill to authorize the National and Community Service Act of 1990 which would expand and reauthorize AmeriCorps for five years. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hopes to vote on the legislation between March 16 and March 20 in order to pass it before the Congressional spring recess beginning on April 4.
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