WASHINGTON – House Republicans have decided to go home and campaign after punting inevitable funding cuts to popular programs until after the November election.

Some say there isn’t enough money for the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education bill (Labor-H) because Congress decided to put that money into Defense, but the Defense bill didn’t steal from Labor-H. The real problem is that we began with a bad budget. Mixed up GOP priorities have created a fiscal policy that allows bloated tax cuts for millionaires to balloon the deficit, while squeezing programs that bring important services to millions of Americans.

During budget negotiations in May, the House Republican Leadership allowed ultra-conservatives to dictate an unrealistic spending cap, but needing the support of “moderate” republicans to pass the budget, the leadership promised to increase funding for Labor-H by an additional $3.1 billion - later on. It was an impossible combination.

Democrats weren’t convinced. During debate, Dave Obey (D-WI), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee said “[Republican moderates] are now selling out for a promise that if some time in the deep, dark, distant future somebody does something to change this budget resolution, then there might be a table scrap or two left for additional education and healthcare. There is about as much chance of that happening as there is of the Chicago Cubs winning the pennant this year.”

Democrats offered a workable alternative that would have slightly reduced the tax cut given to the wealthiest Americans in order to both adequately fund domestic priorities and put an additional $13 billion towards debt reduction. Republicans rejected the measure.

The House Appropriations Committee went on to pass a Labor H bill that didn’t include the $3.1 billion promised and the Republican Leadership won’t allow a vote before the election. As a result, there will be cuts to things like education and healthcare programs, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance, job training, public broadcasting, cancer research, the Global AIDS Fund, and Community Service Block Grants.

So today, the Cubs are 16 1/2 games out of the pennant race and the American public is left with a broken promise.

“The press has been speculating about the fate of Manager Dusty Baker, but it’s the Leadership of this House that needs to be fired,” said Obey.

View online:

Table of Funding Levels in the House Committee Report

Democratic Views of the Bill

Charts highlighting the impact of the House Labor H bill to: Education, Health, Jobs, Public Broadcasting, AmeriCorps, CSBG, LIHEAP, and Minimum Wage