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Macomb, IL – As the debt/deficit/debt ceiling posturing gets worse, one wonders: What would a Tea Party-type budget reform mean for the western Illinois region? Specifically, how would these take-no-prisoners deficit hawks attack four area counties, which - according to the latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau - received hundreds of millions of federal dollars in 2009?
There are hints in U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan's House plan, which claims to cut $4 trillion from federal spending over the next decade by sacrificing programs (two-thirds of which come from programs serving people of limited means). But the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says "by the end of the 10-year budget window, public debt will actually be higher than it would be if the GOP just did nothing."
More sobering, Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, estimates the Republican budget plan would cost Americans 1.7 million jobs by 2014 - 900,000 jobs lost next year alone.
In mid-April, the House of Representatives passed this assault on vital programs, which would help pay for massive giveaways to millionaires and do almost nothing to balance the budget. The bill was passed without even a single Democratic vote. U.S. Reps. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria) and Bobby Schilling (R-Rock Island) voted for the measure.
Of course, a budget that's passed the House isn't law. But the danger is that the Senate will try to compromise in a way that meets Tea Party-swayed Republicans halfway. Why?
House Republicans would change Medicare so seniors would receive vouchers to help buy private insurance, vouchers that eventually would lose value as health-care costs increase. The GOP would fundamentally change or gut popular services such as Medicaid (half of whose spending goes to long-term care for the aged), food stamps and school lunches.
For four area Illinois counties, federal spending there in 2009 broke down thusly:
Fulton received a total of $399 million, which works out to $10,700 per person. About one-fourth is for Social Security retirement, disability or survivors insurance; other spending included $47 million for Medicare hospital insurance.
Knox received $592 million - $11,100 per person. About one-fourth is for Social Security; other spending included $1 million for Women, Infants and Children food assistance.
McDonough received $388 million - $11,900 per person. About one-sixth is for Social Security; other spending included $8 million in highway planning and construction and $64 million in direct student loans.
Warren received $261 million - $14,700 per person. About one-sixth is for Social Security; other spending included $108 million for flood and crop insurance.
Some Tea Party folks might say, "Give ME thousands of bucks and I'll make do." But would the elderly make do? Would highways be built? Would youngsters get lunch at schools? Would farmers cope with floods or worse?
President Obama said, "We can't just think of ourselves. We have to think about the country. We have to think about our fellow citizens with whom we share a community."
The public is less worried about spending than politicians or some media. Most polling shows more concern with jobs than the deficit. In March, a CBS News Poll found that 51% of the country finds the economy/jobs as the most important problem, compared with 7% for the deficit/debt.)
Genuine concern about spending should concede that:
* it's harmful to create more loopholes for wealthy taxpayers who can afford to share the cost of government programs,
* it's fairer - and smarter - to share any sacrifices, and
* it's prudent - and just - to help create jobs, which would make unemployed Americans taxpayers again.
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich recently wrote, "The underlying problem isn't the budget deficit. It's that so much income and wealth are going to the top that most Americans don't have the purchasing power to sustain a strong recovery."
Bill Knight is a freelance writer who teaches at Western Illinois University. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of WIU or Tri States Public Radio