In two press interviews within 24 hours, Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R-SD) was asked directly what specific programs she would cut to reduce the federal budget deficit. In both interviews, one with the Mitchell Daily Republic, and one with Fox News, the Noem-friendliest venue possible, Noem completely dodged the question.
Yesterday I listed a handful of the specific cuts Noem has supported but won't talk about. This document from Noem's colleagues on Appropriations shows all of the cuts Noem has voted for just in the continuing resolution for this year's federal spending. The next time she's in town, reporters and constituents should ask the Congresswoman about these South-Dakota-specific cuts:
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
- Farm Services Agency
- Rural Housing, Business, and Utilities Loans and Grants
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
- McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Grants (international yes, but South Dakota produces food and produced Mr. McGovern)
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
- Drug Free Communities
- FEMA State and Local Programs
- Land and Water Conservation Fund (and Republicans are talking more cuts for CRP)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- National Park Service
- Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds
- Community Service Employment for Older Americans
- Community Health Centers
- Maternal and Child Health Block Grant
- Community Services Block Grant
- Head Start
- Title I
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
- Strengthening Tribal Colleges
- Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps)
- Native American Housing Block Grants
Read the whole list of continuing resolution cuts happening right now, courtesy of Rep. Kristi Noem and her boss, Speaker John Boehner. Use the links above to see how these programs affect South Dakota. Then ask your Congresswoman whether these cuts are really in the best interest of our fair state... assuming she can remember she voted for them.
I am very sad to have read this. All of these programs do a greater good for communities. Unless this is some sort of late April Fool's gag, I detest this woman for the programs she is cutting. I utterly dislike her.
C.H. knows what he is talking about when, the party of no doesn't know what to say.
I've met Josh Shields before and the guy is a boob. Regardless of Kristi's comments Shields comes across as a staffer who just through his boss under the bus. What a tool.
That is pretty bad when Shields is her spokesman and he's making her look bad. The guy should have given her answers a long time ago. He screwed up big time!!!
The prevailing theory seems to be that government is no longer to serve the people, but to serve the corporate bottom line. To do this, legislatures must (1) cut all programs that would actually help poor and middle-class individuals while (2) granting tax cuts to all wealthy individuals and corporations - otherwise we "punish success" as Rush Limbaugh says - and (3) telling anyone who objects that they must take it or leave it because (4) taxes are the ultimate evil. Have I left anything out? Oh, and for those of you who feel that you are already paying way too much in taxes, of course you are: you're paying for all the corporations and wealthy individuals who have had THEIR taxes cut for the last ten years. There's a reason the working class are called peons.