Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Monday 22 May 2017
Huge cuts to food stamps part of Trump’s budget proposal

ANDREW TAYLOR coming decade. Key Re-
Associated Press publicans are not interest-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- ed in another round of cuts
dent Donald Trump’s bud- to the program.
get would drive millions of “I would think that the
people off of food stamps, health care bill is our best
part of a new wave of policy statement on Med-
spending cut proposals icaid going forward,” said
that already are getting Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore.,
panned by lawmakers in chairman of the House En-
both parties on Capitol Hill. ergy and Commerce Com-
Trump’s blueprint for the mittee, which has jurisdic-
2018 budget year comes tion over the program.
out Tuesday. It includes Details on Trump’s bud-
a wave of cuts to benefit get will not be publicly re-
programs such as Med- leased until Tuesday, but
icaid, federal employee Mulvaney has briefed Re-
pensions, welfare benefits publicans about what’s
and farm subsidies. coming and his staff has
All told, according to peo- provided targeted leaks to
ple familiar with the plan, the media.
Trump’s budget includes A full budget submission by
$1.7 trillion over 10 years in the administration to Con-
cuts from such so-called A GPO worker stacks copies of “Analytical Perspectives Budget of the U.S. Government Fiscal gress is months overdue
mandatory programs. That Year 2018” onto a pallet, Friday, May 19, 2017, at the U.S. Government Publishing Office’s (GPO) and follows the release
includes cuts to pensions for plant in Washington. two months ago of an
federal workers and higher Associated Press outline for the discretion-
contributions toward those those attempted by House agriculture is in the worst promises an overhaul that ary portion of the budget,
pension benefits, as well Republicans a few years slump since the depression would cut tax rates but rely covering defense, edu-
as cuts to refundable tax back and comprise the — 50 percent drop in the on erasing tax breaks and cation, foreign aid, hous-
credits paid to the working bulk of a 10-year, $274 bil- net income for producers. economic growth to end ing and environmental
poor. People familiar with lion proposal that’s labeled They need this safety net,” up as “revenue neutral.” programs, among others.
the plan were not autho- as welfare reform. said Conaway, R-Texas. It would create three tax Their budgets pass each
rized to discuss it by name The fleshed-out proposal Trump’s budget plan prom- brackets — 10 percent, 25 year through annual ap-
and requested anonymity. follows up on an unpopu- ises to balance the federal percent and 35 percent — propriations bills.An earlier
Cuts include a whop- lar partial release in March ledger by the end of a 10- instead of the current sev- blueprint from Trump pro-
ping $193 billion from food that targeted the budgets year window, even while en.Trump is also targeting posed a $54 billion, 10 per-
stamps over the coming of domestic agencies and exempting Social Secu- the Medicaid health pro- cent increase for the mili-
decade — a cut of more foreign aid for cuts aver- rity and Medicare retire- gram that provides care to tary above an existing cap
than 25 percent — imple- aging 10 percent — and ment benefits from cuts. To the poor and disabled, and on Pentagon spending,
mented by cutting back made lawmakers in both achieve balance, the plan nursing home care to mil- financed by an equal cut
eligibility and imposing ad- parties recoil. by White House budget di- lions of older people who to nondefense programs.
ditional work requirements, The new cuts are unpopu- rector Mick Mulvaney re- could not otherwise afford Those cuts rang alarm bells
according to talking points lar as well.“We think it’s lies on optimistic estimates it.The House had a bitter for many Republicans, who
circulated by the White wrongheaded,” said Rep. of economic growth, and debate on health care were particularly upset
House. The program pres- Mike Conaway, chairman the surge in revenues that before a razor-thin 217-213 about proposals to elimi-
ently serves about 42 mil- of the House Agriculture would result, while aban- passage in early May of a nate community develop-
lion people. Committee, when asked doning Trump’s promise of GOP health bill that includ- ment block grants, slash
The food stamp cuts are about looming cuts to farm a “massive tax cut.” ed more than $800 billion medical research and evis.
several times larger than programs. “Production Instead, the Trump tax plan in Medicaid cuts over the q
Graduates walk out on Pence at Notre Dame commencement

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Saudi Arabia. Pence said criticized Trump’s push to
Dozens of graduates and the president “spoke out build a wall along the Mex-
family members silently against religious persecu- ican border.Cassandra Di-
stood and walked out Sun- tion of all people of all faiths maro and her parents were
day as Vice President Mike and on the world stage he among those who walked
Pence began his address condemned, in his words, out. Dimaro told the South
at Notre Dame’s com- the murder of innocent Bend Tribune that it was
mencement ceremony. Muslims, the oppression of a show of solidarity “for
Pence, the former gov- women, the persecution those of us impacted by
ernor of Indiana, was in- of Jews and the slaughter the policies of the Trump
vited to speak after Notre of Christians.”Trump has administration.”Pence
Dame students and faculty faced harsh criticism for his didn’t comment on the
protested the prospect of anti-Islamic rhetoric during walkout, which was ex-
President Donald Trump the campaign, as well as pected, but he did allude
being invited to become his administration’s legal to clashes at campuses
the seventh U.S. president battle to impose a travel elsewhere that have de-
to give the commence- ban on several Muslim-ma- railed appearances by
ment address.Pence spoke Notre Dame graduates walk out of Notre Dame Stadium in pro- jority countries.Earlier in the controversial speakers,
briefly of Trump, praising his test as Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the 2017 com- ceremony, valedictorian such as conservative fire-
speech to the leaders of mencement ceremony, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in South Bend, Caleb Joshua Pine urged a brand Ann Coulter at the
50 Arab and Muslim na- Ind. “stand against the scape- University of California at
tions earlier in the day in Associated Press goating of Muslims” and Berkeley.q