Here Are the Highlights From That $1 Trillion-Plus Spending Bill
- Posted on December 17, 2011 at 1:33pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
- Print »
- Email »
Both the Senate and House of Representatives have passed a massive $1 trillion-plus piece of spending legislation — described as a “catchall budget bill” — which President Barack Obama is expected to sign.
Here are the highlights from the legislation, as compiled by the Associated Press:
-$518 billion for the Pentagon’s core budget, a 1 percent boost, excluding military operations overseas.
-$115 billion for Pentagon war costs in Iraq and Afghanistan, $43 billion less than 2011 costs.
-$7.2 billion to sustain and modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
-$11.8 billion for the IRS, an almost 3 percent budget cut.
-$39.6 billion for homeland security programs, a 5 percent cut, though border security and immigration enforcement are increased.
-$8.4 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, a 6 percent cut from the president’s request.
-$4.3 billion for the Indian Health Service, a 6 percent increase.
-$30.7 billion for health research, a 1 percent increase.
-$14.5 billion for Title I grants to schools, virtually the same as last year.
-$11.6 billion for grants to school districts for special needs children.
-$4.3 billion for Congress’ own budget, a 5 percent cut.
-$122.2 billion for veterans programs.
-$3.5 billion for low-income heating and utility subsidies, a cut of about 25 percent.
-$53.3 billion for foreign aid and the State Department’s budget.
-$8.1 billion for disaster aid.
-Reforms to the Pell Grant program that maintain the maximum award at $5,550 but limit the number of semesters the grants may be received and make income eligibility standards more strict.
—
The measure also contains many policy provisions, including those to:
-Block detainees from Guantanamo Bay from being transferred to the United States.
-Block new energy efficiency regulations for light bulbs.
-Prohibit the District of Columbia government from funding abortions for poor women.
-Ban federal funding of needle exchange programs that help prevent the spread of AIDS among drug users.
-Delay new Labor Department regulations limiting coal dust in mines.
-Require the government to use the E-verify system to make sure new federal hires are eligible to work in the United States.
-Block the EPA or state regulators from requiring clean water permits for the construction of timber roads.
-Delay voluntary guidelines on the food industry to limit marketing to children of foods that have high fat, sugar or sodium levels.
—
Congressional Democrats and the Obama administration succeeded in dumping numerous other GOP policy “riders” from the bill, including attempts to:
-Block funding of various steps required to implement the new laws overhauling health care and financial regulation.
-Block Environmental Protection Agency rules on greenhouse gases, mountaintop removal mining and hazardous emissions from utility plants, industrial boilers and cement kilns. GOP efforts to block EPA rules on coal ash and large-scale discharges of hot water from utility plants were also blocked.
-Eliminate funding for family planning programs in the U.S. and overseas.
-Block Obama administration rules easing restrictions on people who visit and send money to relatives in Cuba.
-Ban taxpayer subsidies from being used to purchase National Public Radio programming.
-Eliminate taxpayer grants to Planned Parenthood.
-Require all teen pregnancy prevention grants to go to abstinence-only programs.
-Eliminate the option of public financing of presidential campaigns.
-Block “net neutrality” rules to prevent Internet service providers from discriminating against those who send content and other services over their networks.
-Bar the Consumer Product Safety Commission from creating a public database of product safety concerns.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 694 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 501 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 354 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 335 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 325 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 325 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 335 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 247 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 325 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (77)
I.Gaspar
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 6:24pmHosed again by Rubberspine Boehner and his feckless followers.
Report Post »We need REAL CONSERVATIVES….no more phonies.
WeDontNeedNoSteeninBadges06
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 2:09am“Here Are the Highlights From That $1 Trillion-Plus Spending Bill”
The first (and only) Washington DC highlight should’ve been a nuke from orbit (the only way to be sure):
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCbfMkh940Q
JQCitizen
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 11:56amI agree. Time to get Real Kick-A$$ Representation in Congress, and ESPECIALLY in the Senate!!!
Report Post »welovetheUSA
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 5:30pmWell……you can sure tell who put what in………..Cut the spending, period. All spending.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 6:07pmyou know i am a constitutional conservative hawk, i do see a big military, i do see a reduction in entitlement. We are a nation at war, in case anyone forgot, yes. We were attacked first, yes, nod your head up and down, and now we have to finish the job. Unfortunately, the usually hawkish Obama, is pulling us out early. here is what i see as a problem, 53 billion foreign aid, and 3 billion home aide, that seems bass ackwards to me??? call me stupid, but if we’re gonna spend the money, why not at home? the foreigners dont appreciate us, matter of fact, most are envious, and would rather see us fail. there is faint hope we turn this ship around before anarchy reigns.
Viva TEA
Report Post »LibertarianForLife
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 12:42amStrange how you put “Hawk” in the same sentence as “Constitution”. Try reading it once moron, you’d be sorely dissapointed with your trash views.
Report Post »metalurgy
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 12:44amUnix, we were attacked by an ideology not a country. Can’t win a war against ideology. Terror has been around forever, way before 9/11 as well as failed attempts on our home soil. One slipped through the cracks and will likely slip through again.
These terrorists are Saudi’s. They are taught to hate us from birth in their schools and churches but we give them billions.
Why are we not turning Saudi Arabia into glass instead of funding their terrorism?
Your hawkish nation building schemes are going to get my son killed. You can go to hell.
There is not one threat military wise to us on the planet. We are 20 years ahead of everybody else and the military budget can and should be cut and we need to stop this nation building B.S. and pull the hell out of the Mid East and stop sacrificing our kids lives for an ideology, ore strike at the root cause and end this crap. Let’s pull the hell out, stop funding them and leave them to their own devices. There are so many Muslim tribes over there, they will be killing themselves off for decades instead of worrying about us. Use your God given common sense and take away all their excuses.
If we pull out and we are attacked again, then make them extinct like the Dinosaurs. It really is that easy.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 8:59amMy my my, the Constitution can be so devisive yes? No, we have the right to bear arms, and to protect ourselves, you should read the constitution with your glasses on sometime. Where does it say in the constitution we cannot wage war? as to being a hawk, i think a strong military is a deterant to violence. have we been attacked, like 9/11 since we went on the offensive? No it is you libertarians who would rather we get out of all countries, just like we were prior to both world wars, with no toe hold to suppress the satanic masses. you people would rather iran get a nuke and take israel out, before you would do anything. one of you two even said, bring em all back, and ‘if we get attacked again we make glass out of saudi’…have you even thought about this scenario – a nuke in NYC LA or Chicago? as they are liberal bastions, i will not cry too much, but they are all Americans for God sake…so you’d let them nuke us, or whatever first huh – you two are a pair of big thinkers, wake up, it’s a dangerous world out there, and a LOT of people hate us! A lot of innovation comes from the military too, so your arguments fall short of sanity! I too have a son who could be drafted, so where do you get off? My family has been fighting for this country since the 1600′s, many have died and shed blood for your freedom of speech, yet you demonize the rough and ready…when the SHTF here, and it will, I hope you’re prepared. God Bless you all, I won’t resort to name calling
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 10:59amUnix, I disagree with you from the perspective that you are a Constitutionalist. You can’t advocate for ANY discretionary spending if you are. All those billions should be spent by the people who earned the money.
LibertarianForLife, don’t call Unix a moron. He’s probably just a bit ignorant of history. Educate him. You‘re the one who’s got it wrong on your Libertarian view point. America wouldn‘t exist if other countries hadn’t contributed men, money, and weapons to our cause. We can’t simply sit out from the rest of the world. It’s HOW we do so that marks us.
metalurgy, seriously? No one’s a military threat to us just because we have more advanced weapons? Have you heard of this little country called Afghanistan? I’m just wondering. They held back Russian invaders for decades with Molotov cocktails and long rifles. Russia had helicopters and tanks. That’s a recent example. Do a little history on military conquests and get back to me, would you?
Report Post »Unix
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 11:43amThere is a little thing call ARAPNET, go look it up…the military developed IP addressing and the internet…as an alternate means of communication. If it were not for the military, we would not be conversing, yes?
Now, on to metalurgy, stealth technology, micro-wave ovens, radar, jets, and you can guess all the applications. No, I think it is you who is thinking inside the box. The Framers, God Bless them, meant it to be somewhat of a ‘gridlock’ kind of system, so Tyranny could not rear it’s ugly head, there are checks and balances.
I am not for willy nilly war, but OBL launched from Afganny, and we could win that war, if we WANTED to, you compare us to the european colonial powers? LOL…one has to wonder if you have any sense of our true firepower capability, with satellite imagry. I want our Freedon protected, don’t you? Remember, Soros, BHO are the the ones we need to take out of power in 2012. Let’s become friends and join forces to defeat Obama and all PROGRESSIVES, send them packing home! I respect and adhere to the Constitution, and the Repubilic for which it stands. I will get off my bully pulpit now.
Viva TEA
Report Post »God Bless America (all 57+ states)
Unix
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 6:05pmJason, metal? i thought crickets. Logic reigns my friends, and faith in God, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 5:27pm-$39.6 billion for homeland security programs, a 5 percent cut, though border security and immigration enforcement are increased<———————————-If anyone was paying close attention a few GOP debates back Mr Newt made a comment about DHS and how 20 thousand plus DHS employees in the DC area alone. This is the problem with Government far way more employees in DC than this country needs. Please correct me if Im wrong. But with that said I think a few less govt employees in DC and a few thousand more border agents would fit the bill.
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 5:10pm-$53.3 billion for foreign aid and the State Department’s budget<———-another slush fund for Gov to go around the world and try and buy off Terrorist organizations and countrys.
$11.8 billion for the IRS, an almost 3 percent budget cut<—– This might be a sign that Barrry and company knows his Healthcare BamaCare will be struck down by the SCOTUS.
$8.4 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, a 6 percent cut from the president’s request<————This is the Governments version of ENRON
$30.7 billion for health research, a 1 percent increase<——- LMAO—-health research can we say big payoffs to drug makers etc….I dont beleive a dayun thang about this one, private industry has a better chance to provide health research and to come up with solutions, government just picking winners and losers here.
Report Post »feret
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 12:30amWasn’t it just a few years ago the Department of Agriculture had 24 employees for the 4 farms in Los Vegas Nevada?
Report Post »von der Recht
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 4:37pm-$4.3 billion for Congress’ own budget, a 5 percent cut.
If you stacked $1000 dollar bills flat on top of each other, 4.3 Bil would be 2,866 feet high (over a half mile). Why would “CONGRESS” need so much money? What in Hades are they spending it on? How many legislative aids do they need? Why are they paid 6 figure incomes + bennies?
If they don’t pass a balanced budget, they should not be paid at all…..
Tea Party….Hoora
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 4:59pmYour absolutely right, From my understanding each congressional office gets appx 1 million $$$$ for staff, clerical work, US postal service etc….. I like Gov Perrys idea, cut there dam pay in half and goto a part time session yearly. No pay until the budget deficet is paid down by 50% and a balance budget for ten years out. Bet they would get off there a$$ and do the peoples business.
Report Post »tharpdevenport
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 8:46pmAlbino squirrel sanctuaries, and to teach African guys how to wash their balls. Didn‘t you see Chuck Woolrey’s videos? ;-)
Report Post »buster2
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 4:37pmWith insider trading and nothing to stop a practice that is illegal if you and I do it, and this massive spending, here’s an idea. Out, lets vote everyone that is currently in office out and continue to do that until this legal crooks get the message.
Report Post »FANGS
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 4:31pmAnd it looks like Obama and Democrats are still Laundering Money through Public braudcasting and planned parenthood. Since there’s no more law in America, Americans will just have to wipe these out ourselves. It’s time to take the law into our own hands. If they dont physically exist, they dont suck up any more money.
Report Post »39inironpen
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 4:20pmBLAZE WEB TEAM:
I love these kinds of breakdowns of bill provisions. This makes it easier to decipher. Thanks!
Report Post »Thevoice
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 3:58pmOk …I am not trying to be mean here so please tell the church lady she does not have to have a special prayer service for my soul today. But according to the Census bureau The Census reports the total population of the US as just under 309 million. Native Americans/Alaska Natives comprise 0.9% of the total, or roughly 2.78 million people. So the 4.3 billion spent on giving Indians flu shots would cost about $1546.76 per native American….This is just a idea of why we are going broke..In the mean time you cannot open your own Casino on your own reservation better know as private property or land you buy and own…And I am not picking on the Indians. The numbers in other categories per unit (lol) are probably are a lot higher..
Report Post »brntout
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 4:55pmMe wantum shot but me wantum wampum to be guinea pig. (part Indian so …..what?)
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 10:43pmBRNTOUT- YOU have given me my ‘Official full belly laugh of the DAY” THANK YOU! :)
Report Post »tbl10
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 3:54pmNothing but a dog and pony show. Now lets make a few changes here, lets remove the following:
53.3 Billion Foreign Aid and State Department
39.6 Billion Home Land Security
11.8 Billion Internal Revenue Service
115 Billion Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
219.7 Billion in just one year eliminated from the Federal Budget. I am sure I could find much more in the complete budget that we could eliminate. Just gotta have the balls to do it.
Report Post »Wakeup Maggie
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 3:10pmFANTASTIC! They spend more of our money…they should all just go home and leave us the heck alone! And why…of all things would you cut the needle exchange programs that help prevent the spread of AIDS among drug users. Their priorities are all wrong. NO BO 2012
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 3:09pmAnd the whole thing is worth 2 pesos.
Report Post »For the consideration the GOP gave us.
tifosa
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 3:07pmAmazing what you get out of a Congress when their vacation is being held up…
Report Post »sonomine
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 7:44pmYep, it’s like getting kicked in the ass, and turning around to see noone is there.
Report Post »jespasinthru
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 9:23pmOr picking which fist you’d rather be punched with.
Report Post »orionreplay6607
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 5:29amI call it rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Report Post »Redistributor
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 3:04pm$53.3B for state dept budget…lol
Report Post »Countrygirl1362
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 3:26pm$53.3 billion for foreign aid and the State Department’s budget. Why is foreign aid even in the USA budget? We are cutting low-income heating and utility subsidies by 25% and still sending foreign aid to other countries, something is very wrong with that.
Report Post »orionreplay6607
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 5:33amI think we should be able to cut, at least for the time being, foreign aid. This aid probably made much more sense when we were stronger fiscally, but when it’s time to tighten belts, perhaps we should back off for a few years. Now we give funds to countries who loan it right back with interest. It makes no sense today.
Report Post »CatherineAnn
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:40pmI think they got tired and gave up on a better deal for the taxpayers. So just how much does this increase the deficit?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 3:03pmNot necessarily, it seems like at this time they took what ground they can get — the real fight will commense with blades drawn and fire in the eyes of both sides next year as the elections come near to the end of the budget year.
Most of us want the major victories right away, and I am one of them too; yet I also understand that we only control ONE of the three parts of the government of House, Senate and Presidency.
So step by step we will take the ground back and keep going.
This is akin to the game of “Go.” In which small gains secured on the way are the basis for the finish, the TOTAL conclusion of victory in the end.
The major portion right now is that after the 2010 defeats and with the current elections coming up, plus all the scandals and corruption coming out daily on all manner of things; they ARE RUNNING SCARED for the Democrats AND Progressives.
At the minimum in 2012 we need to secure the House, along with retaking of the Senate. And so long as Obama remains in the oval office, the paramount matter as well is the retaking of the POTUS.
What people need to understand is THEY are on the defensive, fighting a desperate rear guard for all its worth. As of now Obama has only two moves left — complete surrender or a desperate move to become a dictator and lose everything.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:32pmLet’s get back to the Constitutional Core: Defense! Every thing else is a Luxury… and we are in Debt… so, Ban, Block, and Eliminate are good! And, money for the EPA is a waste!
Report Post »JimmyP
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:27pmBIG DEAL. Ohhh, we will cut funding for Planned Parenthood, NPR, the EPA and put restraintson Obamasnare (AKA Obamacare before we realized there is NO care in Obamacare, it is simply a snare to get him elected socialist of the millenium).
Thanks conservatives, you really stood up for us again! (sarcasm font used)
Memo to Republicans, please grow a pair!
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:43pmWe in America r growing money trees, Billions it’s in bloom , Trillions it’s in full bloosum.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:46pmPS,,, Broke will be it’s fruit.
Report Post »Bill Burns
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 8:16amNote to JIMMYP: Obama (the worst President in history) and his gimme-gimme crew have failed at every domestic jobs/economy turn. We don’t have a revenue problem JimmyP; we have a spending problem and a government that is bankrupt thanks to record spending, welfare, food stamp, and government expansions which O sees as voting support.
Report Post ».
We are out-of-money and the next 2 generations are screwed.
mrtinbender
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:26pmthey are all part of the establishment whether demo or repub
Report Post »seeker9
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:20pm$11.6B for special needs children? I am a compassionte human being, but are there really that many special needs children? Have not researched the subject, just curious.
Report Post »olddog
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:45pmThey’re talking about Congress and Senate members…
Report Post »seaweaver
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:10pmWhen the Blaze says….“cuts”….is this real? or a minor reduction in the BASELINE BUDGET?
Report Post »cw
KusoJiJi
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:06pmi didn‘t see the line item on funding for Michelle Obama’s extra long and expensive vacations.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 1:54pmAmericans taken to the cleaners again!
Report Post »modilly
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 1:54pmI can hardly wait to vote for more of the same on primary day. You know, anybody but Obama.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 1:48pm.
Here Are the Highlights From That $1 Trillion-Plus Spending Bill, broken down into language the American People can understand………
1. Ya’ll are Screwed……………..
Report Post »@DGinND
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 1:46pmWhy would anyone use Obama’s baseline as a metric for the budget?
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:03pmIsn’t that what the Teapublicons have been screaming for?
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:07pmbecause that baseline is an increase of 5-8% over the previous year. So if you cut 3% and it has increased 8% then you have a net increase of 5%.
Now both sides get what the want. the Progs an increase, the RINOs “I cut Spending!”
Report Post »