Cuts could doom spending bill

The House VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday approved by voice vote a $92.9 billion fiscal 2005 spending bill that represents an $800 million increase over the president's request and $2.1 billion more than the fiscal 2004 enacted level, largely comprised of a $1.9 billion increase for veterans' healthcare programs.

Many other programs within the bill's jurisdiction would be cut from last year -- ranging from community development block grants, trimmed by $210 million to $4.7 billion, to the National Science Foundation's $111 million reduction -- for a total of $5.5 billion. The spending discipline extends to earmarked projects as well, with a 2 percent reduction from last year's total of about $1 billion. But those proposed cuts could spell trouble for the bill's passage on both sides of the aisle. Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, cited the panel's decision to cut NASA funding.

"To me, that's unacceptable, and it would be very hard to get this bill to the floor if it's unacceptable to me," he said.

Appropriations ranking member David Obey, D-Wis., said the bill might not have the votes to pass.

The full Appropriations Committee will consider the measure Thursday, along with the Transportation-Treasury spending bill. The House is expected to debate the measures in September. VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., said the fiscal 05 budget resolution necessitated "excruciating and unbearable" spending choices, adding that veterans' health care should have received an additional $1.3 billion. House Appropriations Chairman Bill Young, R-Fla., noted the difficult choices faced by VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman James Walsh, R-N.Y., saying it was nonetheless a good bill and that "we'll just have to put it on the floor and have a debate."

Young reiterated his plan to approve all 13 spending bills in the House before packaging them into an omnibus, expressing hope that after the House approves fiscal 2005 District of Columbia and Military Construction bills this week it will approve the three remaining bills the first week back after Labor Day.

To maintain House leverage in conference, Young said, "I don't want to put any bills in that haven't cleared the House."

The Senate could take up its version of the Military Construction appropriations bill this week, as well as clear a $418 billion FY05 Defense spending bill for the president's signature. The Senate has not completed any other bills.

Within the House VA-HUD measure are deep cuts in President Bush's space exploration initiatives. NASA's request was slashed by $1.1 billion to $15.1 billion, which represents a $229 million cut from last year. The proposed cuts include an $800 million reduction in the administration's plan for manned space flight to Mars and $190 million less for the international space station. EPA faces a $613 million cut from last year's level, $36 million less than the administration request. This includes a $519 million cut in state and tribal assistance grants, although appropriators restored about $127 million in proposed cuts in the grant program.