The Budget Deal: What's to Come

In an article posted by American Government two weeks ago, the budget negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in Congress was described as it looked before the budget cuts were passed.  Since then, the game has changed a bit. Congress passed the resolution a mere hour before missing the deadline, which would have set off the initial stages of a partial federal shutdown. Presumably, the heated, mostly partisan debate would have continued past the deadline were it not for the Obama administration urging Congress to pass the spending cuts through compromise, as a government shut-down could stop the economy's recovery.
           The results? Both sides of the debate have had to compromise significantly to their equal dismay, foreshadowing heated debate to continue in amending the bill. While Republicans, influenced in great part by the interests of tea-party activists' demands, originally fought for budget cuts of up to $61 billion for the 2011 fiscal year ending in September, the cuts only slipped through the divided Congress after Democrats whittled this number down to the final compromise of $38.5 billion. The dizzying array of cuts and amended cuts represent victories and defeat for both side, and notable cuts include federal high-speed rail funding, funding for the removal of Guantanamo prisoners into the U.S. or a foreign country, and emergency first responders
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        It seems evident through the course of these political battles and the upcoming debates over cuts on the 2012 GOP budget proposal that the interests guiding legislators in these battles are focused on strategies for the dominance of their party, rather than the social welfare, nor the consequences for average citizens.  While republicans are battling for widespread overhaul of federal projects to reign in the staggering debt, the actions of legislators can also be seen as continuing their support from Tea party activists who are pushing the cuts the hardest. Meanwhile, senate Democrats have worked to protect much of the defense budget and federal subsidies for Democratic pet projects, which keeps their constituent interests happy. While I would love to see the staggering $14 trillion of debt we have built dealt with seriously by our legislators, it seems that the upcoming negotiations that will shape the 2012 federal budget may result in some equally unsatisfying compromises.