FrankWolfWatch

On budgetary matters, I have contented that for the most part there is less then a dime worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats.

Over a budgetary issue that Congressman Wolf has proclaimed to be devastating, there is less than a dime worth of difference between Republicans.  The Wolf’s crisis is over funding of the Census Bureau in 2007.  While the Bush Administration wants to spend $878 million, the House has voted for $815.7 million and the approved only $828 million. [1]

I did not even know that we were conducting a census in 2007.  That is because we are not. 

But not to worry, Rep. Wolf promises a hearing later in the month to explain why fully funding the Administration request for the Census Bureau in a year no census occur is such a critical issue to the republic.

The Washingon Post cited several issues at stake:
* Preparations for the 2010 Census would be dangerously weakened impacted its cost-effectiveness and accuracy (then don‘t cut those effort and instead cut back efforts that are not constitutionally mandated),
* The agency would have to drop plans for hand-held computers (but given the rapid changes in technology should not such acquisition be deferred), and
* The agency could not provide an accurate count of residents living in group quarters such as college dorms, prisons, and mental hospitals (given government control of most of these institutions how much can this redundant effort really cost?).

In the grand scheme of things, the core functions of the Census Bureau are essential and the millions of dollars in dispute disappear in the sea of our trillions budgeted.  However, there is an important principle at stake:  Appropriators must be more than cheerleaders for the Administration or the programs they authorize as there is a limit to federal revenue requiring prioritization and cuts.

So long as Congress lacks the courage to eliminate non-priority programs and restrain program growth, there will be competing factions on the Hill robbing Peter (Census Bureau) to pay Paul (law enforcement grants).

[1] D'Vera Cohn, “Census Bureau Fears Budget Fallout: Proposed Cuts Said to Hurt Preparations for 2010 Count,” The Washington Post, 7/15/2006, A10.

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