OPINION: More Trickery Within Deficit Talks

From The Heritage Foundation, I’m Ernest Istook.

We’re learning more about those closed-door budget talks at the White House, and it’s no wonder they don’t want the public to know the details.

While they trumpeted that they supposedly would cut spending by a $1-trillion over 10 years, one of those in the room says the true figure is only $55-billion. The rest was mostly fee increases. And the White House budget office admits only $2-billion would be cut the first year.

It gets worse. Word is that the White House also wanted to ADD more spending in the same bill: Another $43-billion for unemployment insurance. $33-billion more for Pell grants. $10-billion for medical grants. And $27-billion for the medical profession.

The trickery and gimmicks don’t seem to stop in Washington. Even when they claim they’re cutting spending, they’re actually adding more. That’s what happens behind closed doors.

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