VP Dick Cheney's bed side manner has served that terminally ill patient known as the "little guy" with candor and strength. He didn't pull any punches today when he announced that the adminstration would cut or eliminate 150 federal programs in the new budget, but added, the budget was not prepared with a "meat ax."
"We are being tight," Cheney said. "This is the tightest budget that has been submitted since we got here."
The good news: There are plenty of increases for military and homeland security.
The bad news: The budget seeks savings from about 150 programs, including environmental protection, American Indian schools, Medicaid, and the federal-state health program for the poor and disabled as well as Amtrak.
Cheney stated on Sunday, "It's not something we've done with a meat ax, nor are we suddenly turning our back on the most needy people in our society."
Tell that to the one legged-ricketts stricken Sioux indian child who has to hop to his underfunded school through a cloud of acid rain b/c the train service was cut, Dick.
"I think you'll find once people sit down and have a chance to look at the budget that it is (a) fair, reasonable, responsible, serious piece of effort," Cheney said.
It's a serious piece of something.
