Nation's Cities - May 30, 2011

8 NATION’S CITIES WEEKLY
May 30, 2011

Cuts, from page 1

federal highway and transit programs,
among others.

In the fiscal year 2011 process, the
CDBG program was cut by 16 percent
from $3.9 billion in 2010 to $3.3 bil-
lion — one of the largest cuts in the
program’s history.
In the area of public safety, the com-
mittee has $3 billion less to fund prov-
en public safety programs such as the
popular Community Oriented Policing
Services program and the Byrne Justice
Assistance Grant program.

Education, workforce development
and energy programs for low income
families are subject to the largest cuts

“Yes, we need to cut the national debt, and no, we won’t be silent and let
that happen at the expense of our communities and our residents. City lead-
ers, the state municipal leagues and NLC have already begun to get our
message to Capitol Hill about the importance of these investments to eco-
nomic recovery and job creation in our communities.”
—NLC President James E. Mitchell Jr.
with more than $18 billion less in fund-
ing available for these programs com-
bined.
In contrast, defense programs are
NLC Hosting Online Conversation
With Erskine Bowles

by Lars Etzkorn
On Tuesday, May 31, at 3:00
p.m. Eastern Time, NLC will host
an online conversation with Erskine
Bowles, co-chair of the National
Commission on Fiscal Responsibility
and Reform.

scheduled to receive a $17 billion increase
in funding in fiscal year 2012 under
the House plan. To view the spend-
ing limits by the House Appropriations
Subcommittee, go to www.appropria-
tions.house.gov.
The House Appropriations
Committee and subcommittees began
considering legislation with these spend-
ing limits last week in a process the
chairman plans to complete by the end
of this fiscal year, which is September
30.
House members will be under pres-
sure to advance these cuts, despite the
individual programs’ track records of
effectiveness, yet city leaders and NLC
vowed to push back.
“Yes, we need to cut the national
debt, and no, we won’t be silent and let
that happen at the expense of our com-
munities and our residents,” said NLC
President James E. Mitchell Jr., council
member, Charlotte, N.C. “City leaders,
the state municipal leagues and NLC
have already begun to get our message
to Capitol Hill about the importance of
these investments to economic recovery
and job creation in our communities.”
Also last week, the House’s spending
plan failed to win support in the Senate,
where Democrats joined by Republican
Senators Scott Brown (Mass.), Susan
Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski
(Alaska), Rand Paul (Ky.), and Olympia
Snowe (Maine) opposed proceeding
with it.

Phoenix, Arizona | November 9 -12*, 2011

COME TO PHOENIX AND CONNECT
WITH THE ISSUES...
through more than 30
workshops, facilitated
discussions and Policy
and Advocacy Committee
meetings.

WITH SOLUTIONS...
that will make a difference
for your community through
the Exposition Hall, the City
Showcase, and mobile
workshops.
WITH PEERS...which
are an invaluable resource
through NLC member
networking councils and
constituency groups.
WITH NLC...by
participating in governing
the association at the Annual
Business Meeting.