EDITORIAL – Democrats unify and halt spending bill

A bill rejected by Democrats and some Republicans has halted budget cuts that could have dealt… A bill rejected by Democrats and some Republicans has halted budget cuts that could have dealt a blow to the health, educational and labor needs of American citizens.

Considering that Republicans are in the majority in the House, this vote of 224-209 demonstrated a fragmented right wing unable to push forward a $142.5 billion spending bill. Had it been presented three years prior, when Republican unity was at its prime, the bill would have probably passed.

The Democrats, however, have proved to be a more powerful voting block, overturning the bill with unanimity. Indeed, what they halted would have had deleterious effects. It would have cut $1 billion from Health and Human Services, $430 million from the labor department and even a considerable amount from education.

This annual bill is one of the biggest the House sees and it seems that it is often passed with great difficulty and disagreement. This specific bill would have been the first to cut educational financing in over a decade and the fact that such a cut was even presented in the first place brings several other issues people are facing in America to light.

Our government is so busy spending billions trying to keep Baghdad in one piece, it seems like the welfare of Americans is taking a backseat to foreign policy agendas that quite arguably don’t even make sense. Studies generally show that the worth of a smooth running educational system is: lower crime, lower poverty and citizens are in overall better shape. How could our government even consider further jeopardizing some of the fundamental essentials to the American citizen?

It’s funny how important education and healthcare are to the Republicans throughout election time. George Bush touted the No Child Left Behind Act and vowed that he was in favor of the up and coming generation. Now that it’s time to make decisions regarding financing this expensive act, ridiculous budget cuts have been presented.

The presentation of the bill in itself just goes to show that a significant amount of the right wing is so out of touch with the everyman and everywoman. They are so busy being concerned with money for their own causes but not concerned enough about fiscal planning in general.

Republicans’ beliefs as a party often do not coincide with the valid concerns of Americans. But Americans have not been silenced and their disapproval with these idiotic foreign policy agendas can be seen in the mere fact that Bush’s approval has plummeted to 36 percent.

It’s high time that the future of the children of America, health care and labor be a top priority, and it’s good to see that the Democrats are beginning to grow a pair, because it gives hope to the fact that all is not lost.