Katrina-Rita Provides Mandate to Cut Spending

In the immediate wake of the Katrina Hurricane, libertarians and conservatives were understandably dismayed at the estimated price tags hovering in the $200 billion range. The true funding request may be worse. The Washington Times reports that Louisiana Senators Mary Landrieu and Republican David Vitter have come forward with a $250 billion initial request, including $70 billion in tax breaks.

The list contains some ridiculous items. $25 million for sugar cane research? Instead, how about a $25 million study to determine why local Louisiana politicians are so corrupt? $5 billion to pay the mortgages of hurricane victims for six months is certainly understandable, but why not loan the victims the money?

But there is hope. This week, the House Republican Study Committee announced its proposal "Operation Offset," a list of government programs that can be cut to offset the spending on Katrina. The list is a starting line for saving more than $500 billion over 10 years.

Some of these cuts include:

< Delay the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug program for one year. Savings: $31 billion in one year.

< Repeal highway pork earmarks in the recent transportation authorization bill. Savings: $25 billion over 10 years.

< Eliminate the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, including federal funding for Democratic and Republican conventions. Savings: $550 million over 10 years

< Reduce federal subsidies for Amtrak routes that do not yield profits. Savings: $2.5 billion over 10 years.

< Eliminate federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Savings: $5.6 billion over 10 years.

< Charge federal employees for parking. Savings: $1.5 billion over 10 years.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on Tuesday called the Medicare proposal "a non-starter," pointing the finger at President Bush's opposition to the idea. He was noncommital about reopening the highway bill and even argued that lawmakers might try to wedge in even more perks if given the chance.

Now is the time for the Republicans to finally step forward and cut wasteful spending that exceeds the proper scope of limited government. The cuts should be heavily tilted towards corporate welfare and fancy pork projects rather than on programs that directly affect the poor.

Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) laid it on the line for Delay and President Bush: "If we Republicans who are now in charge of both houses of Congress and the presidency are unable to make tough decisions and provide leadership, then we're going to be telling the American people we're no different [than the Democrats]."

I am not a fan of Senator and potential Presidential candidate John McCain (R-AZ). Among other issues, his advocacy of political-speech-suppressing "campaign finance reform" has drawn the ire of many libertarians and conservatives. But his principled opposition to the $730 billion Medicare drug benefit, which at the time of its passage was supposedly going to cost "only" $400 billion over 10 years, is inspiring. In the wake of the Katrina spending proposals, McCain now says that with respect to the drug benefit, he is in favor of "[e]ither delaying it, reducing it or eliminating it." We need more leadership like that.