71. It would mean cutting discretionary domestic programs by one-third, but Dole does not specify how he would do this. 72. Last week the Republican leadership was pushing a budget blueprint that, if implemented, would slice tens of billions of dollars from vital domestic programs. 73. Military spending cannot be raised, taxes cannot be cut and arbitrary budget ceilings cannot be imposed without eviscerating domestic programs desired by the public. 74. Moderates still must convince converatives that they should pay for the package with money from the Social Security surplus, rather than cutting domestic programs. 75. Moderate Republicans object to its cuts in domestic programs, while conservatives have said the document is not radical enough. 76. Meanwhile, the administration has failed to identify any domestic programs it will cut. 77. Medicare and Medicaid right now cost more than all other domestic programs combined, from national parks to highways, and nearly equal spending on the Pentagon. 78. More than half are for such an increase, even if it means cutting domestic programs. 79. Neither the inertia nor the level of spending are acceptable at a time when severe budget cuts loom in domestic programs. 80. No more credits for charitable giving, the Republican panacea to fill the gap between projected federal spending cuts in domestic programs and the cost of needed social services. |