how republicans tighten the belt

So. How to pay for Katrina? House Republicans have suggested Operation Offset. Of course, you could simply roll back the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, but who would want to do that? (Doing that would pretty much pay for Katrina.)

The Republicans' plan, though, calls for "tough choices" as it cuts spending. Tough for whom? Let's see:

·Funding for the Peace Corps: freeze it.

·Global AIDS Initiative: freeze it.

·EnergyStar program: get rid of it entirely.

·State and local energy conservation grants: eliminate them.

·President Bush's hydrogen fuel initiative: cancel it. You heard me, at $3 a gallon, they want to cancel it.

·Amtrak funding: slash it.

·Funding for new light-rail programs: get rid of it entirely. (That's $3 a gallon.)

·How about grants for safe and drug-free schools? Well, "studies show that schools are among the safest places in the country and relatively drug free," so they're eliminating them entirely.

·Corporation for Public Broadcasting: cut all funding entirely. (Been waiting for something like Katrina for years, these guys have.)

·Subsidized student loans for graduate students: cut all funding entirely.

·Legal Services Corporation: wipe it out of existence.

·National Endowment for the Arts: Yep! Kill all funding! Hooray! Finally, an excuse!

·National Endowment for the Humanities: See above.

Now, you might not see a pattern there. You might think that the House Republicans are being entirely fair and balanced in their budget cutting. And it's true: they're not targeting left-of-right programs exclusively. No sir, these tough times call for budget cuts even in some cherished far-right regions. Defense and Homeland Security, to take one giant area.

What, you say? They're going to get rid of the highly useful and faith-based Strategic Defense Initiative? Press big-money big buddies like Halliburton to be more responsible? Fear not. The recommendations here are to give members of the National Guard the golden opportunity to have a less comprehensive health care plan. Ah yes, and we'll also be closing schools for the children of soldiers.

Way to tighten the belt!