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Sand Mountain Reporter | Aderholt updates Marshall County Board of Realtors on Washington's budget woes

August 15, 2011

Aderholt updates Marshall County Board of Realtors on Washington's budget woes
By Malarie Haven | Sand Mountain Reporter | August 15, 2011

U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt addressed the Marshall County Board of Realtors on Thursday to share information about recent budgeting decisions in Washington.

"It's been sort of crazy over there," he said.

He said many of the issues stem from the U.S. House of Representatives' flip from Democratic to Republican control.

"Things changed a little in Washington," he said. "A lot of people just felt like the country was going in a different direction."

Aderholt serves on the House Appropriations Committee, which controls spending and decides how much money to allocate for various departments, such as Homeland Security, customs and border control, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"The tornado outbreak of April 27 really showed us just how important FEMA is," he said.

He broke down the federal spending process into two budgets: discretionary spending and entitlement spending. While discretionary spending can change from year to year, federal law earmarks entitlement funds, such as social security and Medicare.

"Congress has no control over those funds," Aderholt said. "We would have to change some laws if we want to change that."

Aderholt addressed a comment about the federal government?wasting money on "sacred cows," by saying that congress was "starting to look at that." For example, he said they recently cut some funds to Homeland Security that were deemed futile.

"When it comes to Homeland Security, it seems like the sky's the limit," he said. "But just because your spending more money doesn't mean you have more security. Until we look at this issue, the debt will continue to go up."

Aderholt also addressed the recent debt ceiling agreement made by congress. In fiscal year 2010, the U.S. saw a debt of more than $14 trillion. President Barack Obama proposed to raise the debt ceiling, but faced opposition from some congress members, particularly in the House. Aderholt said the debt ceiling is usually raised a little each year "without much discussion," and Obama "would've liked to keep it a low-key decision" this year as well.

"But because of the November elections, the House was reluctant to agree to that," Aderholt said. "They wanted to make sure taxes were not raised."

A three-point compromise was reached that included $900 billion rise in the debt ceiling, $917 billion in cuts to federal spending and a vote on a balanced budget amendment slated for Oct. 1. Congress members also took measures to make sure taxes were not increased, and a super committee should be formed by the end of the year. The committee will decide where to make the cuts, he said.

"It will be slow to turn, but I will say congress is finally getting the message," Aderholt said.

In addition, he addressed current redistricting issues, saying Alabama will retain seven House districts. Although the fourth district, the district Aderholt currently represents, saw some slight changes, he said "85 percent is still the same."

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