Thread: Trump wants to add $54 billion to defense and cut social spending

Trump wants to add $54 billion to defense and cut social spending

FEB. 27, 2017, 9:24 A.M.
A look at President Trump's administration and the rest of Washington:

• Trump's national security team has another setback as nominee for Navy secretary withdraws
• New DNC chief decries Trump's tweet that party election was rigged
• Trump says he won't go to annual White House Correspondents' dinner
• Democrats pick former Labor Secretary Tom Perez to lead them out of the political wilderness
• Constituents' anger turns town halls into must-see TV
• Catch up quickly on the healthcare debate with Obamacare 101

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FEB. 27, 2017, 9:24 A.M.REPORTING FROM WASHINGTON

Trump: 'Nobody knew that healthcare could be so complicated'

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Steve Kopack
✔@SteveKopack

Trump says he has a "really, really great" plan for Obamacare. He adds:"Nobody knew that healthcare could be this complicated."
7:41 AM - 27 Feb 2017

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President Trump promised the nation's governors Monday that his yet-to-be-revealed replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act would give states greater flexibility and thanked some Republicans in the room who advised him on healthcare.

"It's an unbelievably complex subject," he said. "Nobody knew that healthcare could be so complicated."

The remark likely surprised state leaders; spending on Medicaid alone was the second-biggest driver of increased state general fund spending, according to the 2016 Fiscal Survey of States conducted by the National Assn. of State Budget Officers.

And it was just eight years ago Washington dove head-first into a raging debate over healthcare reform under President Obama, which simmered long after his signature health law was enacted.

But the finer points of healthcare policy are likely new to Trump, who is immersed in discussions with Republican leaders and his senior staff on that and other subjects ahead of his high-profile address Tuesday to a joint session of Congress.

Trump offered no hint as to the details. Republicans have vowed to repeal and replace Obamacare but their effort has stalled as they debate how to do so and await word from the White House on what Trump wants to do.

The president seemed keenly aware of the political ramifications of whatever steps he takes.

"As soon as we touch it, if we do the most minute thing, just a tiny little change, what's going to happen? They're going to say it's the Republicans' problem," Trump said after telling the governors the easiest thing for him to do would be nothing, and in his view, watch Obamacare collapse.

"But we have to do what's right because Obamacare is a failed disaster."

http://www.latimes.com/politics/wash...htmlstory.html

Retired U.S. military officers urge Congress to fully fund diplomacy, aid

Cut all foreign aid except to Africa. The US State Department actually has a budget of over $69 billion and employs over 75,000 people so it's a huge department and probably a little bloated at this point, since management of so much of it is remote and probably not well over-seen. I'm not saying it is too big, it's just bigger than the thread article states. So there are probably some cuts that can be made without any harm to Americans working or living in those countries.

Given North Korea on verge of nuclear missile that can reach Japan and possibly even our west coast, Iran sparring away and setting off test missiles that could carry a nuclear bomb, Syria fighting the ISIS we funded, intentionally or unintentionally, millions of illegal aliens in our country who have poured over the Mexican border, staggering trade deficits with China, no resolution in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine, etc., and no progress at all towards building a new relationship with Russia, even the reverse due to leaks and anti-Trumpism, nothing but insults against US from the EU on immigration and NATO issues, and so much more, I think the resources could have done better with the money and personnel, so it's time to consider reigning it in a bit there and make sure we're actually getting our money's worth from the US Department of State. Budget cuts are red flags often times to do your job, be prudent, be wise, focus on the big stuff, deliver results. Americans like results and are always willing to pay for it. Always have, always will. You get the peace, you improve the relations, you get rid of these nuclear weapons programs, you make a new good relationship with Russia, Mexico and China and Americans will give you all big fat merit raises and an updated equipment budget.

Why not cut aid to Africa? We have given them billions of dollars for years and years, along with food and medical care. They are no better off...have 10 kids and continue to breed in the dirt. No money, no aid, no oatmeal.

Global Population Control. I do not want to pay to feed them for another 50 years. They need to solve their own population and corruption problems.

I just think Africa still needs our help. I really do. I don't know if the money we provide them is being spent wisely or appropriately, but I still support helping Africa. Africa is such a beautiful country, but it is so fragile. It just still needs our eyes, help and money, seems to me. We probably need to spend the money and provide the help in better more productive ways. We need to make sure it doesn't line the pockets of dictators and government officials but actually reaches the people, and there are ways to do that, if not, then pull it in those areas where it's not reaching the people. And not forever, just help them a little bit longer, because I believe until proven wrong, they still need it.

Give Africa nothing but a piece of paper stating a "Comprehensive Plan for Reform". Take it or leave it. Not our problem! All money goes into corrupt pockets. So does the food. They need Birth Control.

I have ZERO sympathy for Africa. They do not "need" our money. They have resources, they need to invest in their own Country and people.

No more foreign aid to any countries. 20 trillion in debt. I do not want to borrow from China so some 3rd world cesspool can continue to have 10 babies a piece in the dirt. Disgusting!

All the oatmeal in the World is not going to help those people until they get on a program of population control, stop the corruption, the violence, the rape, and get on a path to reform.

Originally Posted by Judy

I just think Africa still needs our help. I really do. I don't know if the money we provide them is being spent wisely or appropriately, but I still support helping Africa. Africa is such a beautiful country, but it is so fragile. It just still needs our eyes, help and money, seems to me. We probably need to spend the money and provide the help in better more productive ways. We need to make sure it doesn't line the pockets of dictators and government officials but actually reaches the people, and there are ways to do that, if not, then pull it in those areas where it's not reaching the people. And not forever, just help them a little bit longer, because I believe until proven wrong, they still need it.

You still haven't given a legitimate reason for giving Africa our hard earned taxpayer dollars. You may win me over if you're suggesting we should help the African nature preserves (I'm all for stopping the poaching of elephants, lions, monkeys, etc.) or go in to smash Boko Haram. However, this money should go directly to the cause because I have no false illusions regarding their various governments that are, to varying degrees, corrupt and capricious. Let Oprah build all the girl schools she wants in Africa and allow any other private citizen to help as they see fit, but IMO sending our tax dollars there is like throwing it into an empty well. Private funding, yes, billions in taxpayer dollars, no. I'm not necessarily suggesting we end all foreign aid, but I am saying it's past time to consider some serious cuts. Should we really be buying someone like Egypt tanks? I use that as an example because it seems I recall that very thing happening.

Any discussion on how to help Africa is very complex. I believe we're giving them billions annually now just to fight HIV/AIDS. That is only part of it. If I remember correctly we were giving over 50 billion or so to foreign countries around 5 years ago. I'm not sure what the amount is now. I don't pretend to have all the answers, but it's hard to believe we give that much away to other countries annually, yet we can't even build an efficient wall (fence) to protect our own nation. Yep, I'm scratching my head.

No money for African Nature Preserves. We need to update our 100+ year old water pipes in our inner cities. Build more reservoirs and look ahead to our impact and needs on our resources for the future. Our population growth. What if we have a volcano or serious earthquake? Another Hurricane Katrina or Sandy? Look at all the Tornadoes, Floods, mudslides, we have and drought.

No money to Africa...period. We have given them BILLIONS. No more money to their Ebola or AIDS. Clean up your cesspool.

Africa has received boatloads of money...only to squander it. They do not invest in their own people or land.

They only look to the next 48 hours of their future with their hands out for our money and oatmeal.

Time for tough love...you are on your own.

Yes, I would like to help the park rangers who protect their natural preserves to stop the awful poaching!!

I would also like to help the women with birth control and abortions should they choose so they aren't burdened with childbirth of children born to die from starvation.

I would also like to help them with fresh water treatment facilities, sewage treatment facilities and solar energy items for heat, cooking and lights, so the women don't have to walk miles and miles carrying water jugs on their head only to have to scavenge for wood and sticks to make a fire to cook dinner, and so they can have some light to study for school, plug in a fan to get some cool or a heater so they won't be cold at night in the winter.

And for some food when there are shortages.

There is so little real news about Africa, many Americans still don't understand how difficult and primitive life is there for so many of the people. Yet, they almost never complain, they never whine, they have great dignity and acceptance of their fate. I admire them tremendously for that. And that depends on the country. Not all the countries are the same. It's tribal, good tribes, bad tribes. I would like to help the good ones.

But it's true we're broke. I would like to see whatever we have been spending stay in the budget for Africa, cut everybody else off. And maybe if the money we do spend is spent more wisely, in a few years, we won't need to do any more for them either.

In fact I don't even think we should give the money to the governments, we should give it our companies and send them down there to build some nice facilities and hand out some nice solar products and family planning options for the women and of course food when there are shortages.

Good grief Judy...they do it to themselves. Free vasectomies and tubal ligations will get them out of poverty and starvation. They accept their fate because they do not have two brain cells to rub together. Tribal mentality and decades of inbreeding.

No money! Let Oprah and Hollywood help them. It all boils down to keeping your pants ZIPPED.