As Americans, we’re particularly ill-equipped to view things in the long term (see financial crisis, 2009; global climate change; solar power investment; etc.), so it comes as no surprise that we have a hard time cutting government spending programs now, in order to save future generations even more trouble than that which we’ve already heaped upon them. And politicians are particularly adept at spewing at length about responsibility, but then never taking any, or asking us too either, as it seems a bit off-putting to the electorate.

You see, if you were to ask any ten Americans on the street, they’d all tell you they’re for reduced government spending, balanced budgets, lower taxes and generally a sound fiscal approach to things. But then ask those same ten Americans which of the programs – they benefit from – to cut, and you get a lot of shuffling feet and muffled speech. We all find it easy to call for cuts to various programs, as long as they’re not OUR programs. This is how we’re still stuck with subsidies for gas and oil companies (HOW could they possibly survive without them?), ethanol subsidies and grants to makers of worsted wool products (no, that’s not a typo). It’s either less spending, or more taxes, people. We can’t have it both ways, at least not for long.

So the Obama administration has come out with their recommendations for the federal budget, and it includes a LOT of cuts to somebody else’s programs – and probably some of your pet projects, too. All part of the freeze on non-military discretionary spending. Included on the list of items getting the boot are various coal tax preferences, environmental education programs, various outdated weapon development programs, public broadcasting and telecom grants, and the above referenced gift to manufacturers of the worst wool products (did I get that right?). Over 100 programs in all (if you count terminations, reductions and savings) for an overall projected savings of $283 billion over the next ten years. That’s starting to sound like real money.

Some highlights for us green-thinkers:

• Elimination of the Brownfields Economic Development Initiative
• Termination of four different tax benefits for coal producers, eight for oil and gas companies
• Canning Local Government Climate Change Grants
• Taking back $10 million in grants to California for diesel engine retrofits
• Dropping $157 million in water infrastructure grants

and the list goes on and on. The reasoning behind most of these cuts is the same: Programs have outlived their usefulness, other funding mechanisms are more efficient, or funding for local programs is best left to locals.

If you want to take a more detailed look, each proposed cut is described (in sparingly brief terms), along with justifications for the change. It’s really quite refreshing to see the federal government getting serious about cutting wasteful programs. As long as they’re not MY wasteful programs…

More about the proposed 2011 budget >

Terminations, Reductions and Savings PDF >

Tags: federal budget, government spending, green business, taxes