I have heard that the federal government is taking away federal funding from things like planned parenthood and meals on wheels for example. But then I'm also hearing that they are taking that funding and giving it to the states to distribute as they see fit. Did i get that right or not? And if that is the case it just becomes the states responsibility to fund those programs, right?
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1First of all, the press is reporting on Trump's budget proposal that he sent to Congress, and this is how he would like things done (perhaps). The responsibility for creating the actual budget belongs to Congress. It is highly unlikely that they will implement it exactly as proposed, and some speculate that this is part of Trumps negotiating style: start with an extreme position so that you can get what you want later when you compromise.– jalynn2Commented Mar 20, 2017 at 18:32
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2As others have stated, this isn't really answerable. We have no idea what you should be mad at. That said, the proposal doesn't just 'give the money' to the states. The proposal is actually cutting that money out of the budget. States, if they wanted to continue supporting the programs, would have to use their own budgets for that.– user1530Commented Mar 20, 2017 at 19:18
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2I have edited your question to take out the parts asking for opinion based answers. I think that now it is reasonably answerable and I have voted to reopen.– David says Reinstate MonicaCommented Mar 20, 2017 at 19:19
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2@user4012 it doesn't say how much we need to fund. My point is that you arguing that because you don't like X, taxes shouldn't go towards it, is just stupid.– user1530Commented Mar 20, 2017 at 19:29
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3@user4012 I completely believe there are people that believe what you believe. That you feel you need to call out others as "satisfying your righteousness needs with Other People's Money" because they don't believe that is patronizing, petty, and not helping anything.– user1530Commented Mar 20, 2017 at 19:41
1 Answer
I have heard that the federal government is taking away federal funding from things like planned parenthood and meals on wheels for example. But then I'm also hearing that they are taking that funding and giving it to the states to distribute as they see fit.
The Donald Trump administration's budget proposal eliminates a program that gave block grants to states to spend based on state priorities. Some of that money is spent on Meals on Wheels. However, the checks are issued by the state.
The federal government also funds Meals on Wheels directly through an agency called Administration for Community Living in the Health and Human Services department. This provides about 35% of the overall funding for Meals on Wheels. This program is not slated for cancellation or specific cuts. There is some speculation that it may be cut as part of a general 16% funding cut for Health and Human Services. It's not clear if this is included or not at this time, as there are no details on the 16% funding cut.
Medicaid pays for some Planned Parenthood services. That money already is prohibited from directly funding abortions, but the pro-life people say that it still ends up subsidizing it indirectly. The pro-choice people dispute this. Ignoring who is right, while states administer Medicaid, the federal government does partially pay for and regulate it. Blocking this funding is part of the Obamacare repeal and replace bill, the American Health Care Act of 2017.
In neither of these cases is responsibility being moved to the states. In both cases, it is the states that currently spend the money at issue, although the federal government provides part (Medicaid) or all (block grants) of the funding. The federal funding would simply be revoked in these cases.
There is also a proposal to block grant Medicaid to the states. But that's separate and not under discussion in terms of Meals on Wheels or Planned Parenthood at this time.