The Clinton administration's list of 254 program terminations is unrealistic, House Appropriations Chairman Robert Livingston, R-La., charged Thursday.
"I am most disappointed," Livingston said in releasing the list of program terminations provided by the administration this week. "It is not a serious document."
During testimony earlier this year, Clinton administration officials referred to the list of 254 programs, but did not immediately release it. They sent the list to Livingston after he requested it from Office of Management and Budget Director Franklin Raines.
Raines, in his letter to Livingston accompanying the list, said the terminations would save $3.4 billion in 1998. Raines said the administration chose to end the programs for several reasons: a desire to shift funding to higher priorities, the need to eliminate projects that do not have economic benefits or were not subject to peer review, and the desire to cut programs that are no longer needed or should be shifted to the private sector.
The administration listed for termination a variety of agriculture programs, including a lengthy list of buildings and facilities projects that would be eliminated, as well as several National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs.
The list also includes almost $1.5 billion in defense program terminations, including the elimination of several aircraft projects. Livingston said the list encompasses a "hodgepodge of small programs," all of which were agreed to in negotiations with the administration.
But he also said some of the suggested terminations represent a "slap in the face" to Republicans, in particular elimination of the $500 million local law enforcement block grant program and the $310 million Innovative Education Program Strategies.
"Suggesting we eliminate these programs is simply not helpful," Livingston said. "However, I want to publicly call on the president, the OMB director and the cabinet to work with us in a far more constructive meaningful way to balance the budget. We are off to a poor start," Livingston added.
An OMB official told CongressDaily the list of program terminations represents a "tiny piece of a comprehensive plan" to balance the budget.
The official contended that Republicans "once again are trying to change the subject. We have a comprehensive plan on the table," and renewed the call for Republicans to release a budget plan now or begin serious negotiations with the administration.
NEXT STORY: Senate Clears Pena