“You never want to see how sausages and laws are made”
Both houses of Congress are racing to write a wide range of budget bills, called markups. Since both houses have Republican majorities, the bills must satisfy the caucuses within the Republican Party. The Freedom Caucus, the most conservative are demanding dramatic reductions in Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Education, Foreign Aid, Agriculture and on and on. The Democrats will propose amendments; all will be defeated. The Freedom Caucus threatens to withhold votes unless the cuts are included in the markups. Politico reports,
The early days of legislative drafting and debate that took place across several House committees this week revealed that Republicans are struggling to unify around some of their most consequential decisions, including how deeply to cut spending and overhaul safety-net programs. But they’re also dealing with a host of unexpected controversies — like one committee chair who tucked a contentious car tax into a legislative draft and others who are seeking to use the party-line megabill to move forward with pet priorities.
Both houses have set the end of May as targets,
President Trump is demanding unprecedented cuts in the budget,
President Donald Trump is seeking massive, unprecedented funding cuts across the federal government, unveiling a budget blueprint asking Congress to slash non-defense programs by more than $163 billion while keeping military funding flat. Already, Republicans in Congress are alarmed.
The proposal released Friday pressures Republican lawmakers to cleave more than 20 percent from federal coffers. Trump has already been freezing without their approval since Inauguration Day. Congress isn’t accustomed to cutting anywhere near what Trump is proposing, amplifying tension between the White House and congressional Republicans as GOP leadership works to fund the government before the Sept. 30 shutdown deadline.
In all probability deals will be hammered out and a budget will pass, be signed by the president and become law, if the Republicans and the President cannot agree they face a September 30 government shutdown.
How will the budget impact New York City and New York State?
In the 24-25 federal budget NYS received 90 billion: the current about to be approved state budget ignores Washington, the budget will reflect the Governor’s January preliminary budget and the Governor “suggests” she has the authority to adjust the budget without State Senate and Assembly input, unlikely. If the wrangling over a budget continues New York State and New York City face an unknown future, last minute consequential budget cuts in Washington impacting the City and the state could be disastrous.
Tom DiNapoli, the state comptroller warns,
New York City’s proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 operating budget relies on $7.4 billion in federal government funding, accounting for 6.4% of total spending, according to a series of briefs released by Comptroller DiNapoli. DiNapoli’s office estimates that recent federal government actions to cut grant programs could jeopardize at least $535 million of federal aid in FY 2025 and FY 2026, but notes that nearly all federal operating aid that flows to the city could be subject to cuts or elimination.
Mayor Adams, on the November ballot as an independent candidate, has just proposed an generous budget, Council Speaker Adams, who is on the June 25th Democratic primary ballot is onboard,
The Citizens Budget Commission warns,
Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) President Andrew S. Rein released this statement on behalf of the CBC:
“Despite being flush with cash, Mayor Eric Adams’ Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget fails to address the dual threats of looming federal budget cuts and a possible recession. Instead of wisely adding $1 billion in next year’s General Reserve to soften the first blows of federal cuts and $2 billion to the Rainy Day Fund, the budget increases spending to an unaffordable level.
Fiscal year 2026 proposed costs balloon to $121 billion, when adjusted for the expenses prepaid in the current year and expected costs not funded.
Future budget gaps range from $8 billion to $10 billion, once underbudgeted expenses are added. Federal cuts or a recession could make the shortfalls devastating.
If the Feds make substantial reductions, and it appears likely, the state and city will have to adjust budgets,
The opposition caucuses criticized Mulgrew for not attacking Mayor Adams, attacking a mayor whose budget controls thousands of teacher jobs and the continuing implementation of the Class Size Reduction Law, to be polite, inexperienced, more likely, stupidity, jeopardizing thousands of jobs should disqualify opposition candidates.
I’m putting a big X in the Unity box.
Maybe Trump will back off as Republicans have second thoughts about antagonizing their base, or maybe not.
The economists I read, Paul Krugman, a Nobel Prize winner, Jarod Bernstein, Noah Smith, frequent contributors on substack, are predicting a downturn in the economy, maybe a recession, or worse.
In September 1975, days before the opening of schools the city laid off thousands of teachers, the city saw bankruptcy as the only answer, a bankruptcy judge could amend/cancel contracts as well as pensions.
Some will scream “scare tactics,” no, reality.
We need union leaders who can navigate the twisting hallways of Albany and New York City, not promoting “planning to strike.” a suicidal approach that is applauded by Trump and company.
Ballots are in the mail, your vote matters, your participation matters, we must fight together, one union, one voice. Vote Unity.
Ed in the Apple: Blogging on the Intersection of Education and Politics Title 