"Hatchet VS Scalpel"~ Jared Bernstein for the BOG~

[Cha]

<snip>

Second, a little background on freeze-eology: there are two ways to do a freeze like this: (1) an across-the-board freeze on every program outside of national security; and (2) a surgical approach where overall totals are frozen but some individual programs go up and others go down. In short, a hatchet versus a scalpel.

During the campaign, you may recall that John McCain touted option 1: the hatchet approach of an across-the-board freeze.

The President was critical of that approach then, and we would be critical of it now. It's not what we're proposing. To the contrary, the entire theory of the President's proposed freeze is to dial up the stuff that will support job growth and innovation while dialing down the stuff that doesn't. Under our plan, some discretionary spending will go up; some will go down. That's a big difference from a hatchet.

Take, for example, the policies we announced yesterday -- a significant expansion (a 20% increase) in a program that provides services for seniors, like respite care and in-home services; a program to limit student loan repayments to 10 percent of income (after living expenses); an expansion of two tax credits, one for child care and another for retirement savings.

<more>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jared-bernstein/budget-freeze-eology-101_b_437277.html

[alsame]

1. He talked about the scalpel approach throughout the campaign, so I

don't know why people are so hysterical now.

[Cha]

2. They're just terminally upset..

there's no help. Facts, Reality,.. nothing will cure it.:nopity:

[goclark]

3. txs Cha nt

[bigwillq]

4. Thanks for posting this info (nt)