State, Local Groups Urge Congress to Fight Trump Budget Cuts

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WASHINGTON – State and local groups are urging members of Congress to stand with them to fight against proposed President Trump's proposed budget cuts, which they say would have significant adverse impacts on governments.

The National League of Cities already has signatures from 500 city officials to a letter to be sent to U.S. lawmakers in response to Trump administration officials' proposed $17.9 million of further budget cuts for fiscal 2017 that says: "We need you to stand with cities to fight the cuts that would devastate cities across the board."

The administration is proposing those cuts on top of what Congress has agreed to in the continuing resolution that expires on April 28, with only six months left in the fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the National Governors Association sent a letter to House and Senate leaders on Thursday urging them to work collaboratively with the states on the fiscal 2017 and 2018 budgets to avoid eliminating federal funding that would push more costs onto them.

"Federal funds make up an average of 31% of state budgets, making states' ability to effectively administer these essential programs inextricably tied to the federal budget," they wrote. "While governors recognize that Congress has many funding challenges to meet, we urge you to uphold the federal government's commitment to states."

The letter, signed by NGA chair Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and vice chair Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, said, "We strongly request meaningful consultation with states when considering any reduction or elimination of federal funding that will shift costs to states."

The  NGA letter was sent to the U.S. lawmakers just two days after Trump administration officials proposed $17.9 billion of more budget cuts for fiscal 2017 than Congress included in the continuing resolution that expires on April 28. The proposed cuts would eliminate or gut funds for the popular Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, the Transit New Starts program, and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the fiscal year ending in six months.

NLC listed some of these and other programs that would be eliminated or gutted by the budget cuts and said in its letter, on which it is still collecting signatures, "There is a long history of federal-local partnerships when it comes to moving America forward. Budget proposals we've seen so far not only alarm us, as the nation's local leaders, but jeopardize this historic relationship."

Two weeks ago, President Trump proposed a budget blueprint for fiscal 2018, which starts on Oct. 1, that would make deep cuts in domestic spending, including in these same grant programs, as well as other key agency programs.

The letter asked that Congress follow certain "principles … when evaluating federal budgetary decisions affecting states to safeguard innovation, flexibility and efficiency."

First, the governors wrote, Congress should authorize and appropriate sufficient funds to meet program objectives. "Governors urge Congress to ensure the federal government upholds its commitment to critical programs," they wrote.

Second, U.S. lawmakers should give states maximum flexibility to create efficiencies and achieve results they wrote, adding, "States must be allowed to align, transfer, and coordinate funds from similar programs to produce a better return on investment."

Finally, "federal funding decisions should not shift costs to states by expanding unfunded or under-funded federal commitments," the governors wrote. "Good fiscal policy must consider the effects of federal action on state governments to avoid actions that harm the ability of governors to manage state budgets."

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Washington
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