CAPITAL REGION
If President Donald J. Trump’s proposed 2020 federal budget were adopted, the cuts would be far more wider than the much-discussed cuts being proposed in social welfare programs like Medicaid and social security.
The budget plan would deprive upstate cities including Schenectady of millions in federal aid, and eliminate the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program — a winter lifeline for those who struggle against poverty to keep their homes warm. Just looking at Capital Region counties, the food stamp program would also be scaled back by millions of dollars annually.
Looking deeper, the Trump budget would also cut $7 million in federal funding for planned capital improvements at the Schenectady County Airport, according to an analysis by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s office — and eliminate subsidies that underpin commercial air service to smaller upstate cities like Watertown, Ogdensburg and Plattsburgh.
“The administration’s budget proposal is unfair and harmful to upstate New York and it’s nothing short of a gut-punch to the Capital Region,” said Schumer, in providing a lengthy breakdown of the potential cuts to local programs.
On the other hand, the $4.75 trillion Trump budget proposal released last week calls for a nearly five percent hike in military spending. Supporters argue that it will place necessary reins on federal spending.
“We are stewards of other people’s money and must be diligent in spending it more carefully than we would our own when it comes to delivering our programs,” Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, whose department would see significant cuts, said in a statement. “At the same time, we will maintain a safety net for farmers, ranchers, foresters, producers, and people who need assistance in feeding their families.”
Like previous Trump budgets, this one will certainly undergo radical modifications as Congress reviews the plans. The proposed cuts may well be softened or reversed.
Cities would take a hard hit from potential elimination of the Community Development Block Grant program. The state in federal fiscal 2018 received nearly $126 million for the program that helps aging communities redevelop. Dozens of cities get direct annual funding, and others get allocations through New York state; smaller cities like Amsterdam and Gloversville get funding through the state program.
The CDBG program brought more than $2.2 million to Schenectady in federal fiscal 2018, and will bring $2.9 million this year. Schenectady also stands to lose nearly $1.2 million it received in 2018 under the HOME program to develop or rehab low- and moderate-income housing, since that program is proposed for elimination.
Albany received $3.4 million in fiscal 2018, and Saratoga Springs received $314,000.
The CDBG program, run through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development, tries to ensure decent affordable housing, to provide services to vulnerable communities, and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses.
“This has been the tactic in Washington for a number of years, where they propose either drastic cuts in CDBG, or in this case near elimination, and unfortunately that pattern continues,” said Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy. “So far Congress has opposed that.”
While he expects Congressional opposition to the cuts to continue, he said the proposal creates uncertainty for communities across upstate and across the country that are looking for federal aid to deal with aging housing stock and infrastructure.
McCarthy, who is president of the New York Conference of Mayors, said that organization continues to evaluate the budget proposal, and hasn’t yet taken a formal position.
“It’s political posturing and it is not helpful to the interests of communities,” McCarthy said. “I anticipate we will oppose the president’s proposal and advocate for this funding that is critical, not just to communities in upstate, but to communities across the country.”
From New York Democrats, the criticism of the president’s budget plan has been swift and furious.
“The President’s budget is another devastating assault on New York and our values that threatens to unravel the progress we have made ensuring fiscal responsibility, strengthening health care and delivering for New Yorkers,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “I will do everything in my power, working with the entire New York State Congressional delegation, to prevent these draconian cuts and protect New Yorkers.”
“President Trump’s budget breaks a core promise he made to the American people: it cuts more than $2 trillion from Medicare and Medicaid,” said U.S. Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-Amsterdam, who has been one of Trump’s most-consistent critics. “Meanwhile, he proposes massive cuts to students, hungry families, rural communities, American farmers and clean air and water.”
Tonko promised close scrutiny of the budget and many changes.
“Fortunately, the Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse,” Tonko said. “We will reject this misguided approach and work on a responsible budget that cuts where we can so that we can invest where we must.”
Environmental protection and crop insurance programs important to rural congressional districts like the 19th District represented by freshman Congressman Antonio Delgado are also proposed for deep cuts.
“The administration’s budget continued to throw tax breaks at the wealthy few at the expensive of communities here in upstate New York,” said Delgado, D-Rhinebeck. “It puts forth billions for a wall that Congress squarely rejected and increased military spending beyond that the Pentagon asked for while calling for drastic cuts in the programs that actually help folks here.”
The region’s only Republican member of Congress, Rep. Elise Stefanik of Schuylerville, did not respond to a request for comment.
Reach Gazette reporter Stephen Williams at 518-395-3086, swilliams@dailygazette.net or @gazettesteve on Twitter.