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02-08-2008, 09:19 AM
Washington Newsletter
February 2008
Year of the Underdog
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2008 is beginning to shape up as totally unpredictable. If things continue as they have thus far, it will be known as the year of the underdog. The Giants defeat the Patriots in the Super Bowl, John McCain pulls a surprising comeback after sinking in the polls in the summer of 2007, and Barack Obama proves to be a strong challenger to Hillary Clinton. What a year, and we are only 30 plus days into it.
The Federal Reserve announces a surprised reduction of 3/4 of a point in interest rates and it did so without even convening its regularly scheduled meeting in Washington but rather over a late night conference call on a secured telephone line.
President Bush delivers his last State of the Union address to a Joint Session of Congress, but has to share the news limelight with the unexpected endorsement of Barack Obama by Teddy Kennedy and his niece, Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy.
All of this is a bit like when the airline pilot announces to everyone that they should tighten their seat belts in anticipation of unexpected turbulence. You hope the pilot is wrong but you don't want to take a chance that he/she isn't. 2008 is going to be one of those "tighten your seatbelt" years.
2009 Budget
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The news we heard about the FY09 Federal budget doesn't give us much comfort about unbuckling that seatbelt. In fact, we are in for one rough ride.
The Bush Administration submitted to Congress its proposed budget for FY 2009 and public lands suffered a hard hit squarely in the jaw. What additional money the Forest Service received was for fire fighting purposes only. One publication suggested that the Forest Service change its name to the Fire Service. To make up the difference, the recreation budget and the budget for the maintenance of roads and trails were hit hard.
The proposed budget for trails is being cut by a whopping 33% from what was finally appropriated in FY08. And the recreation budget is being cut 8% from what was received last year. Please use the link below to see a chart of recreation budgets.
http://www.arra-access.com/arra/washingtonnewsletter_feb2008.html
February 2008
Year of the Underdog
--------------------
2008 is beginning to shape up as totally unpredictable. If things continue as they have thus far, it will be known as the year of the underdog. The Giants defeat the Patriots in the Super Bowl, John McCain pulls a surprising comeback after sinking in the polls in the summer of 2007, and Barack Obama proves to be a strong challenger to Hillary Clinton. What a year, and we are only 30 plus days into it.
The Federal Reserve announces a surprised reduction of 3/4 of a point in interest rates and it did so without even convening its regularly scheduled meeting in Washington but rather over a late night conference call on a secured telephone line.
President Bush delivers his last State of the Union address to a Joint Session of Congress, but has to share the news limelight with the unexpected endorsement of Barack Obama by Teddy Kennedy and his niece, Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy.
All of this is a bit like when the airline pilot announces to everyone that they should tighten their seat belts in anticipation of unexpected turbulence. You hope the pilot is wrong but you don't want to take a chance that he/she isn't. 2008 is going to be one of those "tighten your seatbelt" years.
2009 Budget
-----------
The news we heard about the FY09 Federal budget doesn't give us much comfort about unbuckling that seatbelt. In fact, we are in for one rough ride.
The Bush Administration submitted to Congress its proposed budget for FY 2009 and public lands suffered a hard hit squarely in the jaw. What additional money the Forest Service received was for fire fighting purposes only. One publication suggested that the Forest Service change its name to the Fire Service. To make up the difference, the recreation budget and the budget for the maintenance of roads and trails were hit hard.
The proposed budget for trails is being cut by a whopping 33% from what was finally appropriated in FY08. And the recreation budget is being cut 8% from what was received last year. Please use the link below to see a chart of recreation budgets.
http://www.arra-access.com/arra/washingtonnewsletter_feb2008.html