House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) released the following remarks today, as prepared for delivery on the House floor, in opposition to the Boustany Amendment to Head Start reauthorization legislation. The Boustany amendment would allow some Head Start programs to use federal taxpayer dollars to discriminate against qualified teachers and other employees solely because of their religion or personal religious views:

The Homeland Security website has what it calls the List of Government Waivers and Dispensations Authorized for Hurricane Katrina Response, but don't rely on it as a comnprehensive list of all regulatory protections waived or weakened in the name of Katrina. For example -- layers under layers deep in the Dep't of Labor website is a notice that DOL is waiving some affirmative action requirements for federal contracts, including requirements for job postings targeted to reach veterans and the disabled. The waiver lasts for three months, but it is also subject to extension.

Michael Tanner of CATO begins a recent article giving kudos to the charities who responded to the devestation of Hurricane Katrina. "While the response to hurricane Katrina has uncovered failures of government at every level - federal, state, and local - it has also revealed again the amazing generosity and effectiveness of America's private charitable efforts." Tanner is right in giving kudos to the great works that groups like the Red Cross and the ASPCA are doing to help people and animals that are victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The Republican Study Committee (RSC), a conservative group of House Republicans, has released a 24-page proposal they are (not so) cleverly calling "Opperation Offset," which details $500 billion in budget cuts they are proposing to reduce the overall cost of Katrina relief and reconstruction. The proposal has created friction among Republicans in Congress because the RSC wants to institute cuts that rehash policies they have promoted for years, including significant cuts to NASA, Amtrak subsidies, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Peace Corps, foreign aid, the Earned Income Tax Credit, the national park system, community health centers, agricultural subsidies, and many, many more. Other Republicans believe proposals making up the majority of the cuts, such as delaying the Medicare prescription drug benefit by one year or repealing earmarks in the recently passed transportation bill are not realistic and might divide conservatives and moderates. Republican Party politics aside, this proposal is indicative of the "starve the beast" mentality that promotes huge tax cuts and then severe budget cuts to balance the budget. The result, unfortunately, is a dramatically decreased ability of the government to invest in communities and infrastructure. As was seen after the hurricane, these cuts do have consequences. The RSC's policies promote a short-term goal of shrinking government instead of a long-term investment agenda that will make the country more secure.