DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus The Latest: DeVos defends cutting Special Olympics funding

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is defending her proposal to eliminate funding to the Special Olympics.

DeVos said Wednesday that she “loves” the Special Olympics’ work but argues “the federal government cannot fund every worthy program.”

Her statement followed a social media storm stirred by athletes and celebrities who attacked her proposal and rallied for the group. Among those who spoke out were pro football player Joe Haden and Julie Foudy, former captain of the U.S. women’s soccer team.

The Education Department gave $17.6 million to the Special Olympics this year but proposed cutting that funding among $7 billion in reductions.

DeVos said the organization raises $100 million on its own every year, adding that her budget would fund other special education grants at the same levels as this year.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is facing sharp pushback over a proposal to cut federal funding to the Special Olympics.

Celebrities, politicians and activists have taken to social media to rebuke DeVos for her plan to cut funding for the group as part of $7 billion in reductions in 2020. The organization received $17.6 million from the Education Department this year, but DeVos says it should be supported through philanthropy.

House Democrats grilled DeVos in a budget hearing Tuesday, with Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., calling the cut “appalling.”

Others calling on DeVos to rethink the decision include former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, and Julie Foudy, former captain of the U.S. women’s soccer team.

A department spokeswoman says DeVos supports the organization and has donated to it in the past.

https://www.apnews.com/a29aa6ee18d34096b06c4f6ac2457641

All over $17.6 million. This entire administration is made of monsters. My sister works with special needs kids and has been a part of the special olympics a few times. These moments are huge in these kids lives.
Meanwhile that slob of a president costs us about $18 million over about 5 weekends of golf. So it could be funded if trump could stay out of Florida for a little over a month. We know that won’t happen. How else is going to extract tax payer funds directly into his coffers?
Devos, worth billions, could find this funding in her second home’s couch cushions. The entire group of them are awful people.

I know I'm going to sound like a heartless man when this comes out so here goes. How the hell are they spending 7 billion dollars (if I am reading this right) on an Olympics for disabled people?

I just cannot comprehend how this has become the albatross that it is.

Ahh, more pro life policies...

You misread the article. The SO costs around $17 million. They’re cutting that, along with $7 billion dollars of other stuff...likely things the elderly, sick, homeless, vets, children, underserved needs. But the corporate subsidies? Oh those are golden.

Ah my bad.

I am in favor of less government spending, but who is the genius that came up w/cutting funding for the Special Olympics and how did they not know it would be PR nightmare?

I can't think of anything nice to say about this proposal. There are cuts all over the place that can be made in government, let's leave the special olympics alone.

Actually Special Olympics themselves raise around 100 million annually on their own. The government simply supplements the just less than 18 million annually to supplement their fund raising.

Like Portland said, Trump costs tax payers more than that golfing for a few week-ends.

I agree.

And, I'm in favor of less gov't. spending.

Problem is, IF a cut is suggested anywhere, those directly affected get mad. It's "cut some other spending, not THIS spending." (in general, not talking S.O. spending here)

Cut education? Oh Lord, some people go crazy.
Cut welfare? Same thing.
Cut military spending? SAme thing.
Cut money for roads? Same thing.
Cut money for anything, the affected group gets upset.


And on the other hand, it's so easy to say "tax the rich more, just don't tax ME more."

This is the world we live in/country we live in.

I'm not sure what any of your post had to do with the Special Olympics after the first two sentences.

They are idiots

That doesn't surprise me.

Maybe that's because it had nothing to do with it. But you started off well.

Probably hoping no one would read it and see it.

IMO there is a special place reserved in hell for those who crap on the DD folks in our country

OK maybe not but I just don't get how some people can be so cold, cruel, and ignorant.

The sad part is some of the terrible things they were always thinking are beginning to see the light of day. Or maybe that's a good thing.

Count me among those that don't get how your comments directly hits Special Olympics..

Trump, on the White House lawn was just asked about the Special Olympics and he assured everyone there, we are funding them. He said he's been to the event and feels it's incredible.

DeVos then attacks dems for calling her out on trying to cut it and other programs for special needs kids and accuses dems of making a partisan attack on her. She loves the Special Olympics.

That doesn't surprise me either.

Try reading the post I responded to, then try to accept I was making a larger point about gov't. spending.

Or don't.

If, ... "Since" the Special Olympics gets 90% of it's funds from outside of the federal Government, I could see the Federal Government cutting funding for it.
Seems like Special Olympics would survive, many private fund raisers are probably started by the government on some level anyway.

And folks on this board think I lack sanity anyway, so, i'll take the insane view

I can love children, and think Wash. DC has no business funding this because the role of Wash. DC. should be different, especially if they get 90% of funding elsewhere anyway.

Do the girl scouts need the federal budget to sell cookies??

I must be an animal. Lol. ... ( and somebody screenshoted this post because it contained the surv word, oh well, they are looking out for the best)

Is there anything more creepy than being forced to hold an opinion? 100% of people must be in compliance?
Thought police?

Cold? Cruel? and ignorant.
Support the kids? Sure.
Support the kids because someone told me too? not so much.

Hmm. Ask Otto Warmbier.

I remember one time I gave a pretty good donation to the Special Olympics. And then they hounded me again and again for money. I wasn't as nice to them after that.

J/C

They can find 17 million very easily somewhere else - let the Special Olympics have the money. Case closed.

I'm certainly glad he decided to change course on helping with special Olympics. That was a good decision.

The troubling part of his statement was that he had, "Just heard about it".

I mean DeVoss had been getting grilled over it for two days in public testimony. Anyone who even bothered to watch the news knew about this before he did according to his statement.

The point that was attempted earlier, was that you can not cut ANYTHING without somebody, somewhere, whizzing up a storm about it.

At some point, people are going to get tired of others stealing from their grandchildren, and a pair of lists will be drawn up, one of things that are absolutely necessary, and the other of things that are not.

If you personally believe that the Special Olympics are vitally important, you are free to send them as much of your money as you want.

If you think you have the power to force the rest of the country to donate to this, and all other causes to which you see fit, there are many who will tell you that you are wrong. Quite a few are becoming willing, and beginning to see the necessity of delivering that message in a much more direct manner.

10-20 million here, 10-20 million there, pretty soon you have a good chunk of change put together.

Stealing from your grandchildren is a reprehensible way to do business.

Nobody seemed to care when Trump gave away over a trillion dollars.

Sometimes you have to pick and choose what's worthy. To try and claim this is some issue worthy of such a discussion is ludicrous.

Who did he give over a trillion dollars to? Links.

They were called tax cuts. Do you need a link for that?

So, people keeping more of their money is a bad thing in your mind? Don't even answer. I know you want 'others' to pay more.

Do you see where I was going with my previous post that you attempted to belittle?

It seems in your mind that keeping your money while this administration cuts medicare, Special Olympics, medicaid, education and Social Security is fine with you so you can, "keep more of your money".

Just remember Matt. 25:41-45 arch.

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Maybe you can explain how keeping more of your money was such a good thing.

Having this discussion with you is useless.


But, like an idiot, I'll try one more time: everyone thinks the gov't. spends too much money. Yet when a cut in spending is announced, the people affected go crazy.

Doesn't matter what it is (did you hear your dearly hated president changed the cut to the special olympics?)

Special Olympics, military, welfare (about 20-200 issues there), road construction, health care..........the list goes on and on.

Reduce spending. Hell NO, don't reduce THAT spending. Tax someone to pay for it, just don't tax ME!!!

Now YOU are quoting the Bible? Glad you read it.

It's not me you'll need to explain that to when you're making excuses why keeping more of you own money helped those in charge cut money to the elderly causing more elderly go hungry, housing cuts that caused more people to go homeless, education cuts that deprived children from a good education.

You can keep excusing taking from the least of thee to line the pockets of the most of thee if you so choose. But practice it well arch. Because a lot will depend on it. The bulk of the tax cut went to the 1%. And to pay for it, most will be taken from the bottom 10%.

I've been reading the bible most of my life. If Jesus were alive today most on the christian right would denounce him and call him a socialist. Some things never change.

Cool. So, why don't you send in more of your money to the government?

Better yet, tell me how much, what percentage, of my income should be paid in taxes where the vast majority of it is spent on gov't.?