Speculations About Voter Mood & Lame Duck Outcomes Abound

I attended a small lunch last week with Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. I have shared on this blog before how much I admire Senator Alexander, and I'll say it again: he is one of my favorite senators. While he fights hard for Republican positions that he believes in, he is willing to listen and reason with those on the other side of the aisle.

I had a very interesting discussion with him about spending and where voters are at on that issue. He voiced what I have been sensing; spending is a hot-button issue and will be for months to come. This appropriations cycle is likely the high water mark for the next couple years.

I have been struck by the difference between the parties when it comes to expectations about a lame duck session following the elections. Democrats are now speculating that it will be a productive time with much legislation passed.  Republicans, which are likely to pick up House and Senate seats, are now saying they may do as little as possible until reinforcements come in January. History tells us that little is generally accomplished during a lame duck session. 

It has also been interesting to hear the latest private thoughts from several senators about the Tea Party.  Democrats haven't quite figured out Tea Partiers. Republicans think they have, but aren't quite comfortable with them. Six of the Republican senators I visited with in the last week expect the Tea Party to roar through Congress and make a huge impact in 2010 and 2012 elections.  Privately, the moderate Republicans I spoke with were befuddled by the Tea Party candidates. While they respect their energy, they don't see the Tea Party candidates as experienced or effective legislators in the future.  

Both parties are interpreting the mood of much of the electorate as something similar to, "I don't know who my member of Congress is, but whoever it is, I'm against 'em." It does appear that no matter the party, the general mood is anti-incumbent.

Stay tuned.  The next five months are going to be interesting.

Obama Administration Publicly Thanks Community Action Weatherizers

DOE Assistant Secretary Cathy Zoi has posted an on-line video on the White House blog site praising the Weatherization network for our successful ramp-up of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Weatherization Assistance Program.

To see Assistant Secretary Zoi's video and blog click here.

Federal Spending Train Pulling into the Station

Last week there were two important House Appropriations subcommittee markups: Energy and Water, which funds the Weatherization Assistance Program, and Labor-HHS, which funds Community Services Block Grant, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Head Start and many other programs important to the low-income community.

A CSBG increase to $800 million was listed as the Labor-HHS Subcommittee’s highest priority, there was the same $5.1 billion in baseline funding for LIHEAP as last year, FY2011 Head Start was increased to $8.1 billion, and perhaps most gratifying, the House Energy and Water Subcommittee approved a $130 million increase for Weatherization up to $340 million. (The Community Action network can check out the June 16 issue of the CAP-FACTS for a full play-by-play of the House Appropriations outcomes.)

Although we have had a terrific start to the appropriations process, there are still many months and much politics to get beyond.

The Senate hasn’t begun to consider its appropriations bills, so Community Action programs will be included in a Continuing Resolution. Congress may decide the final appropriations bill levels in November and December.

The incredible downward pressures we’re seeing on spending will last months. In every conversation that I have with Democrats and Republicans alike, the deficit and debt come up.

I am convinced that the domestic spending train is pulling into the station and may stay parked there for a long time.

American RadioWorks Takes a Detailed Look at the War on Poverty

American RadioWorks recently produced a terrific radio documentary and interactive web feature on the War on Poverty. This national documentary unit of American Public Media reaches 15 million listeners.

I thoroughly enjoyed an hour-long interview with one of the show's producers several weeks ago, and I was quoted a few times throughout the hour-long show. 

Click here for the interactive online features, click here to download the audio documentary or click here to read the transcript.  I also encourage you to share your thoughts about the feature in the comments section below and to pass it on to others who may be interested.

Rallying Troops for a Community Action Revolution

During the last week of July, National Community Action Foundation will be hosting the first in a series of emerging leader brainstorming sessions in St. Petersburg, Fla.

As I have been preparing for the event, I realized that this is really the first time that I have given this much thought about leadership for generations to come. I have thought extensively about current, and even past, leadership. Leadership for the future requires a whole different mindset.

I hope that those who are coming to the event will be prepared to talk about core values and principles that should apply to everyone in Community Action, realistic change and where they envision the program in the next five to 15 years. I also want participants to be prepared to talk about the program’s strengths and weaknesses in a very honest way.

As one who is involved deeply in writing and speaking about the history of Community Action, I recognize that there have been numerous elected officials who have had concerns about the program over the years. I hope that all who attend the emerging leaders meeting will come in very open to an honest assessment of why Community Action has been controversial. Until we can accept legitimate criticisms and identify our weaknesses, I don’t think we can truly change for the better.

By 2012, I hope that we have absolutely started a revolution within Community Action that propels the program in the direction it needs and with the support it deserves. This upcoming event in Florida is a first step in rallying the troops.

This Week Begins the Last Serious Stretch Before Elections

Congress is back this week, and I personally think this will be the last serious legislative stretch before the election.

The House will likely continue until the end of July, while the Senate may be here a week longer. This will be a fast and furious stretch of work on the appropriations bills. I don’t expect much movement on Community Services Block Grant or Low Income Home Energy Assistance. There may some initial movement on the Weatherization Assistance Program.

I am deeply troubled by rumors that weatherization spending may face a tough time in Congress. When I last spoke with House leaders about the program, they seemed engaged. However, there is no way to be certain at this point.

I am hearing a lot of plans for a lame duck session that may occur from late November up until Christmas. If elections go as Republicans hope, and they capture one or both houses, there will certainly be attempts to get a few things done before the year’s end. With that, some opportunities may arise for us to discuss and plan some of the initiatives we would like to undertake in the future.

Even during times of political uncertainty, there are opportunities.

A Sobering Budget Discussion with Administration Officials

I came away sobered after a rather frank discussion with Obama Administration officials last week.

I very much worry about the Administration’s funding request for Community Action’s core programs -- particularly the post-stimulus funding for Weatherization Assistance Program and the Community Services Block Grant.

It is clear to me that we have a lot of work ahead of us if we are going to see these programs funded at levels above what has been the norm for much of the last 20 years. I think we must look more creatively at leveraging and public-private partnerships if we expect investments anywhere near the levels we’ve grown accustomed to.

We also absolutely have to have a grand slam with the stimulus. There is no doubt about the fact that the Community Action network has become a poster child for success in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Of the 200 stimulus programs, we are considered ninth in terms of job creation and spending. Around 130,000 homes have been weatherized already using Recovery Act dollars.

Yes, things are going very well in Community Action’s recovery role. But, it is critical that these programs are considered to be not just good, but great.

We are entering an era of competition for federal dollars. I have been talking about it for some time, but I have been feeling more than ever in the past week. The promise of cutting the federal deficit in half by 2013 hangs over everything.

As Vice President Biden might say, the deficit is a pretty blankety-blank big deal, and it certainly is influencing the Administration’s priorities.