The limits of compassionate conservatism

The White House’s decision to dramatically curtail support for the Community Development Block Grant program has raised the ire of many lawmakers, on both sides of the aisle, who recognize the significance the program has on low-income families nationwide.

Apparently, though, Sen. George Allen will not be among those criticizing Bush’s callous budget cut.

A [Roll Call] informant overheard Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) telling Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) in flowery language unbecoming of a Senator (though not up to Vice President Cheney’s standards of floweriness) that, basically, he doesn’t care about revitalizing distressed neighborhoods.

As Allen and Roberts were walking toward the Senate subway, our informant heard Allen say, “I don’t give a shit about Community Development Block Grants. Virginia doesn’t see any of that money.”

It’s exactly the kind of compassionate conservatism we’ve come to expect in Bush’s America.

Not that it matters, but Allen is not only cruel with his disregard for low-income communities, but he’s wrong on the facts: Southwest Virginia gets plenty of money from these block grants, including, in the words of one local newspaper, resources to “refurbish homes, install sewer and water systems, provide social services and lift whole neighborhoods out of blight.”

What’s more, Allen’s office seems to think this is funny.

In fact, Allen’s press secretary, David Snepp dismissed this with an apparent joke that the senators were talking about football, not Community Development Block Grants.

“What Sen. Allen actually said was that ‘I don’t give a Dip about immunity for those who chop block Darnerien McCants. Virginia doesn’t think that’s very funny,'” Snepp deadpanned.

I can appreciate desperate spin as much as the next guy, but in this case, Bush’s CDBG cuts — and Allen’s callousness — isn’t particularly amusing.

These block grants have been part of HUD for over 30 years, helping poverty-stricken communities with business development, infrastructure, and housing needs. Bush wants consolidate the grants, along with 17 other cabinet agency grant programs, and merge them into one program in the Commerce Department. That may not sound like much of a tragedy, but here’s the catch: Bush wants to cut funding for the grants from $5.6 billion to $3.7 billion — a reduction of about 35%. The effects will be severe on those who are least prepared for the cuts.

And now we know exactly what Allen thinks of their plight.