Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. ― John F. Kennedy

Today’s quick hits deal with these important subjects:

• Trump’s Budget
• Vacancies
• Trump Golf Count

Trump’s Budget:

I’ve been around the block a time or two, so I don’t get too excited when the President submits his budget to Congress. It’s kind of a wish list of things the President wants if he was the only one getting a say in the matter.

There are 100 Senators and 435 Representatives who also get a say in the matter.

Yesterday (Monday), the White House held its first press briefing in 42 days to discuss the President’s budget. On the White House website, they explain his budget plans this way:

With our national debt well above $20 trillion, now is the time to reverse the trend of climbing government spending. The President’s federal budget commits to restraint while prioritizing funding to rebuild our national defense and strengthen America’s borders. 

One of the headlines about the budget put it this way:

Trump proposes record spending, trillion-dollar deficit

You can see a President’s priorities in his budget. The Associated Press (AP) reported that Trump wants $8 billion for the barrier/wall with Mexico (I guess Mexico has not paid for the wall, yet). Trump’s budget increases defense spending, but it slashes health care spending and cuts HUD by 16% and Education by 10%.

The AP also reported that the deficit is projected to hit $1.1 trillion in the 2020 fiscal year, the highest in a decade.

I remember when Republicans cared about deficits and excessive spending. Those were the good old days…

You can read the President’s budget by clicking HERE.

Vacancies:

I was not too happy to hear about Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson resigning. Wilson is probably one of the most qualified people to hold that post graduating from the Air Force Academy, being on the National Security Council, and being elected to the House of Representatives. Her resignation is effective May 31. She is going to be the President of the University of Texas at El Paso.

Speaking of vacancies, the Trump administration has many. Many!

Some positions have had many vacancies – there have been six communications chiefs, four HHS heads, and four National Security Advisors. Trump is on his third Chief of Staff.

The New York Times reports that the turnover is unprecedented. They have a story about it complete with charts. You can see it HERE.

So, if you’re looking for a job…

Trump Golf Count:

Back in 2016, Donald Trump told supporters on the campaign trail, “I’m going to be working for you. I’m not going to have time to go play golf.”

I guess that was not true. Trump has played a lot of golf. There’s even a website that tracks his golf outings called TrumpGolfCount.com.

This website contends that Trump’s golf outings have cost the taxpayers $91 million. They also contend that Trump is projected to play almost as much golf in four years as Barack Obama did in eight years.

There are tons of facts and information on the site. Check it out HERE.

 

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