President Biden unveiled his budget for 2023, totaling $5.8 trillion, with billions allocated to confront Russian aggression and a new tax on the wealthiest Americans. Biden’s proposal includes $32 billion in new spending for law enforcement.
As Fox News reports:
While progressives have pushed initiatives to defend or abolish police, information on the president’s budget proposal obtained by Fox News states that Biden “recognizes that if we want to fight crime and make our neighborhoods safe, we need to invest more money in funding effective, accountable, community policing – not less.”
The $32 billion includes $20.6 billion for the Justice Department’s discretionary budget for federal law enforcement agencies, a $2 billion increase from last year. It would also more than double funding in 2022 for the COPS Hiring Program. The grant-based program helps local law enforcement agencies hire and rehire officers.
Despite attacks on police from the Democratic Party, Biden seems to realize the added danger posed by broadly unpopular policies, like defunding the police. Especially with his poll numbers falling to new lows amid war and recession fears.
NBC News reports on the latest findings from its poll:
Amid Europe’s largest land war since World War II, 7 in 10 Americans expressed low confidence in President Joe Biden’s ability to deal with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a new NBC News poll, and 8 in 10 voiced worry that the war will increase gas prices and possibly involve nuclear weapons.
And during the nation’s largest inflation spike in 40 years, overwhelming majorities said they believe the country is headed in the wrong direction and disapproved of the president’s handling of the economy.
Despite the price tag, the White House argues its proposal will lower the deficit by $1 trillion over the next decade, thanks to a tax hike on billionaires and other controversial reforms.
The Hill has more on Biden’s messaging strategy:
“Budgets are statements of values, and the budget I am releasing today sends a clear message that we value fiscal responsibility, safety and security at home and around the world, and the investments needed to continue our equitable growth and build a better America,” Biden said in a statement on the budget’s release.
So, what do you think? Will Biden’s budget help Democrats in a challenging midterm cycle or is it too little, too late?