Local Governments Face More Cuts in Federal Spending in 2012

NLC Town Hall: Erskine Bowles to Offer Update on Deficit Reduction

FCC Inquiry Calls for Comments on Broadband Deployment

Surface Transportation Authorization Discussions Continue 

"Complete Streets" Legislation Introduced in House

NLC Urges Congress to Support Public Safety Communications

Several weeks ago, House Appropriations Committee Chair Harold Rogers (R-KY) announced the FY 2012 spending limits, known as the 302 (b) suballocations, for each of the 12 Appropriations Subcommittees. In addition, the Chair released the schedule for the full Committee's completion of work on the FY 2012 appropriations bills by the end of the current fiscal year, which is September 30.

As expected, given the House Republicans' position on FY 2011 spending, the total spending reduction announced for FY 2012 is significant (over $47 billion) and will affect virtually every non-security area of the federal government, meaning less funding overall for the programs within a committee's jurisdiction. To view the spending limits by House Appropriations Subcommittee, go to appropriations.house.gov.

Examples 

• Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee: The FY 2012 spending limit is 
  $7.7 billion less than the fiscal year 2011 approved level. (CDBG, HOME, transportation, and public housing programs all fall within this subcommittee's jurisdiction) 
• Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee: The FY 2012 spending limit is 
  $18 billion less than the fiscal year 2011 approved level. (Workforce development, elementary and secondary education, and Head Start are some of the programs within this subcommittee's jurisdiction)
• Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee: The FY 2012 spending limit is $3 billion less than the fiscal year 2011 approved level. (Public safety programs, COPS, and Byrne JAG are funded out of this subcommittee) 

The lower spending limits in these three subcommittees alone ($29 billion) make up over half of the total spending reduction ($47 billion). Coupled with cuts to other subcommittees, if they make it into law, they will have a devastating impact on cities and towns in the areas of public safety, economic development, education, and infrastructure, among others.

Over the next several weeks and months, Congress will be under a lot of pressure to cut these programs, despite their track record of success. Yes, we need to cut the national debt, but, no, we can't let it happen at the expense of our communities.  

As the appropriations process moves forward, we'll be encouraging cities and towns to help us block further cuts to these programs by lobbying your members of your congressional delegation both here in Washington and in your local community.

NLC Town Hall: Erskine Bowles to Offer Update on Deficit Reduction
Lars Etzkorn, etzkorn@nlc.org, 202.626.3173

On Tuesday, May 31, at 3:00 p.m. EDT, NLC will host an online town hall meeting with Erskine Bowles, co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. 

The webinar follows a presentation Bowles made at the 2011 Congressional City Conference; he will provide a brief update on negotiations occurring now in Washington about how best to reduce the national deficit and will then take questions from the audience.

To join the online conversation with Bowles, please pre-register. Registrants will receive a dedicated webinar link and instructions on how to submit questions or comments. Visit www.fiscalcommission.gov to learn more about the Commission's deficit reduction plan.

FCC Inquiry Calls for Comments on Broadband Deployment
Laura Bonavita, bonavita@nlc.org, 202.626.3037

Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) examining rights-of-way issues and how the agency "can work with its state, local, Tribal and federal partners to improve policies for access to rights-of-way and for wireless facility siting." Specifically, the NOI seeks information and data regarding challenges, best practices, and educational efforts so the FCC can accurately determine the need for policy and rules surrounding broadband deployment.

The NOI was officially published in the Federal Register on Tuesday and deadlines for filing comments have been released: initial comments are due by July 18 and reply comments are due on August 30.

NLC, the National Association of Counties, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the International Municipal Lawyers Association, plan to file comments addressing overarching rights-of-way policy concerns and the FCC's legal authority to take action in these areas.  Because the comments received will assist the FCC in crafting the framework surrounding broadband deployment, it is imperative that local governments of all sizes across the nation file comments in this proceeding. A template and directions outlining the comment process can be found on the NLC website.

Surface Transportation Authorization Discussions Continue
Leslie Wollack, wollack@nlc.org, 202.626.3029

Despite a recent flurry of discussion on Capitol Hill about a new surface transportation authorization bill, no progress has yet been made as Congress' self-imposed deadline for the release of draft legislation nears. In fact, House and Senate transportation leaders have pushed back the deadline, which would have seen a draft bill before the respective committees by Memorial Day, until sometime in June. This does not leave much legislative time left to pass a bill in both the House and Senate, reconcile all differences, and get the President's signature before the current (and seventh) extension of SAFETEA-LU expires on September 30.

"Complete Streets" Legislation Introduced in House
Leslie Wollack, wollack@nlc.org, 202.626.3029

Last week, Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Steve LaTourette (R-OH) introduced the Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011 (H.R. 1780), a bill requiring that new street and transportation projects undertaken by state departments of transportation (DOT) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) be designed with "pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, children, older individuals, individuals with disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles" in mind.

The bill calls for consideration of the "safety and convenience" of all users in "all phases of project planning and development." Currently, 23 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and more than 2,000 regional and local communities have adopted some form of Complete Streets policies. Communities have adopted such policies to enhance public safety, lower transportation costs, and promote walking, bicycling, and public transit as sustainable alternatives.

This legislation would require that states and MPOs craft and adhere to a Complete Streets policy, under the guidance of the U.S. DOT, which would apply to all federally funded projects. States or MPOs would need senior-level approval and documentation to receive an exemption. Existing roads or projects for which planning is already well underway, would not be affected by the new standards.

Proponents of the bill are hoping to include Complete Streets as part of a comprehensive surface transportation authorization bill. At this time, NLC does not have policy on the legislation but will continue to monitor and report on its progress. Additional information provided by the Complete Streets Coalition may be found at www.completestreets.org.

NLC Urges Congress to Support Public Safety Communications
Mitchel Herckis, herckis@nlc.org, 202.626.3124

Last Friday, NLC, joined with the National Governors Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Council of State Governments, the National Association of Counties, the International City Managers Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, to host a briefing for congressional staff on the need to reallocate spectrum to public safety in order to build a nationwide public safety communications network. Legislation is currently pending in both the House and the Senate (S. 28 and H.R. 607) that would accomplish this goal.

Law enforcement and information technology experts presented at the briefing: Deputy Police Chief Charles Dowd, New York City Police Department; Tualatin Valley, Oregon, Fire Chief Jeff Johnson; Bill Schrier, Chief Technology Officer for Seattle, Washington; and, Andrew Seybold, one of the mobile wireless industry's most trusted resources on communications.

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman John D. Rockefeller III (D-WV) and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) are preparing to mark up S. 28 in June. No date for action has been scheduled in the House.