"When push comes to shove they are going to cut programs for the kids"

But while the committee members battle secretly over taxing the rich or cutting programs for the poor, the automatic cuts that will take affect if the committee fails to reach an agreement would create a greater imbalance between the old and the young than between the wealthy and the poor.

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“When push comes to shove they are going to cut programs for the kids,” said Ron Haskins, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute. “Elected officials, they don’t want to mess with the elderly. Not only are they a huge constituency, but relative to many other constituencies they are well organized.”…

Taking into account likely budget reductions for public education, Child Welfare Services, Child care subsidies and the low-income infant nutrition program known as WIC, the younger generation lose about $5 billion in federal funding, according to the report.

About $250 million would be cut from programs aimed toward seniors, such as the Administration on Aging and housing for the elderly.

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