GOP stopgap measure slashes $29 million in rural broadband funds

A stopgap measure that would fund the government until March 18 slashes broadband subsidies at the Agriculture Department.

The short-term Continuing Resolution, designed to avert a government shutdown, finds over $4 billion in cuts by slashing $1.24 billion from government programs and $2.7 billion in earmarks. That includes $29 million in broadband loan subsidies administered by the Agriculture Department, which were "duplicative of several other federal programs," according to GOP description of the plan. "The Agriculture Inspector General has uncovered abuses and inconsistencies in the program as well as a lack of focus on the rural communities it is intended to serve," it said. The provision is unlikely to meet pushback as President Obama had included this cut in his 2011 budget request. The stopgap measure aims to evade the controversies of the House spending passed last week, which axed funds for top Democratic priorities. The stopgap measure gives the Senate and House time to negotiate a deal funding the government at reduced levels further into the year. Senate Democrats have shown signs of support.