Creative Budget Cutting

This item has been generating some outrage in the blogosphere:

the Associated Press reported on May 7 that the president’s proposed budget calls for cuts in the Public Safety Officer’s Death Benefits Program. Obama wants to cut $50 million from the program, the budget to fall from $110 million to $60 million.

Color me not outraged and here's why. The Obama people are saying that they've cut this item because fewer officers were being killed in the line of duty. That's not correct. Officer deaths are actually up.

They also said that if more money is needed, they'll just add it later.

What that tells me is this is a phantom cut. They cut it now so they can claim credit for reducing the budget while knowing full well they'll have to add the money back later when nobody is watching.

That may be underhanded, but not worth my outrage.