Politics: AmeriScrewed

The Post is reporting in tomorrow's editions that the Bush administration has decided to deeply cut into the AmeriCorps program next year. This is, presumably, because we've begun pouring all spare government dollars into fabricating evidence of weapons of mass destruction (it's just so easy to make that joke).

Local directors of AmeriCorps, the community service program President Bush has repeatedly praised and promised to expand, said yesterday they have been notified of what they called "devastating" cutbacks in their allocation of volunteers for the coming year.

That's a surprisingly strong lead from Dean Broder. He continues:

Memos sent to the states by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the parent agency for AmeriCorps, indicate that dozens and perhaps hundreds of long-established programs, including some singled out for praise by the president and first lady Laura Bush, will lose their funding.

Sandy Scott, spokesman for the corporation, said the memos that set off the alarms Thursday are "guidance" to the states and final numbers will not be announced until Monday. Alan Khazei, the founder and chief executive of Boston-based City Year, one of the oldest and most highly praised community programs, said the national office has told him "only three of our 10 programs will be funded. It is devastating. Basically, national service in America has been wiped out or reduced to a shell this week."

Just for the record, here's President Bush praising the AmeriCorps on April 9, 2002:

And then, of course, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps are an integral part of the USA Freedom Corps. These are programs that recognize that in America, we can change our country one heart and one soul and one conscience at a time. You see, I used to like to say that government can hand out money, but what government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts. That requires a loving, hopeful person to do just that. And I view AmeriCorps and Senior Corps as ways to tap into the great talent and strength and compassion of America to help people in need.
[...]
And one of the things is funding, of course. That's an important part of any process. And I've asked for $290 million in new funding for these programs for the year 2003. (Applause.) And it's to help meet these goals: 25,000 new, additional AmeriCorps members -- 25,000 more than we have now today all across the country; 100,000 new Senior Corps members. And 200,000 to 300,000 students in the federal work study program. That's what we're aiming at, that's the goal we've set. Some say it's too ambitious. Nothing is too ambitious for America, as far as I'm concerned. (Applause.)
[...]
I want to read this, by a girl named Nicole who works in Baltimore. She's an AmeriCorps member. Perhaps some of the AmeriCorps members will understand what she's saying when I read this to you: "None of it would have happened if I had not done AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps redirected my life forever. I know the direction my life is in, service to others, particularly the poor."

This is Nicole's reflection upon what it meant to work for AmeriCorps.

It is a beautiful spirit, an important spirit for America. And so we're trying to figure out ways to make sure that AmeriCorps is attractive to young -- to the Nicoles of the country. Right now, AmeriCorps members who complete a year of service receive an education award worth almost $4,700; $4,700 that will help them go to school. And that's good, it's really good.

Okay, enough from Bush. The closer goes back to Broder, whose surprisingly strong lead actually leads to a surprisingly strong story. Must have inadvertently swallowed a spine:

Paul Schmitz, who runs Public Allies, an 11-year-old program that recruits and trains young adults to work full-time in Boys & Girls Clubs, faith-based organizations and other community groups, said its programs in Milwaukee, Chicago and Cincinnati, which now have 88 AmeriCorps workers, "will receive no funding and no volunteers for next year."

"It's hard to understand why this should be happening when the president says he wants us to grow by 50 percent," Schmitz said. "He seems to get everything else he asks for."