A Matter of Priorities

By George Moses

On Jan. 29, President Bush unveiled his 1991 budget proposal. Within that document are the figures reflecting what the government actually spent in 1989.

These figures show where our national resources go. In making comparisons, we will use an aid to Israel figure of $3 billion, as Gramm-Rudman downward adjustments were minor and more than offset by the value of receiving the entire lump sum within 30 days of the beginning of the fiscal year, a privilege not accorded to other taxpayer supported countries, agencies or programs, and worth approximately $56 million to Israel. American mayors and governors, eat your hearts out.

What happens to our $3 billion in Israel?

It allows payment of $11,000 per year to Jewish immigrants who settle across the green line, in territories that would be returned to Arab sovereignty under UN Security Council Resolution 242's land-for-peace formula.

It allows Israel to buy the military equipment used to maim and slaughter unarmed Palestinians, including women and children. It helps pay for the concentration camps in which Palestinian political prisoners are kept, often for consecutive terms without charge or trial, sometimes until they die.

So, in a year of tough budgetary choices, what other US programs received lower financial priority than the aid which makes such Israeli atrocities possible?

The US Coast Guard, a peacetime agency as well as a military service, is responsible for search and rescue operations, treaty enforcement, creation and maintenance of navigation aids, and plays a law enforcement role in the drug interdiction effort. For each dollar of aid given to Israel, the Coast Guard received 93 cents.

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program gives food supplements to low-income pregnant, post-partum and breastfeeding women, and their infants and children whose total incomes must be below the poverty level, defined for the 1989-90 school year as $12, 100 for a family of four. For every dollar of US aid to Israel, the WIC program received 63 cents.

The Education for the Handicapped Program offers grants to states to provide educational services to children so severely handicapped as to need special assistance. For every dollar given to Israel in 1989, this program spent 60 cents.

The United States Marine Corps is America's oldest military service and is generally the first to be called on when a quick reaction ground force is required. For every dollar we gave to Israel, the Marines received 60 cents for operations and maintenance, including training costs.

The National Science Foundation undertakes research and development projects of such a scale or complexity that only government can afford them. Among its primary areas of concentration are biological, behavioral and social sciences; computers, engineering, geosciences, mathematics, and physics. For every dollar Israel got in 1989, this critical agency spent 58 cents.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary federal law enforcement agency, coordinating interstate efforts to deal with drugs, organized crime and other illegal activities which tear at the very fabric of our society. For every dollar we gave to Israel in 1989, the FBI spent 51 cents.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) administers programs of education, tribal services, economic development, natural resources development, facilities management and other programs for the nation's Indian population. For every dollar we gave to Israel, the BIA spent 45 cents.

Head Start is one of the few nationwide programs to receive a substantial budget increase. Nevertheless, for every dollar we gave to Israel, we provided 41 cents to Head Start to prepare disadvantaged kids to benefit from the nation's schools.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for management of American's coastal resources, protecting marine mammals, climate forecasting and weather prediction (including operation of the National Weather Service), and acid rain and other environmental research activities. For every dollar we gave Israel, NOAA spent 39 cents.

P.L. 480 (Food for Peace) is the key federal program for channeling American agricultural products to the hungry abroad, through grants and concessionary sales. For each US dollar spent by Israel last year, this program, which also benefits American farming, spent 37 cents.

The Centers for Disease Control attack sexually transmitted, infectious, chronic and environmental diseases; manage immunization programs and US response to epidemics; and collect vital statistical data. For every dollar we gave to Israel, the Centers for Disease Control spent 27 cents.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) responds when disasters such as Hurricane Hugo and the San Francisco earthquake strike the US. It also coordinates immediate and follow-up relief efforts by other agencies. For every dollar given to Israel, FEMA spent 18 cents.

International organizations are a cornerstone of American diplomacy. The US belongs to many, several of which it helped found. The list includes the United Nations and its agencies, the Organization of American States, NATO, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and numerous others. For each dollar we gave to Israel unilaterally, we gave 17 cents to all of these organizations combined.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is the lead agency in the war on drugs. For every dollar we gave to Israel, the DEA spent 17 cents.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for workplace safety standards for virtually every employed American, including dealing with such hazards as explosives and asbestos. For every US dollar that went to Israel, OSHA spent eight cents.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is responsible for the enforcement of securities laws and oversight of markets critical to America's economic health. For each dollar spent by Israel, the SEC spent five cents.

Peacekeeping forces are in place around the world, including the Middle East. For every dollar we contributed to Israel, we gave the peacekeepers three cents.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) assists small businesses and business victims of physical disasters. For each dollar sent to Israel, the SBA spent three cents.

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) licenses and regulates the crucial communications functions of radio, television, telephone and private radio and is a key arbiter among competing technologies. For every US dollar spent by Israel, the FCC spent two cents.

The Minority Business Development Agency develops private market opportunities and coordinates federal minority business development programs. For every US dollar spent by Israel, this crucial economic mainstreaming program received one cent.

This comparison highlights the lack of a rational approach to decision-making about aid to Israel. Most congressional representatives don't believe that helping Israel close Palestinian schools is six times as important to the US as funding the Drug Enforcement Administration, but the government does not always succeed at taking the long view.

There is a final budget comparison, which does try to step back and take the long view. Table 2 ranks US government agencies by size of budget. Israel is inserted into the place it would occupy if it were a federal agency. As the table illustrates, it would rank 21 out of 26, standing ahead of the Department of Commerce, the entire judiciary, and the entire legislative branch. Unfortunately, this column can only tell you what happened with fiscal 1989 outlays, not why.

You'll have to get that answer from your representatives in Congress.

George Moses, a former president of the National Association of Arab Americans, is a legislative consultant in Washington, DC.