It's about time

Earlier I linked to an Instapundit post saying that Bush would take a lot of flak for trying to halve the deficit. If he's trying to do it this way, then it's well deserved flak:

College students in virtually every state will be required to shoulder more of the cost of their education under new federal rules that govern most of the nation's financial aid.

Because of the changes, which take effect next fall and are expected to save the government $300 million in the 2005-6 academic year, at least 1.3 million students will receive smaller Pell Grants, the nation's primary scholarship for those of low income, according to two analyses of the new rules.

In addition, 89,000 students or so who would otherwise be getting some Pell Grant money will get none, the analyses found.

"Season's greetings from Uncle Sam," said Terry W. Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, which conducted one of the analyses and represents about 1,800 colleges and universities. "Your student aid stocking is going to be a little thinner next year."

Talk Left points to another decision deserving flak:

How is Bush going to deal with the deficit? By cutting food aid to the world's poor--breaking our prior agreements and leaving 5 to 7 million people in dire straits.

There's more there. Compassionate conservatism just in time for the holidays!

As I said before, "Fiscal solvency, good. Fiscal solvency on the backs of the working class, not good." Now you can add fiscal solvency on the backs of the worlds poor, disgraceful.