Danilovich Says $1.2b. MCA Appropriation Would Be Devastating

In response to the Senate Appropriations Committee $1.2 billion figure for the Millennium Challenge Account, MCC CEO Danilovich says: to Congressional Quarterly (subscription required):

"the funding reduction greatly undercuts our partnership with poor countries that are making political, social and economic reforms.”

Staff of Senator Leahy. chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, acknowledged that the cuts would slow down the aid program, but said:

"[We] had to make difficult choices to help meet what we view as the more pressing needs of other programs, including U.N. peacekeeping missions."

It's true that there were difficult choices to make, but the sooner Congress, the Executive Branch and the public take up the larger issue of overhauling US foreign assistance to make sure that the right countries are getting the right aid for the right reasons the better. It seems a shame that the offset for pressing development needs will be the program that is rewarding those countries that set the example for fragile states to stay the tough reform course.For more, see our earlier blog postings.