Federal budget

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/17/education/budget-cuts-threaten-access-to-college-placement-tests.html?scp=7&sq=federal%20budget&st=cse

Summary
Due to a recent federal budget cut, students around the nation planning to take Advanced Placement examinations will have to suffer. A dramatic decrease from the $43 million allotted to subsidize honors programs in the previous year, the $27 million set aside this year will make it harder for low-income students to take as many exams as they'd like. Complaints are heard from students, whose family will not provide the funds for them to take the AP tests and schools, who are struggling to absorb the fees themselves with an already reduced budget.

Connection
The Democratic Party has always been known for opposing budget cuts. Thus, it is surprising as to why the Obama administration would be cutting the federal subsidy for the A.P programs, especially with the general elections coming up. Being constituted of many highly-educated voter, education will unquestionably be a priority for many Democratic voters and thus, the budget cut in the educational sector is surprising.

Reflection
While I believe that the budget cut was likely a response to public disapproval of the ever-increasing federal deficit, helping Obama gear up for the general election, I am nevertheless, disappointed. I am disappointed to learn that the democratic system involves such trade-offs between votes and the quality of education. Furthermore, as audience of Obama's State of the Union speech, I am disapointed to learn that the promised improvements to be made education have yet to be realized – the budget cut from the A.P funding only serves to detract from the rigor of American education.