Buried the billions in sharp cuts to federal spending proposed by the House GOP is a $75 million reduction for legal aid to the nation's poor that would leave millions vulnerable to fradulent foreclosures and other problems, according to the nonprofit organization that provides such assistance.

In addition to cuts to the clean energy initiatives, the Environmental Protection Agency and other programs for the remainder of the current fiscal year, Republicans would cut support to the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) by 17 percent from the White House's budget request of $435 million for LSC, and a 14 percent decline from LSC's current funding level, $420 million, the LSC says in a statement.

Established in 1974, LSC is an independent, nonprofit corporation that receives an annual appropriation from Congress to promote equal access to justice and to provide for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families. About 95 percent of the appropriation is distributed as grants to the 136 legal aid programs, LSC says. The programs provide legal services to persons at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty guideline.