President's Budget Cuts Critical Health Care Programs; Boosts War Funding Through More Foreign-Owned Debt

President's Budget Cuts Critical Health Care Programs; Boosts War Funding Through More Foreign-Owned Debt

February 5, 2008

WASHINGTON - Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-01) released the following statement in response to President Bush's budget proposal:

“The president's budget is bad news for millions of Americans. While American families are struggling with worsening economic conditions, the president's budget steals billions from critical health care programs in order to finance his War in Iraq and tax cuts for the wealthy. But even after cutting tens of billions from important domestic programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, the budget still carries a $410 billion deficit, one of the highest in our nation's history. Once again, the president wants to pay for his misguided foreign and fiscal policies with more foreign-owned debt. And unfortunately, our grandchildren will have to pay the tab for the president's unprecedented fiscal irresponsibility.

“California, which is already dealing with serious economic problems, takes an especially hard hit in the president's budget. $17 million will be cut from state firefighter grants and $20 million will be cut from law enforcement grants. $15 million will be cut from teacher training programs, $127 million will be cut from vocational programs and $42 million will be cut from after-school programs. $14 million will be cut from the state's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and $19 million will be cut from housing assistance. And $54 million would be cut from federal highways in the state.

“I'm also extremely worried about how the cuts to Medicare will impact rural areas like those in our district, which typically have a higher rate of Medicare recipients. In addition, the president makes cuts to other rural health programs and zeroes out some programs completely. Our rural areas are already having a difficult time retaining doctors and affording expensive medical equipment. Now is not the time to make it even more difficult to access health care in our rural areas.

“We should be doing everything we can to help middle- and low-income families grapple with the economic downturn. As health care costs skyrocket, we should maintain our investments in Medicare and Medicaid, which helps millions of our most vulnerable citizens. We should also be spending our tax dollars on American infrastructure projects that infuse money and jobs into our communities.

“Congress is committed to investing in real American priorities, like job-growth, education and health care. We need a president who shares that commitment, as well as a commitment to fiscal responsibility. This president brought us the five largest deficits in American history. It's time for a change.”


CONTACT: Anne Warden at (202) 225-3311, (703) 338-4480 or anne.warden@mail.house.gov.