DeLauro reacts to Bush budget plan

U.S Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., released a statement in response Tuesday to President Bush's 2009 budget proposal. It was not edited by Elm City Express and contains only DeLauro's statement.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) issued the following statement on the release of President Bush’s 2009 budget proposal. DeLauro serves as the second ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, which is responsible for crafting the budget blueprint for the Congress to work from.

“With his final budget recommendations, President Bush again proposes a poorly thought-out budget that takes this country in the wrong direction.

“Even worse, he uses budgetary gimmicks to conceal the real fiscal costs of his budget. By providing only partial funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan , Bush not only continues the harmful deficit financed war spending, but he also ignores the law which requires him to submit his war funding request with the regular budget. By omitting the cost of protecting the middle class once again from the encroaching Alternative Minimum Tax, Bush simply ignores its implications on efforts to truly balance the budget.

“But most disturbingly, in order to maintain tax cuts targeted towards the wealthiest amongst us, Bush cuts critical services and investments such as Medicare and Medicaid, the Community Oriented Policing Services, the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program, critical education and early literacy programs, and the Center for Disease Control. These cuts and program eliminations only serve to hinder our ability to begin reversing the economic slowdown.


“We need a budget that reflects America ’s priorities and that will make long-term investments in this country. I look forward to working with my colleagues in crafting a budget that will make the necessary investments in this country, strengthen our economy and create jobs, help Americans under pressure meet the rising costs of health care and energy, and do so in a fiscally responsible manner.”


Visit: www.house.gov/delauro