| WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Marion Berry (D-AR, 1st) announced his strong opposition today to the President's Fiscal Year 2007 budget proposal which cuts billions of dollars from domestic programs such as Medicare, farm subsidies, and education, and runs a record deficit of $423 billion dollars – a figure expected to run even higher once the President requests an additional $70 billion for military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although the President's proposal is just a starting point in the budget process, Republican leaders will use it as a benchmark to determine spending levels for all government programs.
"The whole budget is completely ridiculous and a clear attack on our hard-working families," said Congressman Berry. "President Bush has a lot of nerve to pass off billions of dollars in tax cuts to wealthy Americans while taking programs away from our greatest generation. He clearly feels no obligation to honor the past commitments of this government. If his budget is a starting point, we have a long way to go before we reach a budget acceptable to the American people."
The President proposed the deepest cuts to programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which provide seniors and low-income Americans with access to quality health care services. His budget would cut $36 billion over five years from Medicare by lowering repayment rates to hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities, and increasing out-of-pocket premiums for some Medicare patients. He would also require patients to purchase their own oxygen equipment after 13 months instead of renting the equipment on a month-to-month basis.
In addition to entitlement cuts, the budget also calls for deep cuts to farm programs. The proposed reductions include a 5% across the board cut in crop payments and a reduction in the payment limit cap for commodity payments from $360,000 to $250,000.
"We cannot let this Administration continue to put seniors and farm families on the chopping block to justify special interest deals," said Congressman Berry. "This budget should be about American priorities, not the priorities of back-room lobbyists."
Other programs at risk in the President's budget include:
Education: The President wants to eliminate 42 programs from the Department of Education, for a total cut of $2.1 billion. He continues to under-fund the No Child Left Behind Act by $15.4 billion, and proposes to keep the Pell Grant maximum at just $4,050 for the 4th straight year despite a 34% increase in the cost of college tuition. He also proposes to raid student aid by cutting $664 million from the Perkins Loan program – a reduction that will prevent nearly half a million students from receiving college loans.
Energy Conservation: Despite promises in his State of the Union Address to reduce America's reliance on foreign oil, President Bush proposes to cut $113 million from conservation programs at the Department of Energy and keep funding stagnant for conservation research, development and demonstration. His 22% increase in renewable energy programs still remains short of the level authorized by Congress in its energy bill several years ago. President Bush also proposed cuts to the Weatherization Assistance Program, which will help low-income Americans handle the 35% increase in winter home-heating costs.
Veterans: The President's budget once again proposes to increase VA prescription drug co-pays and fees for healthcare coverage, costing veterans over $500 million. He also proposes to increase healthcare deductibles and enrollment fees for retired military personnel at a cost of $249 million.
Homeland Security: With first responder resources stretched thin by new post September 11th homeland security demands, the Bush Administration plans to cut first responder grants and training by 20%, or $678 million. He proposes to completely eliminate the SAFER program, which provided $109 million last year to help local communities hire more firefighters. |
