To reduce this record deficit, we must make difficult choices, and both spending and taxes need to be on the table.  The President has not made these difficult choices, and should Congress follow this budget, working families will be left on their own as the government again favors only the wealthiest Americans. 

In order to partially pay for the irresponsible tax policies, the President attempts to cut spending in several areas, notably health care and education.  Medicare would be reduced by $36 billion over five years by reducing already low payments to health care providers, who would be less willing to accept Medicare patients.  The National Institutes of Health, which researches life-saving cures for numerous diseases such as cancer and Parkinson’s Disease, would in effect receive a cut outside of funds earmarked for biodefense.  While I support measures to increase our preparedness for outbreaks such as a potential pandemic flu, these funds should not come at the expense of research to cure ailments like heart disease. 

In December, I distributed surveys to every school and district in my Congressional District to determine the level of emergency preparedness.  Most respondents indicated they had not properly rehearsed their emergency plans, and nearly a quarter of the schools and districts did not even know whom to ask for help.  Fortunately, the Department of Education’s Safe and Drug-free Schools and Communities program provides grants to help schools develop and implement emergency plans.  However, President Bush proposes eliminating this program that has helped so many schools across our country.  There are countless examples of these misguided priorities in the budget. 

In 2004, Congress nearly unanimously passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act to put the program on track to full funding, but this budget includes only $10.7 million for state grants.  This means that once again, the federal government will only provide less than half of the amount promised to states to educate children with special needs.  The budget also zeroes out the TRIO programs—Gear Up, Talent Search and Upward Bound—which encourage economically disadvantaged Rhode Island students to seek higher education. 

Even though energy independence was a major theme of the President’s State of the Union Address, he is not funding his own proposals.  After announcing America is “addicted to oil,” the President has increased Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs by a paltry 0.2%.  In addition, programs to increase energy efficiency and research hydropower and geothermal energy are cut.  We need real leadership on this issue.  The brightest minds in America put a man on the moon, and we need a similar effort to develop clean and renewable energy sources.  A 0.2% increase will not accomplish that goal. 

If the President truly wanted to make our country more competitive, he would not have avoided funding the Small Business 7(a) loan guarantee program and reduced Trade Adjustment Assistance, which retrains workers who lose their jobs because of foreign trade. 

If the President wanted to enrich our communities, he would not have reduced funding for the community development block grants, COPS program, or Weatherization Assistance for energy efficient homes.

If the President wanted to make health care more accessible, he would not have increased fees for groups such as military retirees and Medicare beneficiaries.  On top of all these cuts and fee increases, we still have the highest deficit in history as a result of the irresponsible tax policies the President seeks to continue.  This is not the direction America should be moving. 

The President had a tremendous opportunity to reflect the values and priorities of the American people.  He could have asked for shared sacrifice and inspired us to achieve new heights.  Instead, he has given us more of the same: tax cuts for the wealthiest, program cuts for the most vulnerable, and the middle class is left on their own.  America deserves better.