April 6, 2005

Denver, CO- Under the leadership of the Republican Party, America’s deficit reached a record high $412 billion by the end of last year.  Yesterday President Bush called upon members of Congress to reconcile their differences over budget cuts to show a true commitment to cutting the deficit.

The problem that Bush is running into when attempting to promote his 2006 Budget proposal is that his plan requires major cuts in essential programs that help children and veterans. 

During Bush’s first term in office each family in Colorado saw an increase in their share of the national debt by $38,339.  Bush’s proposed budget cuts will cause individual families in Colorado to endure more personal debt due to additional out of pocket expenses for education and health care.

Bush proposes a national cut in over 48 educational programs that focus on at-risk children.  In Colorado Bush plans on cutting $137.1 million from his own Colorado No Child Left Behind Program. 

The cut in funding to Colorado’s No Child Left Behind Program will leave over 27,635 children without the reading and math programs that President Bush promised he would promote and fund.

“Democrats value the importance of public education programs for children.  Democrats fight to implement educational programs and we will fight to protect the funding for these programs,” said Pat Waak, Colorado Democratic Chair.

During this time of war America should not be neglecting the men and women that serve our country.  Bush’s budget proposal is more evidence of how Republicans continue to turn their backs on the veterans.

Bush’s 2006 budget will double the cost for over 446,385 veterans in Colorado who will have to pay a $250 fee to use government health care programs.  For many veterans this fee increase will be too costly and many will have to forgo medical treatment.

On March 19, 2005 Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania addressed the issue of Bush’s proposed veteran cuts during the weekly Democratic radio address. 

“During this time of war, it is absolutely the wrong time for our federal government to step back from any of its commitments to our veterans.  To do so would be penny wise by pound foolish,” said Gov. Ed Rendell, PA.

Democrats agree that the budget must be balanced, but they do not agree that cutting funding for essential programs that help children and veterans is the way to proceed.