Tennessee faces severe cuts if George Bush's new irresponsible budget becomes law.
Besides his reckless and unfunded plan to semi-privatize Social Security, his budget slashes key programs that help Tennessee's working families and the poor.
This budget is a fiscal disaster, with another record deficit projected (by the Bush "planners") at $427 billion.
Here are some severe cuts Tennessee faces:
Homeland Security:
$20.6 million cut, including gutting the Clinton COPS program, which has put 2,351 officers on Tennessee streets, by 96 percent.
Health Care:
The Bush budget guts Medicaid, and Tennessee's share of these cuts is $1.2 billion. This insane budget cuts the very same community and rural health care programs he touted during the 2004 campaign, even though more than 163,000 Tennessee residents have lost their health care coverage since Bush took office.
Education:
Bush underfunds his own No Child Left Behind Act in Tennessee $190.5 million, leaving behind 46,889 Tennessee children. Bush promised to fund Pell Grants in his State of the Union address, but his budget is $126.9 million less than what was committed to Tennessee, a huge burden for 92,459 students in Tennessee who currently receive these desperately needed college grants.
Veterans' Benefits:
The Bush budget requires our veterans to pay a new $250 annual "user fee" to use the VA health care system, and would DOUBLE the prescription drug co-payment for over 560,000 Tennessee veterans.
This budget is totally irresponsible and a soak the poor in favor of the wealty scheme. It is a shame and disgrace.
Jerre R Haskew
Cumberland Rd
Chattanooga
jrichas@aol.com