Schakowsky Statement on President Bush's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget

SCHAKOWSKY STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT BUSH'S FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to President Bush's Fiscal Year 2009 budget.

"President Bush's Fiscal Year 2009 budget is a continuation of the failed fiscal policies that have devoured our budget surpluses and created the largest deficits in history, while ignoring the investments needed to help families succeed and keep our country strong. The Bush budget calls for a $500 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid — putting senior citizens, children and pregnant women, and persons with disabilities at risk. It calls for another year of flat-funding for the National Institutes of Health, keeping us from achieving medical breakthroughs. It would cut everything from LIHEAP — to help families pay high heating bills — to the EPA. All these cuts are being made to finance the war in Iraq and yet another round of tax cuts for the richest Americans. Fortunately, the Democratic Congress will reject this "more of the same... budget that has created economic crisis at home and insecurity abroad. The American public can be assured that the budget we pass will reflect their concerns and their needs: good jobs, affordable housing and energy, quality health care and education, and solutions to global warming....