Press Releases
Pascrell Statement On Bush Budget Proposal
Washington, DC,
February 5, 2007
Tags:
Economy
PATERSON—U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) a member of the House Ways and Means Committee issued the following statement in reaction to the President’s Fiscal Year 2008 budget proposal; “The President’s 2008 budget is dead on arrival. Reckless tax cuts for the wealthiest few, coupled with program cuts that serve our working class families and the poor, are yet again the order of the day. But the Bush Administration’s budget proposal will not be greeted with mindless approval from this year’s Congressional majority. We are set to do battle and carve out a fiscally and morally responsible budget that will ensure security in our communities. Among the topics that Pascrell took exception to within the Administration’s budget was the one-year, temporary stopgap approach to alternative minimum tax reform and inadequate homeland security funding. “While the alternative minimum tax will soon unjustly affect thousands of middle-class families, the President’s budget fails to provide real reform. Today’s budget again fails to include any costs for more than a one-year repair of the AMT while instead extending tax cuts to the wealthy. I am determined to advance a long-term fix to the dangerously flawed AMT. The middle class shoulders enough of this country’s tax burden. The President has wasted another opportunity to seriously address an injustice to hardworking American homeowners.” “As the President emphasizes the need for greater homeland security, this budget slashes funding for two of the most successful emergency response and preparedness initiatives. Despite Congressional funding of over $540 million last year for the proven COPS program, this budget proposal inexplicably reduces funding to virtually nothing “Created in Paterson, the Fire Gant program would suffer a similar outcome if Bush gets his way. The Fire Grant program provided over $500 million in funds for local fire departments last year, successfully helping increase our nation’s safety and security. As a reward, the President slashes its funding by $200 million. It is clear that this Administration has not learned the lessons taught to us by Hurricane Katrina as this budget fails to fund programs for staffing and equipping our local first responders. Rep. Pascrell will question Department of the Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Office of Management and Budget Director, Rob Portman, and senior officials from the Department of Health and Human Services during a series of Ways and Means Committee hearing on Capitol Hill this week. “I look forward to questioning Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Budget Director Rob Portman at hearings about the budget this week. Oversight is the only way to find out why the priorities in this budget do not reflect the interests of the American people. ### |