House budget chairman promotes Democratic plan (radio address)

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

The chairman of the House Budget Committee said Saturday that a 2009 spending blueprint passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress will restore funding for health care, energy and education while leading to a balanced budget by 2012.

Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., said the budget plan rejected proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and would broaden the Children's Health Insurance Program. The plan would also add nearly $5 billion to the Veterans Affairs health care system in 2009, he said.

In his party's weekly radio address, Spratt promised the bill would address skyrocketing fuel prices by spending more on home energy assistance for low-income families. "As for funding for alternative fuels, renewable energies and other energy initiatives, our budget provides $7.7 billion," he said.

(snip)
That prediction, however, relies on some questionable assumptions. The plan would achieve the surplus goal only by allowing many of Bush's signature tax cuts to expire and by eliminating any funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan after next year.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080607/ap_on_go_co/democrats_budget

[SpiralHawk]

1. "What, no increase for corrupt republicon cronies? Ptoooey." - Republicons

"No way we republicons can support this unless it includes Massive Payola for our Corrupt Homelander Cronies, the way Commander AWOL's budget proposal does."

- Republicons

[EvolveOrConvolve]

2. This is a good start

But we could have a balanced budget next year if congress grew some balls and drastically cut the bloated and wasteful budget for the pentagon.