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brightNow Playing: Congresswomen Yvette Clarke Wrote Me...
Thank you for contacting me about your concerns with the president’s budget. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views on this important issue.
President Bush’s fiscal year 2009 budget is both fiscally irresponsible and out of touch with the needs of our country. While spending billions to pursue a failed policy in Iraq and preserving tax cuts for those who need them the least, he proposed dramatic cuts in the critical programs that benefit working Americans and those in need.
Over the next several months Congress will be working to pass a budget that better reflects the priorities of our country. We took the first step by passing a budget resolution, H. Con. Res. 312, which restores fiscal responsibility and restores cuts the president made to important programs. Our budget would result in a surplus by 2012 and fully complies with House PAYGO (“pay-as-you-go”) rules, which require that any increase in spending be completely paid for, so as not to increase the federal deficit. Our budget provides $7.1 billion (9%) more than the president requested for education and training programs, $1.2 billion (24%) more than requested for energy programs, and $3.2 billion (8%) more than requested for veterans programs. It also rejects the president’s proposed cuts to local law enforcement programs, the Community Development Block Grant Program, Environmental Protection Agency grant programs, and transportation programs.
This budget, once reconciled with the Senate’s budget, will serve as the guiding document for the House and Senate Appropriations committees as they determine specific funding levels for federal programs in fiscal year 2009. I will keep your views in mind as Congress works to restore fiscal responsibility, strengthen our struggling economy and meet the pressing needs of our country.
Thank you again for sharing your concerns and please be sure to visit my website at www.clarke.house.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter to stay updated on this and others issues.
Sincerely,
Yvette D. Clarke
Member of Congress