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Bush's Budget Slashes Health Care Programs

In February, President Bush released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2007 — one that reflects the wrong priorities for the nation and spells big trouble for AFSCME members. The President proposed a $2.77 trillion budget that would create record deficits and provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy while making huge cuts in vital domestic services, including Medicare, Medicaid and other health programs.

Activity around the budget has now shifted to the Congress where the Senate and House each develop and adopt a budget resolution, or a broad outline of spending and tax policies. The budget resolutions will be followed up later in the year with more detailed tax and spending legislation.

In mid-March, the Senate adopted its budget resolution which incorporates many of the spending and tax cuts included in the President's budget. However, in a major rebuff to the President and GOP leaders, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to add $7 billion to its budget resolution for a range of domestic services that aid working families including public health, education, Head Start, child care, nutrition and job training. While winning the additional $7 billion was an important victory, it represents a bit less than half of what is needed to maintain spending at fiscal year 2005 levels plus an adjustment for inflation.

The House of Representatives has not yet finalized its budget resolution, but it is expected to follow the President's agenda to fund tax breaks for the rich by cutting vital services. With the House and Senate on different tracks, there will be a number of opportunities for the White House and its conservative allies to press for final spending legislation that reflects their desire to make Draconian cuts in domestic programs in order to pave the way for tax cuts.

AFSCME nurses can keep up to date on budget developments by visiting the Legislative Action web page and reading the Weekly Report from the Legislation Department. In addition, AFSCME nurses should contact their U.S. senators and representatives and urge them to oppose spending cuts in health, education and other important programs in this year's federal budget.

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