Udall Statement On President's FY08 Budget Request

Press Release

UDALL STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT'S FY08 BUDGET REQUEST

Today, U.S. Representative Tom Udall, D-N.M., released the following statement on the President's Fiscal Year 2008 Budget request:

"Although the President and I do not have many shared priorities and his new budget request is not surprising, I am nonetheless disappointed in many of the budget items he has outlined for cuts.

"Implementing the President's budget would prove devastating to the American people. Included are substantial cuts to health care programs, education and the environment which would help fund more of the same Bush tax policies that benefit only those who need it the least.

"I am disappointed that he has proposed a plan to once again sell-off public lands, to cut the Interior budget by nearly $700 million, and to slash dollars for health care programs -- particularly in rural areas.

"It is unfortunate that the President also cut funding for highly valuable programs at our national labs. As I have said before, we need a comprehensive approach to address our nation's energy needs, and I believe with proper program funding Los Alamos National Laboratories can help move us in a new direction on energy.

"I will continue to work to on the priorities of every-day working New Mexicans such as adequate funding for health care, investing in social security, quality care for our increasing number of veterans and to improve accessibility to higher education as we go through the budget process in the 110th Congress.

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