Senator Kennedy Statement: Bush Budget Does Not Reflect Our Values

SENATOR KENNEDY STATEMENT: BUSH BUDGET DOES NOT REFLECT OUR VALUES

February 7, 2005

For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Capps/ Melissa Wagoner
(202) 224-2633

America is a stronger, better, more hopeful nation than this budget represents. It shortchanges our future instead of equipping our citizens to compete and win in the 21st century economy - and it falls short of reflecting the values that strengthen and unite us as Americans.

The misplaced priorities in this budget have frightening implications for America's future. We're now seeing that the price of the Administration's trillion dollar tax breaks for the wealthy is a weaker America. After four years of mismanaging our economy and our budget, the White House has left nothing for what really counts most to most Americans - opportunity, fairness, and a strong future. How can Americans succeed in today's global economy with less education, less health care, and less pay?

Americans always have been willing to sacrifice in times of war. But there's nothing equal about our wartime sacrifice in this budget when millionaires get more tax breaks while our children are in crowded classrooms.

Budgets are not neutral documents; they are moral blueprints for the nation. When we cut Medicaid, housing, food assistance, education and other basic programs, we certainly do wrong to the poor, our seniors and our nation's children.

Congress should reject this budget and start over with a new budget that really reflects the values and priorities of American families.

http://kennedy.senate.gov/index_low.html