PR Newswire

February 21, 2002, Thursday

SECTION: WASHINGTON DATELINE

DISTRIBUTION: TO NATIONAL AND POLITICAL EDITORS

Democrats Release Impact of George Bush's Budget Cuts on 50 States; Cuts Hurt Education,Health Care and Community Policing

DATELINE: WASHINGTON, Feb. 21

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) today published a comprehensive analysis of President Bush's budget cuts. The report is available on the DNC website, http://www.democrats.org and contains specific impact for all 50 states.

"President Bush's cuts in education, health care and community policing show that his priorities are different from those of the American people," said DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe. "A year ago, President Bush promised the country that we could have a large tax cut, fully fund our priorities, all while preserving the Social Security Trust Fund. President Bush has shown the country where his compassion is, and it is not with Social Security or the priorities of working families."

"First President Bush broke his promise on a prescription drug benefit, by cutting it by $110 billion or 35%," McAuliffe added. "Now Bush and the Republicans want to cut health care from rural seniors." Additional cuts come from services that provide needed care for both children and adults.

"President Bush promised Americans that he would address the health care concerns of America's families. Instead, he cuts funding and puts the burden back on families," added McAuliffe.

The Bush education cuts reduce funds for the Leave No Child Behind Bill that he signed just last month. One billion dollars in education cuts hit all levels of education, from elementary school to higher education.

"Bush pretends to be the education President, yet when the time came for him to put his money where his mouth was, he chose to put it where his heart is -- the wealthiest Americans and the special interests," continued McAuliffe.

The budget also calls for cuts to the COPS program, which put more than 100,000 police officers on the street and is credited for reducing the crime rate and getting more policemen on the street.

"Cutting funding for police would be one of the last places most Americans would expect to see budget cuts, yet this is one of the first places President Bush went to find money for new tax cuts. At a time when Americans want to feel secure, George Bush is taking that away from our communities," added Chairman McAuliffe.