Economy Tanking? Bush Says Cut Job Funds, Worker Programs

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/03/13/economy-tanking-bush-says-cut-job-funds-worker-programs/

by Mike Hall, Mar 13, 2008

he Bush-Cheney administration’s first seven budgets have left a legacy of abuse and neglect when it comes to vital working families issues, key workplace initiatives and the important programs that make up the social and economic safety net. And the final Bush-Cheney budget proposal is no different, says AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker.

“The Bush budget is dangerously unmindful of our shaky economy and the perilous hold by many working families in our nation’s middle class. It shortchanges the vital needs of America’s workers, while giving priority to special interests and an anti-worker political agenda.”


AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker on Capitol Hill today.


Testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, Holt Baker called on the subcommittee to reverse the Bush cuts to worker safety, job training, unemployment insurance (UI), Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and other programs that fall under the panel’s jurisdiction. She also urged the subcommittee to block the move to increase funding for programs Bush’s Department of Labor has used to harass and persecute unions and union activists.

Overall, the Bush budget plan for fiscal year 2009 cuts nearly half a trillion dollars over the next five years from important domestic programs that help children, the elderly and sick, including $196 billion from Medicare and Medicaid. In addition, the Bush budget shifts more health care costs to the states and limits the eligibility of children who are covered by the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). It also slashes health care for the 9/11 first responders—thousands of whom are sick or disabled—by 77 percent, from $108 million to $25 million.

But one group is benefiting big time. Said Holt Baker:

The Bush FY 2009 budget preserves the expensive tax cuts for the wealthy.

Click here for an AFL-CIO analysis of the budget.

The House and Senate are expected to vote on the FY 2009 budget resolution in the next few weeks, and Bush’s proposal is likely to be defeated and several Democratic alternative are expect to be offered. For example, a proposal by the Congressional Progressive Caucus includes repeal of the Bush tax cuts for the nation’s wealthiest (the top1 percent), a crackdown on corporate welfare, a second economic stimulus package, a major initiative to create jobs and rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, and increased funding for Medicare, veterans’ health care, education and programs to protect fundamental workers’ rights.

Turning to programs under the subcommittee’s funding umbrella, Holt Baker said the Bush budget eliminates the Workforce Investment Act’s adult, youth and dislocated worker programs and replaces them with state block grants.

FULL story at link.

[Brigid]

1. This is a surprise?

Not to me. :banghead: