Bush's war on the Poor

No, it's not Iran. George Bush's latest war is another example of his "compassionate conservatism'. This time, it's budget cuts and low-income housing programs. In an article in the SF alt-weekly, BeyondCron:

The Bush budget plan for fiscal year 2008 announced on February 6 slashes key low-income housing programs, while increasing America’s mammoth defense budget by 11%---an increase that does not include funding for the Iraq war.

While the Bush Administration sends public relations staff like Phil Mangano around the country touting plans to end chronic homelessness, the President continues efforts to cut housing programs for the poor. The new Bush budget plan would reduce the vital Project Based Rental Assistance Program, which currently funds about 1.2 million project based subsidies, by $163 million. Public Housing funding would be cut by nearly $400 million.

A glance at the 'Rundown of the FY 2008 Budget' from the National Alliance to End Homelessness shows levels in a few programs staying in place, a few modest increases, and many substantial cuts. I guess the free market's nipped that poverty problem in the bud, right?

A look at the budget proposal shows among other things, an 18% decrease in LIHEAP heating assistance - I guess with the global warming those poor people won't need it as much, right? The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), which funds job training and
other services in low-income communities, would be eliminated completely. Housing for the Elderly, cut $160 million. Housing for People with Disabilities cut $112 million. Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention program ,eliminated. There are also cuts to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program and for Health Care for the Homeless.

Now, before the trolls accuse me of just pointing out the negative, yes, as I said before, there are a few modest increases, such as a 10% increase in Homeless Assistance Grants, and 4% increase in operating subsidies for public housing. Maybe they'll hand out some cardboard refrigerator boxes as a gesture of good faith, perhaps? By and large, looking at the budget, there's mostly huge cuts. Gotta pay for this stupid war right?

Some of us can remember a time when another president, although severely misguided like our current one in matters of foreign policy, declared a 'War on Poverty'. That's a war that I could actually support, as could most of us on here.

Now, where does Welch stand on this particular issue? His latest press release does address the recklessness of the newest budget, but with emphasis on the war.

"The budget released by the President today is both fiscally reckless and demonstrates upside-down priorities at odds with the needs of Vermonters. Through rosy economic revenue projections and a failure to account properly for the war in Iraq, the President creates the mirage of a balanced budget.

"In November, voters in Vermont and across the country told the President that it was time for a new direction. Yet the President’s budget contains nothing but more of the same. The President continues to insist on the extension of trillions of dollars in tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. He continues to incorporate into the budget his misguided plan to privatize Social Security. And, instead of expanding access to health care, he cuts programs for the elderly and children and proposes increasing costs for veterans.

Welch's positions on the war lately have been encouraging, as most of you know. But it is really important for him to take a bold stand and, apart from the war - important as it is, to speak out forcefully on the actual impact this reckless budget is going to have on our nation's most vulnerable citizens.