Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Compassionate Conservatism Is Over

American Progress Action Fund
The Progress Report

On September 16, President Bush made a vague promise to "cut unnecessary spending" to pay for reconstruction in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Yesterday, he specified what spending he considers "unnecessary." At a press conference on the White House law, Bush said he will ask Congress to "make even deeper reductions in the mandatory spending programs than are already planned." The major mandatory spending programs are Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. (The category also includes a few smaller program related to income security such as unemployment insurance and school lunches.) In other words, President Bush want the the poor, the sick and the elderly to pay for Katrina reconstruction by giving up their health care and retirement security. Meanwhile, the President is pressing forward with billions in new tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

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