FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2005

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

New Reports: Bush Budget Out of Step with the Values of Hispanics, African-Americans

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic leaders released two comprehensive report today detailing how the Republican budget harms minority communities in America.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined House Democratic Caucus Chair Bob Menéndez (D-NJ), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Mel Watt (D-NC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Grace Napolitano (D-CA) to release the two reports, one on the budget's effect on Hispanics and the other on its effect on African Americans, at a roundtable discussion with several national Hispanic and African American advocacy and civil rights groups.

“President Bush’s and the Republicans' budget is Robin Hood in reverse,” Pelosi said. “Unfortunately, as these reports show, the Republican budget ignores the challenges facing America’s families and dishonors our values, particularly harming minority Americans. Instead of providing African Americans and Hispanics with the opportunity to achieve the American dream, President Bush is mortgaging their future on irresponsible tax cuts for those who need it least.”

“Democrats are fighting against the President’s distorted priorities,” Pelosi added. “We are committed to building an America that helps Hispanic and African American families – and all American families – create a better future for their children.”

“The President's budget does not reflect the values or the priorities of Hispanics in the United States,” said Menendez.  "On every issue of importance, from health care to veteran’s services, this budget sets the wrong course for our country.”

While 1.7 million African Americans and 1.1 million Hispanics unemployed, the Bush budget fails to promote prosperity.  Instead of creating jobs, it will create record deficits.   There are 2.5 million African American veterans and more than 1 million Hispanic veterans. The Bush budget fails to promote security or to honor our veterans.  The budget raises health care costs for 2.2 million veterans, while providing $3.5 billion less than veterans’ service organizations believe is needed for veterans’ health care.

“The President’s budget proposal would only widen the disparities gap between African Americans and other Americans in education, health care, economic opportunity, justice, retirement security, foreign policy and in every other aspect of our lives,” said Watt. “Furthermore, the President’s budget shortchanges key priorities important to African American families, is fiscally reckless and morally irresponsible.” 

The Republican budget fails to make healthcare affordable.  There are 13 million Hispanics without health insurance and 7.4 million uninsured African Americans and millions more who can barely afford to pay their premiums.  However, the budget does not improve access to health care.   Instead, it cuts $60 billion from Medicaid.

The Republicanbudget also fails America’s schools.   There are 8 million African American children enrolled in primary and secondary school, and a 25 percent Hispanic high school dropout rate.   Yet the budget fails to provide $12 billion in promised funding for education -- meaning 3 million children will not get the help with reading and math that they were promised.   It also eliminates the Even Start program and guts Head Start for 324,000 African American children and 324,700 Hispanic children.

Democrats have proposed a New Partnership for America’s Future, which would create 10 million new jobs, help close the health care gap for minorities, and give our nation’s veterans the benefits they have earned.   Democrats will keep fighting for the values that will strengthen the American middle class: national security, prosperity, opportunity, fairness, community, and accountability.

Please click on the following links in order to read the full reports:

·          Hispanic Budget Report: http://democraticleader.house.gov/pdf/BBHA_05.pdf

·          African-American Budget Report: http://democraticleader.house.gov/pdf/BBAA_05.pdf

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi