"I applaud the President’s call for increases in defense spending and homeland security in next year’s budget.  When it comes to the war on terrorism, the President has my full support and I will work to make sure he has the resources necessary to win this war.   The additional funds for defense will not only make our military stronger and our families safer, they will also translate into more jobs for working families in areas like Camden and Pine Bluff. 

"Yet, while we can’t put a price tag on the value of national security, we also cannot turn our backs on our communities and working families here at home.  I am concerned that the President’s budget does little for families in rural America, like most of our state.  His budget proposes major cuts to many important needs in Arkansas and across the nation like highway funding, housing, education, health care, seniors programs and others. 

"As the budget process moves forward, we will have to use common sense in looking at our current situation.  While our government may have to run deficits in the short term, we also must maintain long-term commitments to fiscal discipline and protecting Social Security and Medicare.  The best way to do that, in addition to winning the war, is to make sure we get our economy strong again.  Instead of further raiding Social Security and Medicare to help special interests and big corporations, we need to do things like provide support for laid off workers, help create jobs and grow small businesses, give our farm families a new farm bill, and modernize Medicare to include a prescription drug benefit for all seniors.

"That is the best economic stimulus for American families, and that is the budget I will fight for."