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OWENS CALLS
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET IMMORAL AND DISHONEST
Local impact will be devastating
Brooklyn, NY
- Congressman Major Owens (D-NY) today stated that Congress would be turning its
back on the people of New York and the nation if they support President Bush's
2006 budget.
"The 2006 budget contradicts the State of the Union address rhetoric,"
Owens said. "It is the war against peace budget."
In calling for the rejection of the budget, Owens pointed out that while over $4
billion has been cut out of education programs, $8 billion is being provided for
Missile Defense programs that have been proven they do not work.
"This budget contains a cut of $1.4 billion to state and local governments
grants. These grants help New York, and cities across the United States, with
economic development projects; low-income home energy assistance; and crucial
environmental programs."
"It is unconscionable," Owens continued, "that the budget
underfunds New York City NCLB (No Child Left Behind) programs by $1 billion --
forcing New York to find a way to fund the many federal mandates of the Act.
"New York taxpayers will not only lose local services but will pay increasingly
more for the Pentagon's whimsical spending, including an additional $1.6 billion
for the proposed increase in military spending and $13.0 billion for what
Congress has already allocated for the Iraq War."
"Adding more insult to American's intelligence", Owens said,
"the budget EXCLUDES the cost of fighting the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan."
"The way a nation spends its money indicates what its real moral values
are," said Congressman Owens, "and we are making a worldwide statement that we
do not support education, health care, housing or peace -- we support military
solutions."
Owens concluded, "We can fight terrorism by providing more educational
opportunities to people. We can guarantee our security with education not by
continuing to throw money indiscriminately at the military."
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