Pelosi: 'President’s Reckless Budget Spells Out Priorities in Black and White and Too Much Red

February 2, 2004

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on President Bush’s fiscal year 2005 budget:

"The President’s reckless budget spells out his priorities in black and white and too much red.

"While middle-class Americans struggle to make ends meet, the President's budget is crowding out education, health care, and veterans’ benefits to make room for more tax breaks for those who need them least and a breathtaking $46 billion in new giveaways to HMOs.

"It is stunning that the President, who has turned record surpluses into record deficits, is able to ignore both fiscal discipline and the everyday needs of middle-class Americans all in one budget. His budget will create deficits as far as the eye can see, but not jobs. It fulfills his promises to big drug companies, but breaks his promise to fully fund our children’s education. It is penny foolish and pound reckless, and out of touch with the challenges facing our nation.

"Democrats have different priorities. We want to help all Americans achieve financial security by creating good-paying jobs, improving education, lowering health care costs, and making college more affordable. We are working to help small businesses grow, to support our veterans and military retirees, and to do more to protect our ports and borders from terrorism."

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