To the editor:
The election is over, and now is the time to see the failed promises of this administration.
Missouri residents are facing severe cuts if President Bush's proposed budget becomes law. It slashes key programs that help Missouri's working families. Even with these cuts, we are facing a record national deficit of $427 billion, increasing each Missouri family's share of the federal debt by $37,389.
This budget is a huge disaster for Missouri:
Cuts of $420 million to state and local funding for homeland security, including a $20.3 million cut for Missouri. These cuts will take police and firefighters off our streets.
Cuts of $45 billion from Medicaid, enough to provide health care to 1.8 million children. Missouri's share of these cuts $1 billion.
Bush underfunds his own No Child Left Behind Act by $13.1 billion in his budget. In Missouri, that means a shortfall of $197.3 million, leaving behind 40,890 Missouri children.
Bush promised to fund Pell grants in his State of the Union address, but his budget is $6.6 billion short. That's $120.3 million less than what's needed in Missouri, a real burden for approximately 91,673 students who receive the grants.
The Bush budget would require many veterans to pay a new $250 annual user fee for the Veterans Administration health care system and would double the prescription drug co-payment for the 592,271 Missouri veterans.
Everyone needs to stay informed.
SHARON HOPKINS, Marble Hill, Mo.
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