Congressman John D. Dingell at the New York Stock Exchange.

After years of Republican rule highlighted by massive spending and record numbers of earmarks, the new Democratic majority has the opportunity to re-shape the federal budget and provide much needed help for Michigan’s working families. Congressman Dingell feels the previous Congress neglected the domestic programs that American families rely on the most, such as job training programs, health care services for children and veterans’, education programs like Head Start, energy assistance for low-income households, among many others.

In the 110th Congress, Democrats have worked to change this record. The Congressman voted in favor of S.Con.Res. 21, the concurrent Democratic budget resolution, which passed the House 214-209. The Senate also passed S.Con.Res.21 by a vote of 52-47. Some of the highlights of this budget resolution include:

• Balancing the budget by 2012, without raising taxes
• Provides for additional middle-income tax relief – such as extension of the child tax credit and marriage penalty relief
• Expands children’s health insurance coverage
• Increases veterans’ funding for 2008 by $6.7 billion over the 2007 enacted level
• An increase of $9.5 billion above the President’s 2008 request for education, training and social services.

Further information regarding the 2008 Budget Conference Agreement can be found here. Click here to see the Congressman’s statement on the budget.

On February 4, 2008, President Bush released his final budget for fiscal year (FY) 2009. Congressman Dingell is deeply disappointed in the many cuts the budget proposal made to vital domestic programs such as: $200 billion over five years from Medicare and Medicaid, $59 million from Migration and Refugee Assistance, and millions from the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. As Congress moves forward in the budget process, Congressman Dingell is committed to restoring funding to these programs and will work diligently to ensure that the families of the 15th District have the resources they need to house, feed and insure their family members. Click here to read the Congressman’s statement on the Administration’s budget proposal for FY09.