Washington, DC – Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation (CDCD), released the following statement today regarding the President’s proposed FY08 Budget:

“The President’s FY08 budget proposal is at odds with the needs and priorities of Californians.

“At the same time California’s Governor and Legislature are moving towards an ambitious healthcare plan, the President proposes to freeze SCHIP funding at 2006 levels and cut billions from Medicaid and Medicare programs.  President Bush’s proposed budget also would eliminate the Federal Perkins Loan program and cut nine other higher education programs, shortchanging California’s students to the tune of hundreds of million in student aid. 

“Finally, the President’s budget fails on a host of issues that matter to Californians, from eliminating money for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) and the Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) program to decreasing funding levels for the CALFED, a federal-state partnership to improve water supplies in California and the health of the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

“The California Democratic Congressional Delegation will work with Members of Congress and Speaker Pelosi to make sure that the final FY08 budget reflects the needs of our state and our country.  We will hold out our hands to Republican House Members from California to get a better outcome for our state.”