(Washington, DC): -- Congressman Mike McNulty (D-Green Island) released the following statement today on the Bush Administration's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2006:

"The Administration's proposal projects a new record-high budget deficit of $427 billion, the third massive deficit in the last three years. In fact, this budget projects deficits of more than $4 trillion over the next 10 years.

"The proposal does not include a credible plan to cut the deficit in half, as the president promised. This budget is fiscally irresponsible and misleading. By any realistic accounting, it will make the deficit problem worse -- not better.

"The administration's response to the growing deficit problem is to propose costly and misguided initiatives on Social Security and taxes that drive the deficit even higher. The budget fails to include the cost of the war in Iraq and lacks any additional details on the administration's plan to cut Social Security benefits for millions of retirees.

"The budget proposal eliminates or cuts funding for 150 programs in areas such as homeland security, education, health care, housing, and the environment while at the same time squandering trillions of dollars on tax breaks for the wealthy. This is a continuation of the poor choices and misplaced priorities that have created record deficits and rising debt over the last four years.

"I am particularly upset by the president's outline for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which includes plans to more than double veterans' co-payments for prescription drugs and require some veterans to pay a new $250 annual fee. I am also disturbed by the proposed elimination of the highly-successful Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and by the Administration's effort to effectively shut down Amtrak by eliminating funding for its operations and providing only a fraction of what is needed for capital investment.

"We must focus on leaving our children and grandchildren a world that is safer, more prosperous, and more secure. It is our responsibility as elected representatives to pursue policies consistent with the values we cherish. The Administration's budget clearly fails that test and shows that it is out of touch with the real needs of people in the Capital Region and across America.

"Over the coming months, I will fight for a budget that reflects the values of America's working families: national security, prosperity, opportunity, fairness, community, and accountability. A responsible budget does not burden future generations with mountains of debt. It should be the first step towards building a future worthy of the trust of the American people, the service and sacrifice of Americans in uniform, and the aspirations of America's children."

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