U.S. Budget Priorities

U.S. Budget Priorities

This chart represents the 2007-2008 U.S. discretionary budget, the portion of the budget that the President and Congress create each year. It does not include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and interest on the national debt.

Pentagon: On August 5th, 2007, the Democrats in Congress voted 208 to 12 to provide the Dept. of Defense with $460 Billion in funding for the year. Next year, President Bush is asking for $515 Billion.
Iraq: Bush wants $196 Billion for the war in Iraq this year. Capitulating to veto threats, House Democrats have consistently supplied money without restrictions. National debt will increase by more than $2 TRILLION.

The “New Direction Congress”

The portion of the budget already devoted to the military is approximately 60%. But according to Nancy Pelosi's year-end message, the "New Direction" Congress is "authorizing funds to begin increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps."

This is madness! We have more than 800 military bases around the world. We don't need more. We spend as much as the rest of the world combined. Additional spending will not make us safer.


California faces a $16 Billion budget deficit

The Governor has proposed substantial reductions to virtually all state-supported services to close the state's budget gap. The Legislature will consider these proposed reductions and other options during upcoming budget hearings.

Numbers compiled by the California Budget Project
San Mateo County Programs To Be Cut San Francisco County
Cuts of $473
per student
78,870 students 		K-12 and Special Education programs - Five of the largest funding allocations for public schools will be cut Cuts of $726
per student
51,550 students
340 fewer
children 		Child Development Programs - Fewer children will be enrolled in child care and preschool 640 fewer
children
1,560 children
dropped and
63,640 other
patients affected 		Medi-Cal - Payment cuts to health care providers will reduce access for low-income health care patients. By increasing paperwork requirements, low-income children can be dropped. 1,800 children
dropped and
123,270 other
patients affected
2,610 seniors
and disabled
affected 		In-Home Supportive Services Program - Low-income seniors and persons with disabilities will receive fewer hours of services 19,130 seniors
and disabled
affected
10,530
children affected 		Healthy Families Program - provides low-cost health coverage for children in low-income working families. Premiums and copayments will be increased. Dental services will be reduced. 12,460
children affected
Portola Redwoods Park Closed State Parks Candlestick Point Rec Area Closed

Crumbling Infrastructure

I-35W in Minneapolis Structural stability of bridges is rated on a scale of 0 to 100%. The I-35W bridge in Minneapolis scored 50%. The Doyle Drive approach to the Golden Gate rates only 2%.

The U.S. military has been far stronger than any potential opponent for decades. Yet, in recent years, we've doubled military spending at the expense of investing in our people. As a result, the economy is increasingly vulnerable.

Bad trade deals and manufacturing flight have hollowed out our industrial base. Outsourcing and lack of vocational training have weakened our middle class. Our universities produce too few engineers, scientists, doctors and nurses. We continue to rely on old technology that spews pollution into our air and water. Much of our infrastructure is reaching the end of its useful life. Each day, national debt mounts.

The collapse of the Soviet Union was accelerated by its invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Just as we are doing today in Iraq, the Russians poured resources into war. Similarly, the Roman Empire's attempt to control too much territory was a major reason for its disintegration. We now have more than 800 military bases around the world. Even more are planned.

The good news is that Americans have always been remarkably resilient. By moving away from a war economy, we can return to fundamentals: investing in education, career training, green jobs and technology innovation. We must end George Bush's nightmare in Iraq, then shift our priorities into sustainable economics and fiscal responsibility!

The choice is simple. Do we continue to invest
in military might or do we invest in people?