Legislation & Politics

Bush's Budget Harmful to State and Local Services

Final Bush Budget Means Cuts to AFSCME Member Jobs

On February 4, President Bush released his record-setting $3.1 trillion budget for FY 2009, which seeks to preserve the Bush budget legacy of red ink and wrong priorities. It supports making permanent his 2001 and 2003 tax breaks that benefit the wealthy one percent and calls for a sizable increase in military spending. And, it leaves behind a mound of debt as it projects a near-record $407 billion deficit in 2009 after squandering the surplus left to him when he took office.

The Bush budget also calls for significant cuts in services upon which working families rely and which many AFSCME members provide. His budget would make a staggering $19 billion in cuts (adjusted for inflation) in grants to states and local governments and drastic cuts to essential public services like education, health care, employment services, transportation, housing, and especially Medicare and Medicaid. The Bush budget is based on unrealistic "rosy" assumptions about future economic growth and omits the full cost of the Iraqi war and tax breaks. If implemented, there is little doubt the Bush budget would result in a significant loss of AFSCME member jobs. AFSCME will fight for the rejection of the President's budget and in favor of a more balanced approach to funding priorities and providing resources for vital services.

Detailed Analysis

Download a more detailed analysis of the Bush budget (46k PDF).

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