[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10979]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. CON. RES. 95, CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE 
                      BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005

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                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 19, 2004

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, the budget resolution lays out the 
framework for next year's Federal Government revenues, spending and 
borrowing. It is clearly a roadmap for continuing fiscal mismanagement 
and misplaced priorities.
  The budget allows for further tax cuts, which primarily benefit those 
least in need, while increasing the nation's debt limit to over $8 
trillion. The projected $367 billion deficit for 2005 is the result of 
these policies and this does not include funding for ongoing operations 
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  A serious concern for people who care about the environment and the 
economy is the failure to fund even the inadequate level required by 
the House passed transportation reauthorization. The Republican budget 
resolution assumes $273 billion for transportation, $11 billion less 
than the $284 billion provided in House legislation and $45 billion 
less than the Senate-passed funding level. This is wholly inadequate 
and will have serious consequences for every State in America.
  Tax cuts during wartime that benefit the wealthy, shifting fiscal 
burdens to our children, shortchanging America's priorities, risking 
the Social Security and Medicare funding on which retirees rely--this 
budget is at once shameless and shameful.

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