Budget Blitz

Congresswoman Lois Capps lashed out at President Bush’s proposed
$2.7 trillion spending plan, calling it “fiscally irresponsible”
and “unrealistic.” The plan proposes big spending increases for the
Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security, but significant cuts
for 141 federal programs. Capps faulted Bush for increasing the
costs—in premiums and co-pays—shouldered by Medicare and Medicaid
recipients at a time of other confusing Medicare changes, for
divesting California of $3.1 billion over the next four years, and
for allocating inadequate funds to dredge local harbors. She
further criticized Bush’s budget for seriously understating the
size of the deficit—now approaching $400 billion—because it doesn’t
include the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While Capps
has strongly disagreed with Bush throughout his presidency, Santa
Barbara liberal activists have increasingly pressured her to speak
out more forcefully.