Show Me the Money

By Joan Entmacher

Bloggers spend a lot of time parsing the statements of politicians, but if one wants to get a true sense of their priorities, the budget is a good place to start. Congress just approved a budget that signals a change in course, after six years of lavish tax cuts for the very wealthy and cuts in health care, child care, education and training, and other services vital to women and their families.

The budget contains several welcome developments. It allows for enough additional funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to preserve coverage for children, parents and pregnant women who are currently eligible and to expand coverage for the uninsured. It allows for a boost to child care assistance that will help parents succeed at work and allow their children to get the early learning experiences they need to succeed in school. The budget provides for an increase in funding to meet a range of domestic needs. It’s modest -- but at least a start at making up for years of cuts and freezes. And finally, after years of reckless tax cuts, the budget restores rules that require new tax cuts, as well as new mandatory spending, to be paid for with new revenues or savings.

President Bush’s response to the congressional budget was to threaten to veto any bills that exceed the Administration’s spending limits.  Is that an indication that Congress is on the right track?