Yet to ask for $245 billion in 2007 and 2008 for Iraq following is his speech:Can anyone explain this to me? Bush wants to cut $66 billion from Medicare and other health agencies but wants $245 billion more in 2007 and 2008 for military and diplomatic operation in Iraq and Afghanistan.
President Bush, poised to submit his new budget to Congress next week, warned Saturday that unless programs like Medicare and Social Security are changed, future generations will face tax hikes, government red ink or huge cuts in benefits.
Controlling spending requires the government to address the unsustainable growth of entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, Bush said in his weekly radio address. He said spending for the programs is growing faster than inflation, faster than the U.S. economy and faster than taxpayers' ability to pay for them.
The president said his top budget priorities continue to be keeping America safe and winning the war against extremists.
Bush will ask for $100 billion more for military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this year and seek $145 billion for 2008, a senior Pentagon official said Friday. Those requests come on top of about $344 billion spent for Iraq since the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein."America has already spent almost $400 billion on this war, too much of which has been wasted on boondoggles like Olympic-sized swimming pools in unused multimillion-dollar training camps in the desert," said Reid, D-Nev. "The American people deserve better. New reports by the Congressional Budget Office and our nation's intelligence community make clear that the president's policies in Iraq are flawed, costly and unsuccessful."To address the growth of entitlement programs, Bush's budget proposal contains about a 1 percentage point cut in the rapid growth in Medicare to squeeze about $66 billion in savings over five years from the federal health care program for the elderly or used kayaks for 20 somethings.
Democrats argue that while Bush says he's proposing cuts to entitlement programs to address long-term solvency problems, he is not dealing with the cause: spiraling health care costs."As he proposes $70 billion in cuts to these programs, President Bush will say that he is trying to address long-term financial problems in these programs," Davenport said. "He is trying to treat a symptom, not the disease. The real problem is that health care costs
[question posted by whiteheather39]responses and comments:
He's playing a numbers game. He has a hundred dollars and has to spread it around to a variety of programs, but suddenly he's realized that his programs require $200....what to do? OK, what won't affect him personally? The Social Security debacle (he's eligible for state and federal pensions, as well as one from the military because of his 'service' back in the day)...let's make it look convincing. Health care...again, why bother? He's got lifetime bennies FOREVER! So any cuts he makes there won't hurt him--he's got access to the best health care and the medications he needs. The war in Iraq? See if any member of his family currently is serving in the military for 'the war on terror' (other than perhaps a desk job)--I doubt it. He needs to learn if you have $100, spend ONLY $100. Duh!!! [scorpiobabes]
And they say Democrats are "tax and spend." If the Republicans remember, it was Bill Clinton that left a surplus, and it is George Bush who has created a huge deficit that the next several presidents will have to worry about reducing. He has got his priorities skewed toward funding the war, of course, but I think the most shameful thing about all of this is the state of New Orleans. Think if all those billions had been put back in this country through the rebuilding of New Orleans; that would have been a win-win for the country. [AnythngArt]
I wish I could help you understand this, but I am just as lost as anyone. All we can do is hope his budget is shot down and quickly. It does make me scratch my head at who did the math on this idea. [sunshinecup]
ya know what it would help if they decided to PAY BACK the money they borrowed fromm SS years ago. And if he and other didnt have their fingers in the drug compannies that charge and arm and a lg for most meds. I am hoping with more Democrats in the house and sennet(sp) will stop him from cutting our benifits we worked years for what he could cut is SSI for the peop;le that never worked for it they are the ones taking the SS that we worked for all our lives ,and ya kow what they only take the last 15 years that you worked in account not the 30, 40, or 50 years you put into it. A lot of us had very hard jobs that kids wont take because they think they are to good to do hard labor!And is just MAD to spend all this money in Iraq and not getting any where! I believe in protecting America and our troops BUt it shouldnt cost any more than it does in pease time . Some big wigs must be makeing alot on this war! [Lakota12]
Halliburton, Dik Cheney's former company, is doing just fine by the war. [AnythngArt]
I understand the need to budget another $100 billion, for the next year. But instead of another $145 billion for 2008, put that money into medicare and social insecurity to help out these agencies deal with what they need to care for, then start programs to make these programs better. In 2008, Iraq and Afghanistan should be able to take care of their own countries, with little help from the outside world. Unless the government can come up with a way to provide healthcare for all of the legal residents in the US, then they should make sure that there is enough money to provide the the proper care that people need. [tlex107250]
In reality, it won't matter what the President does. It is congress that is failing to deal with this country's problems. If congress is looking for waste in the costs of paying for the war, then they have to equally look here at home to find even more wasted tax dollars. But they won't do that because that takes guts. It is easy for them to critize the other side and go against current policies. It is very true that this war, if it lasts indefinitely, along with medicare and social security costs will leave this country, in the years ahead, in an economic disaster. Throw in national health care costs and we have the prescription for an economic meltdown in the years ahead. I am not saying this to be negative or pessimistic. The fact is that this country has promised trillions of dollars to future retirees and if you were to look at the real numbers, you would see that essentialy the US is bankrupt. However, you will not get the truth from anyone in government. They want to stall economic armagedden for as long as they can. The numbers you mention mean nothing because the President and congress can throw numbers around and make anything look good. That is what they do best...lie to us. When the government continously spends more than it takes in, that is the reason that before long this economy will collapse. You know as an individual that you cannot keep spending more money than you bring in...after a while it catches up to all of us. And it will catch up to the government. The results will be an major surge in inflation or a major depression or possibly deadly deflation. But you can bet that something will have to happen. You can only rob Peter to pay Paul for so long. As far as health care costs...the reason they are rising is because we are not healthy as a nation. To many are in need of health care and there is not enough quality heath care to go around. Until we change our living habits and become a healthier nation, we will continue to suffer with higher health care costs and eventually you will not be able to afford it at all unless you are well off. That is the government's responsibility , in some ways, to get people into heathier lifestyles. The major responsibility rests with each individual in this country to live a healthy lifestyle. That would reduce the need for health care and costs could be relatively controlled. [sigma77]
The way i see it is that he don't care his family and himself have everything they need. He is wanting to look good to other countries and leave ours left out. He should really be thinking about all the americans that are going without a lot of stuff right now. The schools that need money too. But there is nothing we can do he has already made his mind up on what is happening. [classicwoman]
I am counting down the days until Bush is kicked out of office. I am also counting the days until our troops come home, they are wasting their time in Iraq. [rogue13xmen13]
That only shows that Bush doesn't really care for Americans at all! He cares only for his buddies that are making millions with the Iraq war, and nothing else. If he really cared for Americans, he would withdraw the troops from Iraq ASAP, and then put the big budget into health care and education in this country. But what can you expect from a rich cowboy that loves guns was a drug addict and lived a priviledge life all the way? I can't understand how come so many voted for him for a second time! [berlinlife]
With very little knowledge of the American budget and pilitics and the mass sentiment about the "War on Terror" I am unable to answer like Hello Kitty decor for children. Yet I feel that to Bush and his supporters the prestige of American is uppermost and their health and life comes afterwards . [akumei1269]
I am no from the US and do not know your laws or anything but I am aware of the facts and news about what is happening in the world around me.I think what Bush is trying to do is pay more soldiers to obey his bidings. There was no war in the first place he just started the war himself and made people belive there was a war. He is trying to trick everyone with what he is doing. He wants to take revenge for his father. He pays off the soldiers to stay in Iran so they won't give up. Sorry to say this but I saw this show about what happened in Iran and how some of the American soldiers wants to go home and stop the war they were told to start in the first place. [p3halliwel2005]
I understand the need to support our troops. But what I don't understand is cutiing the help needed from the people at home who needs it the most..The poor, the disabled and more. I am totally against cutting those benefits. I have paid in to them for years. Why should I receive less when it is my turn to collect after everything I have paid in? I think Bush needs to start considering something else other than he needs or wants. [rusty2rusty]
I really don't understand the thinking either. But I do think that cutting SS is crazy. Americans work so much to have that later in life when they reach retirement. What is going to happen if people who are closer to retirement end up not having it? I mean they would probably be disgust at the idea of working again just to support themselves. And all these other problems with health care. [the_dreamer2005]
The answer is so easy that no one can believe , it can be summed up in one phrase. " The re-distribution of wealth " Take from those who need it the most , and give it to his friends in the top 1 % whom of which he still owes Money , for Buying the 2004 Presidential-Election. " Lord Knows , there's no other way he would have won " ! [agfarm]
i also not know more about this ... if get any information than i will give u also [manmaxman]
I am not surprised about anything that happens with Bush as President. He does things that do not make much sense and he seems to only care about himself and his family and friends. He should not be putting more money into the Iraq and Middle East situation. Let those countries take care of themselves. The government should be putting more money into Social Security and Medicare so people can take care of their health better and be able to survive. It seems to me that he is doing more to kill our people than help them or save them. [kgwat70]
i dont have any knowlage about it but i help if i could [buppy11]
iI know I'm not to happy with Bush myself. I am on disability I get a check but I have a house payment I have to buy food but this year I have to pay medicare part D like last year so far it's a little cheaper and I reapplied for medicaid if that doesn't get approver I am stuck paying medicare part a , b and D. I did not ask to have multiple sclrosis. So I agree I don't think he is doing things right at all myself. [Shaun72]
Well, the budget proposal is out and it's pegged at around $2.9 trillion - $145 billion going to military spending in Iraq just for 2008 and $50 billion in 2009. First the surge of 21,500 troops, now this? Where's the new direction in Iraq? It looks like not only are we adding more fuel to the fire in terms of American lives, but he's also planning on making the budget's focus to be the war. He's protecting the tax cuts he put in previously and is instead proposing to reduce the budgets of 141 other government programs and increasing Medicare premiums. How does we expect the Democrat controlled House to approach a budget like this? Is he insane? Maybe if I close my eyes and count to 100, I'll wake up to find that it was all a dream and Bush never rose to power. =P [rgsunico]
Health is worth more than just $66 billon. [miladsafa]
That is really long message from you. I did not understood much on that. Why am replying is because I dont like Bush, he is a bad man. So just be cautious to understand what the policy means, dont trust him just like that :) [SignMe]
Yes, Bush is an idiot! Not only does he not care about those of us who are disabled and homeless but he has gotten every nation mad at us and if he keeps it up he is going to get us all killed. I feel so sorry for our troups being sent over to Iraq to fight and die for a war that he can't win! [kimlot]
well i donno about the budget, but i think it is not wise to cut the healthcare funds when it is the most important aspect of the citizens?.....it is one basic need that is getting very expensive everyday and we all know what healthcare costs if the govt wont provide it....so bush is either stupid or out of his mind cutting the health budget [rahuldmhatre]