The Budget Is An Ethical Document

The budget is an ethical document. It shows what a society(Government) values. Here is what Bush values.
From the NYT
In Bush's Budget Plan, Shifting Priorities
By ROBERT PEAR

Congress doubled the budget of the National Institutes of Health over five years, from 1998 to 2003, and Mr. Bush often takes credit for completing that increase. But Mr. White said the administration "now seems to be neglecting the N.I.H."

Under the president's budget for 2007, the institutes would get $28.6 billion, the same as this year. Mr. Bush proposes small cuts for 18 of the 19 institutes — all but the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is leading research on bird flu and biological terrorism.

In his 2007 budget, Mr. Bush is seeking $4.75 billion for the National Cancer Institute, which is $40 million less than its current budget and $71 million less than it got in 2005. He is requesting $2.9 billion for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which is $21 million less than the current budget and $40 million less than in 2005.

The budget says, "Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, accounting for 70 percent of all deaths."

But the president's budget would cut spending for programs that seek to prevent chronic disease and promote healthy behaviors. Congress provided $900 million for those programs in 2005. Mr. Bush requested $840 million for 2006; Congress provided $839 million. Mr. Bush is now requesting $819 million for 2007.

Mr. Bush is requesting $8.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007, which is $179 million below this year's level.

Under the president's budget, the centers would spend $824 million to help state and local health departments prepare for a terrorist attack or an outbreak of infectious disease. That is the same amount provided this year and 10 percent less than in 2005.

Over all, the president's budget for 2007 is expected to total $2.7 trillion. In his first term, federal spending rose 33 percent — in part because of the Iraq war and domestic security costs — while federal revenues grew 8 percent.

For the fourth year in a row, Mr. Bush will ask Congress to require some veterans to pay more for medical care. Middle-income veterans with no service-connected disability would face higher co-payments for prescription drugs and a new fee for the privilege of using government health care.

At the Department of Health and Human Services, officials have sought savings in many popular programs. Budget documents show that the administration wants to cut spending for the Office of Minority Health and the training of health care professionals.


I think the budget shows what compassionate conservatism is.