City Officials Lobby Against Bush Budget

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - Officials from cities across America are asking Congress to fight President Bush (news - web sites)'s planned cuts to a program they say has helped them clean up blight and slums.

Members of the National League of Cities are adding their voices to those of lawmakers who have balked at Bush's budget proposal to cut $1 billion from community development grants, among other programs.

"We are going to hit Capitol Hill strong and we are going it hit it hard to make sure they understand our point of view," Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson said Friday as officials opened several days of lobbying efforts.

A recent survey of municipal officials found top problems facing communities are increasing traffic congestion, rising health care costs, underfunded mandated programs and inadequate housing, said Washington Mayor Anthony Williams.

All of those programs are under fire in Bush's fiscal year 2006 budget plan now before Congress, he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050311/ap_on_go_ot/cities_problems

[CottonBear]

1. And the budget backlash begins to spread... eom

[yorkiemommie1]

2. read and rated

thanks!