Bush's Failed Legacy Watch: National Service
February 14, 2007
President Bush is again trying to save his legacy after years of failed policies. Today, he will visit a branch of the YMCA in Washington, DC to promote volunteerism. For the last six years of his Presidency, President Bush routinely spoke of the need to promote national service while simultaneously cutting crucial programs like Americorps.
"Last week he visited a national park after years of neglecting the parks system, this week President Bush is again trying to save his legacy by touting national service after years of cutting critical programs that foster volunteerism across our country," said Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Stacie Paxton. "Americans are looking for a new direction from President Bush, not more photo-ops and staged events."
Bush's 2008 Budget Includes Deep Reductions In National Service Programs. "The FY08 budget once again proposes deep reductions in national service programs like VISTA, which would be cut by $5.7 million. Also, AmeriCorps State and National grants would be cut by $9.2 million. And finally, one of the four National Civilian Community Corps centers would be closed, for a cut to the program of $15 million." [Press Release, Senator John Kerry, 2/5/07]
In 2004, Bush Touted Americorps Then Proposed Eliminating Key Americorps Program, The NCCC, In 2006. "Two years ago, Bush had his picture taken in Florida with idealistic young members of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), a small, team-based AmeriCorps program that works on environmental and disaster relief projects. 'I'm a strong believer in AmeriCorps,' he said. 'I want to thank you for your service, thank you for your hard work and may God continue to bless you and your families as you pursue your dreams.' Now, those dreams are at risk of being deferred. In his fiscal year 2007 budget, the president is proposing not just to trim the NCCC, but to eliminate the $25 million program altogether." [Newsweek, 5/9/06; Newsweek]
Bush: Fight Terror By Joining USA Freedom Corps. "If people want to fight terror, do something kind for a neighbor, join the USA Freedom Corps, love somebody, mentor a child, stand up to evil with acts of goodness and kindness." [President Bush, 1/31/02, CNN]
- Bush Advocated Cutting Off All Funding For Americorps; USA Freedom Corps Not A Program But Merely A Clearinghouse For Other Oganizations. "USA Freedom Corps isn't a program of national service, it's a clearing-house for other volunteer organizations. (If you go to the organization's Web site at www.usafreedomcorps.gov, you can plug in your zip code to find organizations that are looking for volunteers and sign up to help.) But that might be the point. The 2002 annual report of the USA Freedom Corps noted that Bush wants to reform AmeriCorps so that members receive "no support from government." But cutting the benefits given to AmeriCorps volunteers - and thus limiting the program, for all practical purposes, to volunteers of means - impoverishes the program in more ways than one. Not only will there be fewer volunteers overall, but there will be even fewer people volunteering for the program." [Boston Phoenix, Editorial, 6/27-7/3/03, emphasis added]
