Bush Cuts Critical Water Funding
President Bush unveiled a $3.1 trillion budget for 2009 that includes significant cuts into water funding projects. Senator Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) issued a statement on these critical cuts to water projects in his state:
The President's request is 37% below the funding levels enacted by Congress for 2008 with the President proposing $16.154 million for Lewis and Clark and $26.24 for Mni Wiconi's construction and operations budget.
In December, the South Dakota delegation called on Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Jim Nussle and the White House to keep funding for the Lewis & Clark project on track to bring water to more than 300,000 people in 20 communities in three states. Budget Director Nussle told members of the South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa congressional delegations that the budget would reflect out nation's "highest priorities" and promote "sustained economic growth."
"Lewis and Clark needed up to $35 million to keep the project moving forward. We're willing to work with the President, but this is less than half of what they need. This budget is unrealistic and short-sighted. Tax cuts for Wall Street millionaires have found their place in the President's budget, but the 300,000 people from our tri-state area were told their drinking water isn't important enough to fully fund," Johnson said.
And as a side note, in the MSNBC article linked above, the subheader says: "Spending plan features big increases for defense and big deficits."
(Hat Tip: Lowell, Badlands Blue)
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