Statement by Senator Harry Reid on Release of President Bush's FY 2008 Budget

Washington, DC—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reidtoday released the following statement expressing disappointment in President Bush's Budget.

“Despite the historic fiscal failures of the past six years, President Bush’s budget proposes more of the same.   The budget uses deception to hide a massive increase in debt, and its priorities are disconnected from the needs of middle class Americans. 

"The President insists on spending billions on $150,000 tax breaks for multi-millionaires, at the expense of the middle class.  His budget hands out favors for the oil and gas industry, while eroding health coverage for children and seniors.  Those are the wrong choices and the wrong priorities.

"Democrats remain interested in working cooperatively with the President and congressional Republicans to address fiscal issues.  We want to produce a budget that restores genuine fiscal discipline, while making the investments in priorities like health care, education, and terrorism prevention, that meet real needs of the middle class and our nation.  Although the President’s budget is disappointing, we have not given up hope that we will be able to work with our GOP colleagues to o address the priorities of the American people in a fiscally responsible manner.”