Gov. Jim Doyle spoke out Tuesday against the federal budget along with U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Ron Kind, D-Wis., saying the 2004 Federal Budget will increase the current debt, cut social programs and add to the looming budget crisis facing Wisconsin.
The three gave a press conference in the governor's conference room in order to illuminate the impact problems with the new budget, which was passed by the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives last week.
Baldwin criticized the budget for cutting vital services such as health care and education costs, while providing tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. She also said the federal budget lacks a productive job creation program, which, according to her, is a priority to her constituents.
\When I've talked to unemployed workers, they've asked how Congress plans to put them, and the rest of America, back to work,"" she said. ""These are the priorities of Wisconsin and they are not reflected in the budget.""
Doyle said he agreed with Baldwin adding that he thought the federal government has made the current budget crisis worse. Especially, he said, when it comes to unfunded federal mandates, such as homeland security and education.
""At a time when our state faces a $3.2 billion deficit, unfunded and underfunded mandates from Washington have made matters much worse,"" he said. ""I urge the administration and leaders in Congress to help states through the crisis. ""
Both Baldwin and Kind balked at the cuts to Medicare, Social Security and veterans' health care benefits, especially with many members of the military currently overseas.
""My constituents wonder if Medicare is going to be able to provide for their parents' health care, or if Social Security will still be solvent when they retire. These are my budget priorities,"" Baldwin said.
