In Fact...

BUSH'S CHILDPROOF BUDGET

George W. Bush pledges to "leave no child behind" even as he touts his tax cut as coming from "the surplus funds" left "after we've met our needs." But a report released by the Institute for America's Future, joined by Senators Edward Kennedy, Barbara Boxer and Jon Corzine, shows how deceptive Bush's bookkeeping is. One could draw up a ledger to illustrate this. On the left side of the ledger are the disgraceful numbers: One in six children in America is raised in poverty; 11 million lack healthcare coverage; 14 million attend schools in dire need of repair. And on the right (wrong) side, the numbers in Bush's budget, which show cuts in funding for children's health, school renovation and after-school programs. The institute's report describes how Bush could "balance" this budget by taking the $555 billion he wants to spend on tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent--who average more than $1 million in annual income--and spending it instead on children. The money would lift 2 million kids out of poverty, provide 5 million of them with health insurance, extend childcare to two-thirds of those eligible and provide 7 million children with food stamps. No one doubts how Americans would vote if asked, Should the government spend the money on the wealthy or give poor children a fair start? Be sure to let your representatives in Washington know your choice--and tell them you'll hold them accountable for theirs. The report--and the senators' statements--are available at www.ourfuture.org.

VICTORY AT HARVARD

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