Democrats attack Bush's budget
Spratt: 'We can't close ranks or cut off debate' on spending
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democrats outlined a grim economic future for the United States if Congress approves President Bush's budget -- the source of a widening chasm between that party and the GOP.
"Democrats and Republicans have pulled together" on issues of terrorism threats, according to Rep. John Spratt of South Carolina, who delivered the Democrats' weekly radio address Saturday.
"But on issues such as the economy and the budget, we can't close ranks or cut off debate because we simply can't agree with the budget the president has sent us," he said.
Spratt, the lead Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said Bush has blown a $5.6 trillion budget surplus with "tax cuts so large they left no room for error."
The South Carolina congressman also warned that Medicare, Social Security and other programs would suffer under the proposed budget, expected to be debated by lawmakers next week.
"The president's budget results in a deficit of more than $400 billion each year for the next five," he said. "How would the government pay for this shortfall? By borrowing from Social Security."
Despite the deficits, Spratt noted, Bush has not proposed a budget summit, like his father did in 1990, or another plan.
"We're ready to work with the Bush administration," Spratt said. "But we're also ready to work against any budget that returns us to never-ending deficits and a mountain of debt."
Spratt also said the budget does not include the cost of war against Iraq and against terrorism, which "could easily add $50 to $100 billion more."
