The President’s FY2008 budget released today makes the wrong choices for the children, hard working families and veterans in Tampa Bay.

“I will stand up for the hardworking families and seniors in the Tampa Bay area, invest in their health, and ensure the costly Bush privatization schemes for social security and Medicare do not become reality,” said Castor. “Florida’s families can count on me to oppose Bush’s cuts to health care for our children, working families, and veterans.”

The President’s budget slightly increases the federal contribution to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) – Kidcare in Florida – however, it is $10 billion less than needed to continue covering children already enrolled in SCHIP. Because of Florida’s already poor levels of SCHIP coverage, the President’s budget would give Florida less money to cover its neediest children. “These cuts will undermine a program critical to raising healthy and economically secure children”, continued Castor. “We risk adding to the ranks of Florida’s nearly 733,000 uninsured kids”.

· It would take $15 billion nationally to maintain the already low level of S-CHIP (KidCare) enrollment in Florida, and the President is proposing only $12 billion for it.
· The President’s budget would cut $300 billion in Medicare and Medicaid over the next 10 years, and increase the premiums to access Medicare.
· The President’s budget would increase co-pay amounts for veterans.

“The cost of living in the Tampa Bay area is going up and the President has not helped my neighbors, but hurt them with this budget,” Castor said. “Fortunately, the American people elected a new Democratic Congress that is intent on fighting for change and reform.”