Democrats Decry Cost of Iraqi Reconstruction
Sat October 4, 2003 02:59 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats on Saturday criticized President Bush's $87 billion spending request for Iraq, saying the cost of rebuilding the shattered country was draining resources from growing needs at home.
"In a time when money is scarce, we should demand that President Bush place the needs of our own country first on the agenda," Missouri Democratic Gov. Bob Holden said in his party's weekly radio address.
"With record deficits, the worst economy in 70 years, and an administration likely to push even more tax cuts for the wealthy, this funding request raises important concerns about what we can afford to spend to rebuild Iraq," he said.
Both Republicans and Democrats back the $67 billion Bush wants for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but lawmakers in both parties are balking at the additional $20 billion the White House says is needed to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure.
In the Senate, opponents are focusing on getting some of that bill converted into loans that would be repaid from future oil revenues. In the House of Representatives, lawmakers are working to trim back the size of the reconstruction request.
With Bush's poll ratings slipping as doubts over his foreign policy grow, Democrats also want to contrast the costs of the Iraq war with what they say is Republicans' neglect of major domestic programs.
For example, the $900 million earmarked for hospitals and clinics in the spending request would mean U.S. taxpayers were spending over 10 times more per person for medical infrastructure in Iraq next year than at home, Holden said.
"Democrats believe that the responsibility for rebuilding Iraq should be shared by the international community, not just American taxpayers," he said. "Otherwise, this effort will force major cutbacks in important American priorities." |
