SENATE BILLS CUT TOO LITTLE AND SNEAK IN POLITICAL AGENDA

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- The office of Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., issued the following news release:

Today, Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson announced that he will vote against two budget bills before the Senate because one cuts government spending too little, while the other sneaks in a political agenda that attacks America's farmers and is not in the best interest of Nebraska.

"In my view neither bill is serious," Senator Nelson told the Nebraska media in a weekly conference call. He also planned to deliver a Senate floor speech today before the votes. "Most important, neither will pass and they should not pass because they are unfair. They are not in the best interests of Nebraskans and taxpayers across our country. About the only thing they're serious about is guaranteeing shutting down the government.

"Nebraskans want serious spending cuts. But these bills are loaded up with tricks, treats, gimmicks and games.

"On one side we see a bill that purports to cut spending by $50 billion. The reality is it cuts only $6.5 billion. In a budget of more than $1 trillion, a cut of about a half a percent isn't enough. It won't get runaway government spending under control, nor will it begin to bring down an unsustainable national debt that endangers America's future.

"But the other bill, H.

R.1, is bad as well. It is chock full of provisions pushing a political agenda snuck into the bill in the dead of night. One attacks America's farmers," Nelson said.

"It aims to block allowing the use of more American-made ethanol in our cars and trucks. Today, cars and truck can use gas with 10 percent ethanol. Cutting back on ethanol at a time when gas prices are above $3.50 a gallon nationwide and rising fast is the wrong thing to do. Another political agenda item in the House bill eliminates public television in Nebraska--an educational resource for our citizens and an informational lifeline in many parts of Nebraska.

"This bill makes other sneaky attempts to push a political agenda. It eliminates poison control centers, blocks a consumer database people might use to determine a product's safety and keeps high-speed Internet service out of rural areas in places like Nebraska. The bill also limits urban homeland security funds and sets the limit arbitrarily at 25 cities. That will likely bar any future funding to our largest city, Omaha.

"On the spending side, the House bill makes unfair cuts to the states. It will cost Nebraskans hundreds of jobs and unneeded hardship," said Nelson. "For example, more than 1,200 Nebraska children would lose access to Headstart, which is proven to help students complete high school. The bill cuts Pell tuition grants that 43,000 Nebraskans need to afford college. It cuts $13 million in loans that Nebraska rural communities need to make their drinking water safe and to comply with federal law.

"For the reasons I've explained, I'll vote against both bills today. Then, Washington needs to put aside the games, gimmicks, tricks and treats and come together to do what's right for the American people by passing a budget." For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com