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WASHINGTON -- Here are some of the ways President Bush's $3.11 trillion budget proposal sent to Congress on Monday would have an impact on Floridians, generating mixed reviews from the state's congressional delegation and others.
EVERGLADES:
Contains between $214 million and about $250 million for projects to restore and protect the Everglades.
That proposed spending compares with about $164 million in federal Everglades spending enacted in fiscal 2008, according to Kirk Fordham, of the Everglades Foundation.
Said GOP Sen. Mel Martinez: “This is a substantial investment and marks progress in bringing our federal partners back to the table. As the budget moves through Congress, I will work to see these projects included and potentially expanded.”
Everglades advocates have been seeking a long-term commitment from the Bush Administration, and Fordham called the proposed funding “a welcome peck on the cheek…”
“It certainly wasn't a full-fledged kiss, but we're happy we didn't get dumped,” he said.
VETERANS CARE:
Includes more than $100 million in Department of Veterans Affairs funding toward a new VA hospital and outpatient clinic in Orlando.
The new hospital, to be across from the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, is intended to help lessen the demands on the crowded VA Hospital in Tampa, which takes in referrals from Orlando and other parts of Central Florida.
Currently, more than 90,000 veterans from the Central Florida region are enrolled in the VA health care system, according to the Veterans Administration.
“While $120 million that was included in the budget is a good start, the VA could use more to accelerate this much deserved hospital for our region's rapidly growing, but underserved veterans population,” said GOP Rep. Tom Feeney of Oviedo.
HEALTH:
Calls for trimming more than $600 billion in entitlement spending, mostly related to Medicare and Medicaid. The president's plan would bring $17 billion in reductions over five years to Medicaid, the program that serves poor and elderly people, including many nursing home residents.
Payments to hospitals and other providers would also be trimmed to help reduce a growth in projected spending by $178 billion over five years for Medicare, which serves seniors and disabled people.
Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa and other critics complained that private health insurance plans, which represent one of the fastest growing parts to the program, would get only a modest trim.
“The Bush Administration's continued overpayments to private, for-profit Medicare Advantage HMOs destabilizes the future of Medicare and the Medicare trust fund,” said Castor.
Funding would be eliminated for the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Program, which would have an impact on St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa and All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.
SPACE:
Provides NASA with $17.6 billion, a 2.9 percent funding increase from last year.
But Florida's Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson said that does not cover for inflation, adequately cover the ongoing costs of recovering from the Columbia accident, or close the five-year gap between the shuttle's retirement in 2010 and completion of a new crew exploration vehicle.
HOMELAND SECURITY:
Includes a $750 million, or 79 percent, cut to the state Homeland Security grant program, which includes money to improve port security. It also cuts funding for the Assistance to Firefighters grant program by nearly 50 percent.
GOP Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor is among lawmakers on the House Homeland Security Committee who says he will fight to restore some of this money.
ENERGY:
Would reduce funding for federal home heating assistance for the poor by 22 percent to $2 billion.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673 or bhouse@mediageneral.com
EVERGLADES:
Contains between $214 million and about $250 million for projects to restore and protect the Everglades.
That proposed spending compares with about $164 million in federal Everglades spending enacted in fiscal 2008, according to Kirk Fordham, of the Everglades Foundation.
Said GOP Sen. Mel Martinez: “This is a substantial investment and marks progress in bringing our federal partners back to the table. As the budget moves through Congress, I will work to see these projects included and potentially expanded.”
Everglades advocates have been seeking a long-term commitment from the Bush Administration, and Fordham called the proposed funding “a welcome peck on the cheek…”
“It certainly wasn't a full-fledged kiss, but we're happy we didn't get dumped,” he said.
VETERANS CARE:
Includes more than $100 million in Department of Veterans Affairs funding toward a new VA hospital and outpatient clinic in Orlando.
The new hospital, to be across from the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, is intended to help lessen the demands on the crowded VA Hospital in Tampa, which takes in referrals from Orlando and other parts of Central Florida.
Currently, more than 90,000 veterans from the Central Florida region are enrolled in the VA health care system, according to the Veterans Administration.
“While $120 million that was included in the budget is a good start, the VA could use more to accelerate this much deserved hospital for our region's rapidly growing, but underserved veterans population,” said GOP Rep. Tom Feeney of Oviedo.
HEALTH:
Calls for trimming more than $600 billion in entitlement spending, mostly related to Medicare and Medicaid. The president's plan would bring $17 billion in reductions over five years to Medicaid, the program that serves poor and elderly people, including many nursing home residents.
Payments to hospitals and other providers would also be trimmed to help reduce a growth in projected spending by $178 billion over five years for Medicare, which serves seniors and disabled people.
Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa and other critics complained that private health insurance plans, which represent one of the fastest growing parts to the program, would get only a modest trim.
“The Bush Administration's continued overpayments to private, for-profit Medicare Advantage HMOs destabilizes the future of Medicare and the Medicare trust fund,” said Castor.
Funding would be eliminated for the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Program, which would have an impact on St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa and All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.
SPACE:
Provides NASA with $17.6 billion, a 2.9 percent funding increase from last year.
But Florida's Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson said that does not cover for inflation, adequately cover the ongoing costs of recovering from the Columbia accident, or close the five-year gap between the shuttle's retirement in 2010 and completion of a new crew exploration vehicle.
HOMELAND SECURITY:
Includes a $750 million, or 79 percent, cut to the state Homeland Security grant program, which includes money to improve port security. It also cuts funding for the Assistance to Firefighters grant program by nearly 50 percent.
GOP Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor is among lawmakers on the House Homeland Security Committee who says he will fight to restore some of this money.
ENERGY:
Would reduce funding for federal home heating assistance for the poor by 22 percent to $2 billion.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673 or bhouse@mediageneral.com