Campaign for America’s Communities

On February 6th, President Bush released his FY07 budget for the fiscal year beginning in October that includes another round of significant cuts in programs that benefit America’s communities.

The Institute for the Study of Civic Values believes that ‘to  the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity’ and ‘promote the general welfare of America’--the promise of our Constitution--the federal government must work with local communities to strengthen neighborhoods  throughout the United States.

The Bush administration is determined to end this partnership. In the President’s view, so-called “discretionary programs” that strengthen neighborhoods have little value.  Better to offer tax cuts to people earning more than $200,000 a year in the belief that somehow their private investments will trickle down to the rest of us.

This is the philosophy that shapes the 2007 Bush budget.

The United States Conference of Mayors provides us with a comprehensive breakdown of cutbacks aimed directly at relieving the federal government any real responsibility for the well being of America’s neighborhoods and communities.

The Coalition on Human Needs has produced an excellent Guide to the FY2007 Budget that shows the devastating impact that the Bush Budget will have on housing, education, health care, and social services critical to the viability of America’s communities.

Here are a few examples:

• Comunity Development Block Grant Cut 35.% ($1.6 Billion)
• Public Housing Modernization Cut 15.5% ($401 Million)
• Local Law Enforcement Grants Eliminated ($1.1 Billion)
• Community Policing (COPS) Cut 72.9% ($275 Million)
• Safe and Drug Free Schools Program Cut 100% ( $437 Million)
• TRIO College Prep Program  Cut by 54.6% ($756 Million)
• Vocational and Adult Education Eliminated  ($1.2 Million)
• Low Income Energy Assistance Cut by 5.2%($103 Million)
• Support for Community Action Agencies Ended ($630 Million)
• Social Services Block Grant Cut by 37% ($824 million)

How Much Does the Federal Government
Invest In Your Community?
 Check it Out

1. Use the Census Consolidated Federal Funds Reports
2. Go to the Online Query System
3. Click on “Geography,” “Year,”  “State,” and “County.”
4. You can download pages and spreadsheets showing the entire federal investment in your community for each year between 1993 and 2004.

What will  Budget Cutbacks Mean to Your Community?
Here’s a Sample:

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The Institute for the Study of Civic Values is working to build a Campaign for America’s Communities to fight for federal programs critical to  our communities and neighborhoods. We will be providing local impact spreadsheets, news stories, and community responses to the Bush Budget--state by state--for groups working with the campaign. Check out the Pensylvania page as a sample. If you want more information about cutbacks affecting your community, subscribe to our email list and join the campaign.

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