Dem Budget Proposal Gives Middle Class Relief

Congressmember Joseph Crowley lauded the House Democratic budget for 2008, which was passed last week, as a spending plan which "addresses the priorities of working Americans and restores fiscal responsibility" to the nation.

Crowley, a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, said the budget proposal offers tax relief for middle class families, provides more assistance for home heating assistance, expands health insurance coverage to more children, raises Pell Grants for this year and brings the budget back to surplus by 2012 by strictly adhering to pay-asyou go principles.

Crowley (D- Queens/The Bronx) continued, "Our families have waited long enough for the federal government to be responsive to their needs." He said the Democratic spending plan "puts families first by providing expanded health insurance for our children, more college tuition assistance, and accommodating real tax relief for the middle class."

This tax help would come, he said, by permanently fixing the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax). He said changes in the minimum tax, which was enacted to assure some tax payments by upper income earners but instead ensnared middle income taxpayers, would spare over 3 million middle class families in New York state alone from getting a big tax hike this year.

Crowley said he was working with his colleagues in the House to reach a lasting solution to reform the middle class tax code to provide major relief for households in Queens and The Bronx .

Crowley said, "The budget includes a $50 billion reserve fund to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program to cover more of the 9 million children without health insurance in this country.

"It puts its money where our education priorities are, providing $8 billion over the 2008 program level in President George W. Bush's budget proposal- funding that could be used for vital programs such as Head Start, special education and to raise Pell Grants for college education to $4,600."- John Toscano