President George W. Bush presented his first budget plan to Congress Monday, outlining increases in spending on education and biomedical research while reducing other federal expenditures.
Programs facing cuts include those providing income-supplementation for farmers and Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS. The latter -- which calls for the hiring of 100,000 police officers -- was one of the Clinton administration's favorite initiatives, leading some to speculate that Bush is attempting to "make his mark," at least in the area of federal spending.
Bush's budget was not exactly music to the ears for members of Congress. The President's spending plan falls significantly short of the budget approved by the Senate last week. Members of the two major parties offer varying estimates on the numerical amount by which the two plans differ. Democrats place the figure at $636 billion, while Republicans air on the more optimistic side, with an estimate of $481 billion.
The Senate's plan also included a $1.2 trillion tax cut reduction over the next 10 years. Although the Senate cut was three-quarters of the amount proposed by Bush, the President appeared pleased with the resolution, calling it "meaningful tax relief for the American people."
The Bush administration was handed a less ambiguous victory this week in the form of the House's repeal of the much-debated estate tax.
The estate tax legislation -- which was the last of the major components of the Bush tax cut plan passed by the House -- consisted of a gradual reduction in estate taxes and a complete repeal of the tax slated for 2011.
The administration also recently scored a public relations victory. Senior White House officials announced Monday that Scott Evertz, head of the Wisconsin Log Cabin Republicans, has been named director of the White House Office of National Aids Policy.
Evertz is the first openly gay man to be chosen for appointment by any Republican administration, and officials disclosed to the New York Times that the move was made partly in an attempt to appeal to gay voters.
Another political first occurred in New England this week: Former Lieutenant Governor Jane Swift became Massachussetts' first female governor Tuesday as outgoing Governor Paul Celluci was appointed U.S. ambassador to Canada.
Swift, who is currently pregnant with twins, is expected to be the first governor in the nation to give birth in office.
