Bush Budget Seeks Child Program Cuts

WASHINGTON — President Bush’s budget will trim a program aimed at preventing child abuse and cut some child care spending, prompting sharp criticism from Senate Democrats who charge that Bush is sacrificing children to pay for his tax cuts.

“This is a clear and tragic case of misplaced priorities,” said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.). “Most Americans agree that we should not sacrifice basic child care and children’s safety net programs on the altar of oversized tax breaks for the wealthy.”

On Friday, administration officials detailed some of the cuts.

The Child Care and Development Block Grant, which helps low-income parents, particularly those coming off welfare, pay for child care, will be cut to $1.8 billion. That’s down from $2 billion, after a big jump last year. An additional $400 million will be spent on after-school certificates, a new program that gives children vouchers to attend after-school programs.

So that’s either a $200-million cut or a $200-million increase, depending on one’s perspective.

A child abuse prevention program will see an 18% cut--or $15.7 million--leaving it with $71.8 million.

Administration officials said that there are big increases in education spending and that tax cuts for families with children will give them more money to spend on their kids.