To the Editor:

President Bush's proposed budget is outrageous and morally bankrupt. It cuts social programs by $238 billion over the next five years. The program that feeds pregnant women, babies and young children will be cut by $658 million over the next four years. That's assistance for 660,000 women and children. Families who need low income housing assistance won't get it. By 2010, 370,000 fewer families would receive rental vouchers than this year. Elementary schools (No Child Left Behind) will receive $12 billion less than promised. Special education programs would lose $7.6 billion in the next four years. Head Start and health care for poor kids would be undermined. Cuts to Medicaid will be numerous.

This budget is morally reprehensible and underlies the hypocrisy of an administration that brags about its "compassion." As Americans who care about each other we must view this budget as a moral document. We must contact our senators in Congress and demand that they oppose this budget and focus on one that strengthens programs that help people survive during tough times.

Elissa Menconi

Neponset