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PHOTO: President Bush Speaks to Joint Session of CongressThe President's Budget & Maine

The President’s Budget funds America’s priorities, provides the largest debt reduction in history and provides fair and responsible tax relief. In Maine, the budget:

CheckProvides more than $4.6 million to help conserve Maine’s natural resources – a 428% increase over current levels just for Maine.

CheckProvides nearly $6 million to repair and preserve two National Parks in Maine: Acadia National Park and St. Croix Island International Historic Site.

CheckFully funds the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to help protect Maine families against fuel shortages and price hikes.

CheckBenefits an estimated 104,000 Maine small businesses and entrepreneurs by reducing marginal tax rates and making the Research & Development tax credit permanent.

CheckProvides tax relief for the roughly 465,000 citizens of Maine who pay taxes.

CheckSupports significant funding for critical U.S. Navy fleet construction at Bath Iron Works – Maine’s largest employer -- to help modernize and transform the United States military for 21st century threats.

CheckIncreases Maine’s education funding over current levels to more than $185 million to give local schools more tools to ensure that no child is left behind.

CheckIncreases Maine’s Head Start funding over current levels to more than $24.8 million to better prepare Maine’s children for success in school.

CheckIncreases funding to more than $145 million for housing assistance and services for low-income Maine citizens.

CheckProvides more than $25 million to fund Maine’s environmental protection efforts.

CheckProvides an estimated $151.2 million in highway funding for Maine.

CheckProvides $391 million for programs and grants to help local fire departments and emergency services in Maine and all across America with training, equipment, and fire fighting and lifesaving efforts.

CheckProvides a $5.6 billion National Emergency Reserve to aid Maine and other states nationwide struck by disasters.

CheckIncreases Maine’s funding over current levels to more than $9.3 million to help more Maine children awaiting adoption find loving homes faster.

The President’s Budget Funds Important Priorities for Citizens of Maine:

CheckImproving Education. Provides the Education Department with the largest percentage spending increase of any federal department (11.5% or $4.6 billion) and triples funding for children’s reading programs.

CheckProtecting Social Security. Locks away every penny of the $2.6 trillion Social Security surplus for Social Security.

CheckPreserving Medicare. Spends every dime of Medicare receipts over the next 10 years only for Medicare, increases Medicare funding over the next year by $21 billion, and modernizes Medicare with an integrated prescription drug benefit.

CheckStrengthening Defense. Improves quality of life of our troops and their families and begins the transition to a 21st century force.

CheckImproving Healthcare. Doubles funding for NIH medical research on important health issues like cancer, the largest funding increase in NIH history. Creates more than 1,200 new community health centers nationwide to make health care more accessible.

CheckProtecting the Environment. Fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund – a $900 million commitment, with more than $4.6 million targeted for Maine’s conservation efforts; gives the EPA the second highest operating budget ever -- $3.7 billion, with more than $25 million targeted for Maine’s environmental efforts; and increases funding for the EPA $56 million above the amount requested by President Clinton.

Maine Will Benefit from the President’s Historic Debt Reduction:

CheckThe President’s Budget provides the fastest, largest debt reduction in history and reduces the debt to its lowest share of the economy since World War I, which will benefit Maine citizens in many important ways.

  • Lower government debt means lower interest rates for Maine’s citizens on expenses like home mortgages, car loans, and credit cards.

  • Future generations of Maine citizens will not be burdened with repaying our debt obligations.

Fair and Responsible Tax Relief for all Maine Taxpayers:

CheckProvides the typical family of four in Maine paying income taxes $1,600 in tax relief.

CheckAn estimated 465,000 Maine taxpayers stand to benefit by the new, lowered rate structure.

CheckAn estimated 104,000 Maine small businesses and entrepreneurs stand to benefit from the tax cut.

Check1 in 5 taxpaying families with children will no longer pay any income tax at all – completely removing 6 million American families from the tax rolls.

CheckA family of four in Maine making $35,000 a year will receive a 100% federal income tax cut.

CheckA family of four in Maine making $50,000 a year will receive a 50% tax cut – receiving at least $1,600.

CheckA family of four in Maine making $75,000 a year will receive a 25% tax cut.

CheckThe marginal income tax rate on low-income families will fall by more than 40%.