WASHINGTON — Facing a major legislative challenge less than three months into his presidency, George W. Bush Saturday touted his education and children's programs in urging the Senate to pass his "compassionate" budget.
Even with his Republican allies certain they have the votes to approve an almost $2 trillion spending plan for 2002 next week, which lays the groundwork for Bush's 10-year, $1.6 trillion tax cut, the president was taking no chances.
"My budget has the right balance," he said in his weekly radio address. "And I hope you'll encourage your representatives in Congress to pass my budget."
Republicans, loathe to see Bush suffer a key legislative defeat so early in his term, expect to claim victory by one vote in a Senate split 50-50 between the parties.
Although they lost one of their own Friday, Republicans won over a Democrat and, with Vice President Dick Cheney's tiebreaking vote, they predicted victory.
Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island said he would not support the budget resolution with the $1.6 trillion tax cut he felt was too large, but Democratic Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia has said he would.
"We have the votes," Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi declared.
In a departure from radio addresses of the past few weeks, Bush did not focus on his controversial tax cut proposal, which critics say is too big and too likely to drive the federal government back into deficit spending, choosing instead to highlight children's issues. Bush also plans to visit a Boys and Girls Club in Wilmington, Delaware, Tuesday.
"Today, I want to give you a little more detail about some of my top priorities, the education and health and character of American children," he said. "My budget spends additional money on these goals and spends it in effective, creative ways."
Bush provided a rundown of previously announced proposals, including a $5 billion plan to help children learn to read by the third grade, $25 billion for children's health coverage, $1 billion for research into childhood diseases and a $22 million hike in the federal child immunization program.
He also reminded Americans of the importance of teaching values and that his budget invested in "abstinence education and drug treatment."
In addition, "we create a new $67 million program that will make grants to faith-based and organizations who mentor the children of parents in prison," Bush said.
Democrats, in their radio address Saturday, criticized Bush for rescinding Clinton-era environmental regulations, particularly one that limits the amount of arsenic allowed in drinking water.
"It is the wealthy donors and the special interests that helped put him in the White House who want to loosen environmental controls," Washington Gov. Gary Locke said.
Noting that he would increase overall spending by "a healthy, responsible" 4 percent, pay down the national debt, set aside a contingency fund for emergencies and fund education, defense and health needs, Bush said there was still enough money to provide broad tax relief.
Bush is relying on the $5.6 trillion federal budget surplus forecast over the next decade to pay for his tax cut and spending proposals, but critics call that foolhardy, saying the windfall might not materialize.
Bush hit on environment
"My budget is active and compassionate," Bush said. "Those of us in Washington must always understand the surplus is not the government's money. The surplus is the people's money."
The budget resolution coming up for a Senate vote is a blueprint that will be filled out later by tax and spending bills. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed it Wednesday.
In their radio response, Democrats turned to an issue on which they believe Bush has handed them some valuable political ammunition—the environment.
Washington state Gov. Gary Locke accused Bush of an "assault" on the nation's air, land and water by suspending new regulations on arsenic in drinking water and curbs on mining waste, reversing a promise to limit carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and rejecting an international treaty to limit greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming.
"The problem is that special interests, and not George Bush, seem to be controlling America's environmental safety programs," Locke said. "It is the wealthy donors and the special interests that helped put him in the White House who want to loosen environmental controls."