Dems Caution Bush Not to Shortchange HUD

Senate Banking Committee Democrats are warning the Bush administration not to shortchange the Department of Housing and Development's budget as they finalize the president's fiscal year 2008 budget proposal."[W]e urge you to fully fund the nation's core housing and community development programs," says a letter signed by 10 committee Democrats, including the chairman, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut. The Jan. 19 letter to President Bush contends that the administration's fiscal 2007 budget request for public housing was inadequate and funded only 76% of the required amount. The Democrats also ask for full funding of the HOME and Community Development Block Grant programs. "HOME and CDBG are important, flexible programs through which communities are able to build housing for people across the income spectrum, provide rental assistance, rehabilitate housing and public facilities, and provide homeownership opportunities," the letter says.