"President Bush has stubbornly refused to shift his upside-down budget priorities or accept that his war in Iraq is a disaster," said USAction Program Director Alan Charney.  "But we reject the notion that the congressional leadership is powerless to stop the war and invest in America's priorities."

According to recent news reports, Democratic congressional leaders are leaning toward a so-called compromise with pro-war lawmakers that would combine an $11 billion increase in funding for human-needs services – which President Bush has threatened to veto – with a $70 billion no-strings-attached increase in war funds.

"President Bush and his congressional allies have blocked every effort to end the irresponsible and tragic war in Iraq, and they have rejected common-sense support for health care, education and other services for families in need," Charney said.  "If the American people wanted a blank check for war and paltry support for critical domestic services, they wouldn't have voted for change last year.  It’s time for the congressional leadership to lead America in the right direction."

USAction supports a $22 billion increase in funding for the domestic services supported by the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education departments, as in the bill passed by the House in November.