DaytonDailyNews.com

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, criticized President Bush's fiscal year 2009 budget, saying it would take money away from rural Ohio communities that need federal support the most.

"It's a moral question and an indication of the direction of the government," Brown said of the budget. "It's more of the same overall for the country and for rural Ohio. We've seen six years of budgets like this; tax cuts for wealthy and cuts in these programs."

On Wednesday, Feb. 13, Brown said rural areas have also suffered from poor health care and underfunded schools, among other problems.

He said despite these issues, rural areas play a crucial role in the growth of the country and therefore deserve adequate funding.

Among Brown's concerns:

• A decrease in funding for the Community Development Block Grant program by $659 million. CDBG provides grants to areas in need of revitalization and affordable housing.

• Cuts to health care programs, including rural health care programs, which would lose $150 million under Bush's budget. His budget also calls for $186 billion in Medicare cuts over five years and $18.2 billion in Medicaid cuts over five years.

"One third of southeast Ohio residents are on Medicaid. It is not a luxury, it is a crucial support system," Brown said.

• Cuts of $925 million in Firefighter Assistance Grants and the elimination of the COPS program, which provides training and technical assistance to state and local law enforcement.

• Cuts to rural schools. Brown called the president's budget "dismissive of rural schools." The budget would freeze funding for the Small, Rural Schools Achievement program, and the Rural and Low-Income Schools program, which both support rural school districts.