Burnt Orange Report

Bush Cuts Funds for Reading Program his Mom Supports

By Byron LaMasters

I don't know about you, but this isn't any way to treat your mother. The Houston Chronicle reports:

President Bush touted his literacy programs Wednesday as Democrats pointed out he wants to scrap federal funding for a reading project that got matching grants from a foundation started by his mother.

The White House said the project, Even Start, is ineffective and the money belongs in other literacy programs.

In its 2005 budget proposal to Congress, the White House recommends eliminating all $270 million for Even Start, which coaches low-income parents to read to their children.

Last year, the Barbara Bush Reading Foundation for Family Literacy awarded three of its 10 grants, totaling about $570,000, to Even Start programs in Iowa, Louisiana, and Washington.

Bush spokesmen said that the program was ineffective and that the funds were being diverted to other "effective" programs. Kerry campaign officials, however, stated that there would be an overall cut of $108 Million in the reading programs. Barbara Bush had no comment about her son's decision.