AJC: Katrina aid cuts proposed

Bob Kemper in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Hurricane Katrina forced the issues of poverty and race into American living rooms, raising liberals' hopes for a renewed war on poverty and prompting President Bush to pledge to 'confront this poverty with bold action.'

A little less than two months after images of the poor in New Orleans dominated the media, it has become clear that Congress and the White House not only will not initiate any new anti-poverty programs but will continue proposing cuts to existing programs that target the poor, including Medicaid and food stamps.

With the war in Iraq, record budget deficits and Bush already under fire from conservatives for spending too much, social welfare groups said they now just hope to hold onto the federal aid they already get."