stolen from democrats (but still with a point)

BUSH UNDERMINES WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE SECURITY

Every week, America's women learn additional details on the Bush Administration's harmful budget. This week's new revelation - President Bush has made reckless cuts to the federal government's national breast and cervical cancer program run by the Centers for Disease Control. Despite the known success of this program and its reputation for saving lives, the President has proposed a $1.4 million cut that will stop 4,000 women from benefiting from early detection. [Budget of the U.S. Government FY07]

These cuts will disproportionately affect woman of color. According to two studies published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, African-American woman with breast cancer are 20 percent more likely to have a fatal result and women of color (including Hispanic women) are half as likely to receive crucial follow-up treatment such as radiation and chemotherapy following surgery. This program is specifically designed to help a critical population of working women who are ineligible for Medicaid, and whose employees do not provide health care coverage. Many of these women lack the benefit of a family doctor who might help them get access to early screening. The program provides an essential service in the battle to fight cancer by offering free mammograms, Pap tests, and additional early detection services. Instead of providing additional funding to help fully service the affected population, President Bush has proposed deep budget cuts to this vital program.

This budget cut is just another example of Bush's inability to see that prevention is good public policy - and is the right thing to do for working women who are under or uninsured.