I have noticed a disturbing trend in the Federal government. The Federal government has begun to dismantle programs that have been working well at the Federal level for decades in favor of handing these programs over to the individual States for administration.
Recently we received information that the very successful Head Start program for children might be turned over to the States and now we are hearing that the Bush administration wants to do the same with the Section 8 housing voucher program. This program directly affects low-income tenants, the elderly and the disabled. The funding from Section 8 helps these people pay their rent, in both public and private housing, and allows them to live in decent and affordable housing.
Many municipal officials, myself included, are concerned that this program, and our constituents who rely on it, will suffer if the States are left to administer it. The Federal government has been managing Section 8 since 1976 and it has been working and working well. To put this huge responsibility on already strained State governments could be disastrous for this program.
Taxpayers pay the Federal government billions of dollars every year to administer these kinds of services. Now, this administrative burden is to be put on the States? Who will pay for that? Again, the taxpayers. Will that mean our Federal taxes will be reduced? What do you think?
I ask the Bush administration to reconsider their efforts to downsize the Federal government at the expense of the poor, the elderly, the disabled and the hard-working taxpayers in all 50 states.
Sincerely,
Brian P. Stack
Mayor of Union City
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