The poor take another budget hit

It took three days for the Bush administration to come to the aid of the Katrina victims. Now it brought in its big gun (Vice President Dick Cheney) from a shortened Middle East trip to help cut support for student loans, Medicare and Medicaid (Dec. 22). Another blow to those on the bottom of the economic ladder. I can only imagine the all-out push the administration will make to secure tax cuts for the wealthy next year.

PAUL WALLER

Woodland Hills

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I’m glad we were able to rescue the Alaska refuge. If only we were as successful in saving our nation’s poor their health and education benefits.

JESSE ALBERT

Los Angeles

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Cutting Medicare, food stamps, student loans and other programs that provide the only safety net for our nation’s poor is not the answer to our country’s deficit problems. Go after pork-barrel spending. Put an immediate stop to tax cuts for the richest and most fortunate Americans, and leave the most vulnerable the small assistance they need to get them through each day. This budget is immoral and untenable. Start representing or begin looking for another job. I will not vote for any Congress member who goes along with a plan to break the backs of the most needy among us.

CAROLYNN LAROCCA

Los Angeles