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Story: President
Bush Pitches $2.9 Trillion Budget, 02/07/07
Reading Comprehension Questions: 1. How much is President Bush's budget for the coming year? What are his major goals for the budget
2. How does the president plan to decrease the deficit?
3. How does the proposed growth of the defense budget compare to the growth of many domestic programs?
4. How has the president explained his increased spending on the war and national defense?
5. How did Democratic leaders in Congress respond to the president's budget?
Discussion Activity (more research might be needed): 1. What is your opinion of the president's proposed budget? Are there changes proposed that you agree with? Disagree with? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning. 2. What is a deficit? Who has been lending the United States money? Is this important? Why or why not? 3. Pretend that you are in charge of submitting a plan to the president for the next budget. Which government programs would you fund the most? Which would you fund the least? Why? Would you provide tax cuts? Why or why not? Write a 300-500 word essay on either of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site. |