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February 17, 2005

Compassionless conservatism

W just loves beating up on the poor and powerless.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Bush administration wants to eliminate a program that provides education and training to a large migrant farmworker population.

Ending the National Farmworkers Job Program would save $76.2 million, according to the administration's 2006 budget plan. The administration argues that the program is ineffective and repetitive, that one-stop career centers for migrants do the job.

David Strauss, executive director of the Washington- based Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, said Congress stepped in to save the program in past years.

Farmworkers learn English and obtain a high school equivalency diploma and job training through the program. Without these services, advocates say, they would lose the opportunity to join mainstream America and move away from poverty-level existence.

Posted by Norwood at February 17, 2005 06:36 PM
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