HEALTH INSURANCE FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN

The budget proposes an increase to the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the national health insurance program for low-income children, by $5 billion over five years. That falls short of the amount needed to keep enrollment stable, according to health-care advocates. North Carolina's version of the program is short $17 million this year. The budget proposes to limit eligibility in some states, which would not directly affect North Carolina.

NATIONAL PARKS

The budget proposes a $258 million increase in the National Park Service operating budget, to $2 billion. The Blue Ridge Parkway operating budget would increase $1.5 million or 11 percent over the 2006 budget, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. The money could be used for additional staffing, including seasonal rangers, park police and seasonal maintenance employees.

The budget would allow the U.S. Forest Service to sell up to $800 million in public land. Hundreds of acres of Pisgah National Forest, Uwharrie National Forest, Nantahala National Forest and Croatan National Forest are "potentially eligible for sale," according to the U.S. Forest Service.

TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH

The federal Advanced Technology Program has spent $60 million since 1991 on 18 completed or continuing projects in North Carolina. "Programs that help the commercialization of research, which is critically important to the economy, have been cut," said U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, a Raleigh Democrat.

BIOFUELS SPENDING

The budget includes $179 million for research into producing ethanol from products such as wood chips, switchgrass and other agricultural products, and $4 billion in loans for biofuels development. North Carolina producers, researchers and farmers are interested in federal investment in alternative fuels. U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, a Lillington Democrat with an interest in the subject, said he was reserving judgement on the Bush proposal.

BEACHES AND WATERWAYS

The budget includes no money for the millions of dollars in beach renourishment projects sought by the state's coastal counties. There is no money for dredging the northeast portion of Wilmington Harbor. The budget partially funds dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway.

LOCAL CRIME-FIGHTING

The budget proposes eliminating two law enforcement grant programs that are used to hire police officers and support drug task forces. Last year, police agencies in North Carolina received more than $11 million from the two programs.

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