Oh, lovely -- we're nickel-and-diming the Centers for Disease Control:

Bush's proposed budget would give the CDC $6.5 billion ...it is about $700 million less than what Congress actually approved, and Bush signed into law, for the current year.

Some of the proposed cuts are sizable. Next year's budget calls for a 26 percent cut for improvements at local public health centers. It also would cut funding for environmental health programs by 18 percent and reduce money for occupational safety and health by 10 percent....

William Gimson, the CDC's chief operating officer, said the agency's plans for administrative savings do not include employee layoffs, although it may not fill some positions after people leave them. Gerberding said the agency could also save money by reducing some of its internal technology costs.

"The intent is that scientific program areas would not be affected," Gimson said.

--Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Got SARS? Have a tax cut!