WASHINGTON — Members of Hawai'i's congressional delegation were critical yesterday of President Bush's budget request for next year, targeting his plans for social programs, homeland security and veterans' benefits.

Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawai'i, said he was disappointed in budget cuts proposed for working families, seniors and students, noting the budget seeks to save $36 billion in Medicare savings over the next five years.

"Seniors will face tremendous challenges in Medicare, where proposed cuts threaten to reduce access to care," he said.

Akaka also said that proposed cuts in the Department of Homeland Security would not allow Hawai'i to count on a stable level of funding for preparedness and response programs.

"In 2004, Hawai'i received $22 million in homeland security funding, and in 2005, that figure dropped to $19 million," he said. "President Bush has proposed cutting the formula-based state homeland security grants by over 50 percent."

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, said he wanted to hear more about Bush's budget before making any judgment on it.

"I was informed by staff that a preliminary check suggests the president appears to be seeking disproportionate cuts in at least one area — Health and Human Services," Inouye said. "This would concern me."

Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, said that the proposed Defense Department budget increases healthcare enrollment fees for military retirees younger than 65.

"Clearly, the intent is to drive substantial numbers of them out of the system entirely," said Abercrombie, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. "I see this as a move to roll back the progress we've made on easing the burden on retirees and their families."

Instead of stripping retirees of benefits they were promised on enlistment, the Pentagon should be moving toward a program of high quality coverage, Abercrombie said.

Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawai'i, a member of the House Budget Committee, said Bush's budget request was debit-ridden and would continue to lead, with an estimated deficit of $423 billion for this year, to the largest debt in the nation's history — now near the debt ceiling of $8.18 trillion.

Bush's proposal calls for a $201 billion deficit by 2009, but Case said the budget proposal would not put the nation on a path to reducing the deficit.

"In five years, the deficit will fall off a cliff," he said. "The secretary of the Treasury has already asked Congress to increase the debt ceiling."

Reach Dennis Camire at dcamire@gns.gannett.com.