US Helms makes foreign aid proposal

Senator Jesse Helms, the well known skeptic of US overseas aid is for the first time advocating raising the US foreign aid budget. In a speech prepared for the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative research group, Helm wants the new Bush administration to bypass the Agency for International Development (AID) and give the money to faith – based groups and NGO's directly for humanitarian purposes.

Helm says his proposal is based on a campaign pledge by President Bush to look to religious institutions and charities when his administration sees a responsibility to help people. Helm was highly critical of AID, describing them as `cold, heartless bureaucrats'. An official from AID said it has long complained about the 'parsimonious attitude of the Republicans'. Observers believe that Helm's proposal is a bold attempt by the conservative Right to redefine US overseas aid policy.