PORTLAND (AP) – Dozens of Maine organizations representing interests ranging from social services to environmental protection spoke out Monday against proposed cuts as Congress deliberates how to reduce federal spending by $50 billion.

More than 80 organizations held simultaneous rallies in Portland and Bangor as Congress moves toward final resolution of the deficit reduction package.

Congress is working on a spending plan to restrict the automatic growth of federal programs, such as Medicaid and student loan subsidies. A plan under review last week sought to curb the growth of the food stamp program by $844 million through the end of the decade.

The deficit reduction bill also includes a provision to raise revenue by auctioning television airwaves to wireless companies and lease parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling. Spending priorities were also being revised.

Groups critical of portions of the budget plan said that in spite of deficits that have already mounted, the budget should meet all needs in rebuilding the Gulf States following Hurricane Katrina.

“It does not make sense to us that the challenges following Katrina should be met with proposals for further cuts in food stamps, Medicaid,” public safety, housing and other programs, the groups said in a prepared statement. The groups include the Maine Center for Economic Policy, Maine People’s Alliance, Maine Sierra Club and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

The organizations dropped off summaries of their concerns at offices of U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, urging them to not support “reckless” cuts in the weeks ahead as efforts to eliminate as much as $50 billion in federal spending in the next five years move toward resolution.

The groups said they appreciated the two Republicans efforts “to resist the most onerous proposed federal cuts” so far.

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