In a falshback to the late 60s and early 70s, House Democrats are pushing to gut Bush's Mars mission program funding to pay for domestic programs.

"WASHINGTON -- Critics in the House are taking aim at $700 million that President Bush wants to spend next year toward sending man back to the moon and eventually on to Mars.

A comparable effort last year to cut money for the moon-Mars mission lost on a 230-196 vote. But critics of the program hope for a closer vote now that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has lost its biggest defender and champion on Capitol Hill with the resignation of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

Democrats plan to try to cut spending for the moon-Mars initiative, which would return U.S. astronauts to the moon by 2020 and to Mars after that, and spend the money instead on other NASA programs or grants to local police at a time when violent crime rates are rising.

Opponents of the Mars mission says it's too expensive and that unmanned space travel produces better science per dollar spent. Others say there are more pressing needs here on Earth.

"It's a complete and total waste of money," said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. "The manned shot to Mars is a pure boondoggle."

NASA's overall budget is $16.7 billion, essentially a freeze at current levels"