More Background on Bush’s Failure to Face Reality Today
in Tampa, Florida:
Bush Rhetoric: “It's hard to be optimistic about
the future when you think you're marching to war. Now we're marching
to peace. Now the world is more peaceful.”
Reality:
PRESIDENT BUSH: I have no idea whether we will capture or bring
[Bin Laden] to justice, may be the best way to put it.” [NBC,
“Meet the Press,” 2/8/04]
“Rethinking Iraq” – “The silver lining
to another stormy week in Iraq has been the evident recognition
by the Bush administration that its strategy for stabilizing the
country isn't working…Yet the administration's improvisations
also convey unsteadiness; they again raise the question of whether
the United States is prepared to stick with its mission in Iraq
and with President Bush's goal of establishing a democratic government…Both
the political transition and the security situation would be easier
to manage if the United States forged a full partnership with
allies and the United Nations, which could help organize, oversee
and validate a transfer of sovereignty.” [Washington Post,
Editorial, 11/14/03]
Bush Rhetoric: “The tax relief was a vital part
of this economic recovery. I say "recovery," the facts
bear me out. The last six months of growth have been tremendous,
housing starts are way up, inflation is low, and interest is low,
new jobs are being created, reports for manufacturing activity
is up. Things are looking better for America.” (Applause.)
Reality:
Meet the Press:
MR. RUSSERT: The Bush-Cheney first three years, the unemployment
rate has gone up 33 percent, there has been a loss of 2.2 million
jobs. We've gone from a $281 billion surplus to a $521 billion
deficit. The debt has gone from 5.7 trillion, to $7 trillion --
up 23 percent. Based on that record, why should the American people
rehire you as CEO?” [NBC, “Meet the Press,” 2/8/04]
MR. RUSSERT: But when you proposed your first tax cut in 2001,
you said this was going to generate 800,000 new jobs. Your tax
cut of 2003, create a million new jobs. That has not happened.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, it's happening. It's happening. And there
is good momentum when it comes to the creation of new jobs. [NBC,
“Meet the Press,” 2/8/04]
White House Report Celebrates Loss of US Jobs to Outsourcing:
Under the headline “Bush Supports Shift of U.S. Jobs Overseas”
the LA Times reported that the Bush Administration “embraced
foreign outsourcing, an accelerating trend that has contributed
to U.S. job losses in recent years.” The Administration made
the announcement even as analysts predict “as many as 2 million
U.S. white-collar jobs” will be exported at a time when millions
are already out of work. When asked whether the White House’s
top economic advisor who touted outsourcing should resign, the
Administration said the mere suggestion was “laughable.”
[LA Times, 2/10/04; Reuters, 12/30/03; Hastert release, 2/11/04;
CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight, 2/11/04]
Administration Allows Companies to Move Offshore to Avoid Taxes:
While “President Bush says the Bermuda loophole” that
allows companies to move their offices offshore to avoid U.S.
taxes “should be closed, he has yet to support any of the
bills that would do so.” Meanwhile, when Congress passed
a bill barring federal contracts from going to such companies,
the White House did not support it and the bill died. Because
of the loopholes, in 1998, “$155 billion in corporate income
literally disappeared.” The top Fortune 500 corporations
(which include Halliburton) who benefit from the loophole have
given Bush and his allies more than $5.2 million since 2000. [ABC,
7/12/02; AP, 7/31/02; Chrs. Sci Monitor, 5/22/02; Citizen Works;
Center for Responsive Politics]
Bush Rhetoric: “People have got to understand here
in this country that there are a lot of people who look to America
and say, gosh, I want to be able to provide for my family here.”
Reality:
Bush Proposal Would End Overtime Eligibility for 8 Million
Workers. The Department of Labor’s March 2003 proposed changes
to overtime regulations would end eligibility for overtime pay
for 8 million workers by expanding the eligibility exemptions
or reclassifying them as managers, administrative workers or professional
employees, according to the Economic Policy Institute. In addition,
the Department of Labor was exposed issuing advice to companies
on strategies to avoid paying overtime to workers who would still
be eligible under the new rules. Amongst these were cutting workers'
base pay to subtract extra overtime pay costs and cutting workers'
hours to strictly enforce a 40 hour work week. The non-partisan
Economic Policy Institute called the proposal “pure special-interest
politics with complete disregard for the democratic process.”
Final rules are expected to be issued in March 2004. [Akron Beacon
Journal, 12/5/03; EPI, 7/03, www.epi.org; New York Times, 7/1/03;
AP, 1/6/04]
Bush’s Rhetoric: “And then -- and then it
turned out some of our citizens forgot to tell the truth. Corporate
CEOs didn't tell the truth to their shareholders and their investors,
and that affected the psychology of the country. We had a recession.
And then we were attacked by a hateful enemy. And then some of
our own citizens let us down, didn't they? And people began to
wonder about the capitalist system; how could they trust the word
of corporate America if CEOs weren't willing to tell the truth.”
Reality: Enron Bush’s Career Patron
“Mr. CHARLES LEWIS (Center for Public Integrity): Enron
was the number one career patron for George W. Bush. There is
no company in America closer to George W. Bush than Enron. …
Enron made a decision that they needed to have government go their
way, and they put the money out to make sure that happened.”
[ABC News, 12/9/01]
During 1999-2000 Enron gave $1,328,290 in total to Bush and
the GOP, is Bush’s largest Career Patron. Ken Lay, Enron’s
CEO, was a Bush Pioneer, raising at least $100,000 for the Bush
Presidential campaign. Enron gave $1,114,490 to the GOP, $300,000
to the Bush inaugural, and $113,800 directly to Bush’s presidential
campaign from Enron employees. Lay was also a co-chairman of an
April 2000 RNC gala tribute to Bush, meaning that he raised or
contributed at least $250,000 for that event. “Mr. CHARLES
LEWIS (Center for Public Integrity): Enron was the number one
career patron for George W. Bush. There is no company in America
closer to George W. Bush than Enron. … Enron made a decision
that they needed to have government go their way, and they put
the money out to make sure that happened.” [ABC News, 12/9/01;
San Diego Union-Tribune, 2/11/01; Atlanta Journal and Constitution,
4/27/00; Center for Responsive Politics, www.crp.org; Political
Money Line, www.tray.com]
Lay Donated More Than $120,000 to Bush’s Gubernatorial
Campaigns/$100,000 to Gubernatorial Inaugural Committees. Bush
ran for Governor of Texas in 1994 and 1998. Enron CEO Kenneth
Lay donated $122,500 to his campaign and Enron was a “Gold”
sponsor for both gubernatorial inaugural committees that cost
a total of $100,000. [USA Today, 11/30/01; Texas State Archives,
“1995 Texas Inaugural Committee;” “1999 Texas Inaugural
Committee”]
Lay Had Personal Access to Cheney, Energy Task Force. “Lay
also had access to the team writing the White House's energy report,
which embraces several initiatives and issues dear to Enron. The
report's recommendations include finding ways to give the federal
government more power over electricity transmission networks,
a longtime goal of the company that was spelled out in a memorandum
Mr. Lay discussed during a 30-minute meeting earlier this spring
with Mr. Cheney. Mr. Cheney's report includes much of what Mr.
Lay advocated during their meeting, documents show. Both men deny
discussing commission personnel issues during their talk,”
according to the New York Times. [New York Times, 5/25/01]
Bush Hypocritical on Corporate Responsibility:
Mr. CHARLES LEWIS (Center for Public Integrity): There is hypocrisy.
I mean, here [Bush] is lecturing Wall Street about corporate responsibility
when he himself was with a company that was skating on the edge
of propriety. [ABC, Nightline, 7/18/02]
Mr. CHARLES LEWIS: I think [Bush is] being hypocritical about
insider loans. He had loans himself. That is exactly the kind
of thing we've been hearing about with Enron and WorldCom and
these other companies. [ABC, Nightline, 7/18/02]
Mr. CHARLES LEWIS (Center for Public Integrity: “If George
W. Bush wins, (the Republican lobbyists) all put their children
and their grandchildren through college because of this windfall.
They will become the most powerful, popular lobbyists in Washington
and they will stand to make millions of dollars because of their
perceived closeness to power.” [Associated Press, 5/22/00]
Mr. CHARLES LEWIS (Center for Public Integrity “’The
[Bush-involved Harken] transaction - a phony transaction to hide
losses involving a partnership - is eerily reminiscent of Enron.
It is a little bit inconvenient at the moment [for Bush] to be
the corporate reformer he is trying to convey when he himself
was associated with a company which was kind of on the edge of
accepted conduct." [Boston Globe, 7/12/02]
Bush Rhetoric: “You see, small businesses can't
associate now in order to buy insurance like big businesses can.
And Small businesses ought to be allowed to try to contain costs
by pooling risk.”
Reality: Washington Post, editorial: “He also talked
about association health plans, which would allow small businesses
to band together to purchase group health care. Yet such organizations
exist already, not terribly successfully. Current proposals on
the table would allow them to escape consumer regulation -- which
could mean they destabilize the current insurance markets and
wind up hurting the consumers they are intended to insure.”
[Washington Post, editorial, 1/25/04]
Bush Rhetoric: “My only advice is, fill the potholes.
(Laughter)”
Bush’s Budget Shortchanges highway and transit spending.
The Bush budget provides only $256 billion for highways and transit
over six years – far less than the $375 billion bipartisan
House bill currently pending before Congress. The President’s
budget does not increase funding for highways and transit over
the next five years, even though congestion costs the U.S. economy
$69.5 billion a year in 75 cities alone. The average cost of congestion
for peak-period commuters is $1,160 a year in these cities, and
the American worker loses more than a week and a half of productivity
annually by sitting in traffic. [House Minority Leader analysis
of budget]
Background
on President Bush's Failed Record on Job Creation
President Bush: His Record of Failing Florida Workers
February 16, 2004. Nationally, 3 Million Jobs Lost; Unemployment
Rate Up 39 Percent. The national unemployment rate in December
2003 was 5.7 percent, up from 4.1 percent when Bush took office
in January 2001 and a 39 percent increase. Nationally, the economy
has lost nearly 3 million private sector jobs under Bush. [Bureau
of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov]
Florida Fact: Unemployment Has Increased 20.5% Under Bush.
The unemployment rate in Florida was 4.7 percent in November 2003,
up from 3.9 percent in January 2001; this change represents a
20.5 percent increase since Bush took office. In total, 68,853
more workers in Florida have become unemployed under Bush. [Bureau
of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov]
Florida Fact: Local Private Employers Continue to Cut Jobs. Over
19,000 employees were released in 2003 or are expected to be laid
off in 2004 from mass layoffs and plant closings in Florida. Kmart
eliminated 2600 jobs statewide last year, 800 jobs in the Tampa
area alone. These layoffs continue a 3-year trend for the Tampa
region. In 2002, U.S. Airways cut 300 local positions. In 2001,
catalog retailer Fingerhut did away with 950 jobs and closed two
Tampa locations. In 2003 alone, larger-scale layoffs exceeded
4,675 jobs in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. [St. Petersburg Times,
1/7/04; FL Agency for Workforce Innovation, http://www.floridajobs.org/react/warn.asp?year=2003]
Florida Fact: Florida Citrus Industry Hit Hard by Slumping
Economy. In Manatee County, Florida citrus growers fetched the
lowest prices in 60 years amid sluggish consumer demand for orange
juice. Also, Tropicana laid off 300 employees from its 56-year
old Bradenton headquarters facility, far exceeding expectations
that there would only be a modest cut. Orange juice manufacturer
Pasco Beverage Group, the largest private employer in Pasco County
and a mainstay of the economy for 60 years, announced it would
be shedding 250 jobs by March 2004. [Bradenton Herald, 1/4/04;
Tampa Tribune, 12/25/03; St. Petersburg Times, 12/3/03]
Nationally, Workers’ Wages and Salaries Are Stagnant.
In the third quarter of 2003, America's gross domestic product
surged at a rate of 8.2 percent and corporate profits grew at
an annual rate above 40 percent. But during this same period,
wages and salaries grew by less than 1 percent. Furthermore, in
the six months that ended in November 2003, income from wages
rose just 0.65 percent after inflation. [Department of Commerce,
12/23/03; New York Times, 12/31/03; Charleston Gazette (West Virginia),
1/2/04]
Bush Proposed to Eliminate Overtime for 8 Million Workers.
Bush proposed regulations that would end eligibility for overtime
pay—a critical source of income—for 8 million workers
by reclassifying them as managers, administrative workers or professional
employees. In addition, Bush's Department of Labor issued advice
to companies in its explanation of the proposal on strategies
to avoid paying overtime. Among these were cutting workers' base
pay to subtract extra overtime pay costs and cutting workers'
hours to strictly enforce a 40 hour work week. The non-partisan
Economic Policy Institute called the proposal “pure special-interest
politics with complete disregard for the democratic process.”
[Akron Beacon -Journal, 12/5/03; EPI, 7/03, www.epi.org; New York
Times, 7/1/03; AP, 1/6/04]
Florida Fact: 441,809 Workers Would Lose Access To Overtime
Pay. Bush’s proposal to overhaul overtime rules would cause
441,809 Florida workers to lose access to overtime pay. [New York
Times, 7/1/03; Economic Policy Institute, July 2003]
Nationally, 2.5 Million Manufacturing Jobs Lost Under Bush.
The manufacturing industry has lost 2,472,000 jobs nationwide
since Bush took office in January 2001. Employment for this key
sector of the American economy is at its lowest level since October
1958. Of the nearly 3 million private sector jobs lost under Bush,
manufacturing losses account for 86 percent. [Bureau of Labor
Statistics, http://www.bls.gov]
Florida Fact: 56,000 Manufacturing Jobs Have Been Lost Under
Bush. In Florida, 56,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since
Bush took office in January 2001. [Bureau of Labor Statistics,
http://www.bls.gov]
George W. Bush: Record of Failure on the Economy
The Numbers Tell the Story of Failure
Three Million: Since George W. Bush took office, America has
lost 3 million jobs.
Every Month: Manufacturing jobs have been lost every single month
of the Bush Presidency.
Eight Million Deficits: Even in the 26 months since the recession
ended -- a period where under typical recovery circumstances we
would have created over 7 million jobs -- we lost one million
jobs. That’s an eight million jobs deficit.
One Million: One million jobs have been outsourced since President
Bush took office.
50 Percent Higher: Health care costs have increased 50 percent
since 2001 when Bush took office.
33 Percent Higher: Unemployment has increased 33 percent since
Bush took office.
$10,368: American families will pay $10,368 in interest on the
debt by 2014.
68,853: The increase in number of Americans in Florida who are
unemployed since George W. Bush took office.
56,000: Number of manufacturing jobs lost in Florida since Bush
took office.
George Bush's Solution: More of the Same, More False Promises
Even though George Bush’s economic plan of tax cuts for
the wealthy have only led to more job losses, he is offering more
of the same: one trillion more in tax cuts targeted to the wealthy
and new promises that he cannot meet.
Bush Promise – Reality – Deficit
1st Tax Cut will create 800,000 jobs by end of 2002 –
America lost 1.9 million jobs – 2.7 million jobs
2nd Tax Cut will create 510,000 additional jobs by end of 2003
– America lost 53,000 jobs in after 2nd tax cut – 563,000
jobs
New Promise of 2.6 million new jobs in 2004 – Greenspan says
unlikely – Growing
John Kerry: Fighting for Solutions that Create Manufacturing
Jobs
George W. Bush’s Has Struck Out – Losing Manufacturing
Jobs Every Single Month
Bush has focused on tax cuts for the wealthy rather than American
jobs. He has done little to address the real reasons manufacturing
jobs are being lost. Bush will not:
End incentives that encourage jobs to go abroad;
Crack down on countries violate trade agreements;
Address higher health care costs that make it harder for manufacturers
to compete; or
Take steps to modernize manufacturing for the future.
John Kerry will fight for manufacturing jobs by: giving real incentives
to keep jobs in the United States, making sure manufacturers can
compete by making health care more affordable and assuring our
they compete on a level playing field.
I. Fight to Keep Manufacturing Jobs in America
John Kerry – Yes: John Kerry supports a corporate
rate reduction for manufacturers who produce goods in the U.S.,
and he has proposed a new jobs tax credit to encourage manufacturing
companies to stay and expand in America.
George W. Bush – No: The Bush Administration has done
nothing to end incentives that encourage manufacturers to move
jobs overseas and has given lucrative government contracts to
companies that haven’t stood by their workers.
II. Crack Down on Countries That Don't Play By the Rules
Stop Countries from Manipulating Currency
John Kerry – Yes: John Kerry will crack down on
nations who manipulate currency to give their goods an unfair
price advantage.
George W. Bush - No: George Bush has done nothing to crack
down countries manipulating their currency or to protect intellectual
property – even though it is undermining American jobs.
Enforce the Trade Laws to Protect American Workers
John Kerry – Yes: John Kerry will crack down on
countries that violate trade agreements and will take action when
American industries are hurt.
George W. Bush - No: George W. Bush supported cuts to trade
enforcement, even though we need more enforcement to stop the
drain on manufacturing jobs.
III. Make Health Care Affordable
Simply having employers absorb rising health care costs puts
U.S. manufacturers at an impossible competitive disadvantage with
overseas producers. General Motors estimated that as much as $1200
of each car sold goes towards health care costs.
Rewarding Retire Health Care
John Kerry – Yes: John Kerry believes prescription drug
benefit should relieve employers who offer retiree coverage and
their employees from high drug costs by counting retiree coverage
towards the Medicare benefit.
George W. Bush - No: George Bush signed a prescription drug benefit
into law that independent analysts say will cause two million
Americans to lose their retiree health coverage.
Cutting Prescription Drug Prices
John Kerry – Yes: John Kerry will fight to allow Medicare
to negotiate better prices and will allow people to buy more affordable
prescriptions from Canada and other countries.
George W. Bush - No: George Bush caved to the pharmaceutical companies
and his plan explicitly won’t let Medicare negotiate for
a better deal for prescriptions or let seniors buy drugs from
Canada.
IV. Make Manufacturing Strong for the Future
Make Manufacturing More Competitive
John Kerry – Yes: John Kerry will double the Manufacturing
Extension Partnership, which helps American manufacturers stay
competitive and saves thousands of manufacturing jobs.
George W. Bush - No: George Bush proposed slashing the Manufacturing
Extension Partnership by 90 percent.
Create Manufacturing Jobs of the Future
John Kerry – Yes: John Kerry has a plan to invest in renewable
forms of energy and new technologies that will create 500,000
jobs.
George W. Bush - No: George Bush’s energy plan is a handout
to big oil and fails to invest in the innovative energy technologies
of the future.
Fighting
for Solutions that Create Manufacturing Jobs
George W. Bush Has Struck Out – Losing Manufacturing
Jobs Every Single Month
Wausau, WI (2/16/04). At a town hall meeting at Northcentral
Technical College today, Democratic presidential candidate John
Kerry kicked-off a four-day dialogue with American workers about
the devastating impact of the Bush economy on middle class families
and detailed his plan to re-tool the American economy and create
manufacturing jobs, beginning with the repeal of the Bush tax
cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
“President Bush is visiting a manufacturing company in
Florida today touting his job growth plan, but here in Wisconsin
we know that George Bush’s visit is more about creating photo
opportunities than job opportunities. Throughout Wisconsin, working
families have had a front row seat in witnessing how the Bush
economy has ripped the heart out of the heartland. Since George
Bush took office, Wisconsin has lost 75,000 manufacturing jobs
and more than 170,000 people in this state still can’t find
work. President Bush has focused on tax cuts for the wealthy rather
than American jobs and he has done little to address the real
reasons manufacturing jobs are being lost.
“For more than three years, this Administration has failed
to tell the truth about their economic record. But last week,
in their annual economic report, the Bush Administration said
that sending American jobs overseas is good for America and good
for the economy. Let them explain that to the thousands of Wisconsin
workers who have watched their jobs disappear to other countries
and are left with no hope and dismal prospects for finding employment.
“When I am president, we will put jobs back on the top
of the national agenda, and return prosperity to America. I will
start by repealing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans
and instead invest in education and affordable healthcare for
all. I will fight for manufacturing jobs by giving real incentives
to keep jobs in the United States, making sure manufacturers can
compete by making health care more affordable and assuring that
these companies can compete on a level playing field. Unlike the
Bush Administration, I want to repeal every tax break and loophole
that rewards any Benedict Arnold CEO or corporation for shipping
American jobs overseas.”
On Tuesday, Kerry and Rep. Dick Gephardt will participate in
a rally with the Alliance for Economic Justice on the President’s
failed economic policy. AEJ, a group of 18 labor unions that represents
5 million working men and women, formally announced their endorsement
of Kerry last week.
On Wednesday, Kerry will travel to Dayton, Ohio to participate
in a discussion with workers who have been affected by lay-offs
at the Delphi Corporation. With high unemployment and a declining
manufacturing base, Ohio embodies the President’s failed
economic policies. Ohio has lost 132,000 manufacturing jobs since
President Bush took office, and nearly one in ten Ohio counties
have unemployment above 9.0 percent.
Finally, on Thursday, Kerry will receive the endorsement of
the AFL-CIO, the umbrella organization of sixty-four labor unions
representing more than 13 million American workers. Kerry will
rally with labor leaders to underscore the need for a change of
leadership to put the economy back on track and to create new
and better jobs across America.
“There is a fundamental choice before the American people.
Do they want a President who continues to be out of touch with
what is happening to workers in Wisconsin and across America?
Or do they want a President who understands how to get America
back on track and restore our economy so that every American family
can build a better future?”
John Kerry vs. George Bush: America's Manufacturing
Base
I. Fight to Keep Manufacturing Jobs in America
John Kerry - Yes: John Kerry supports a corporate rate reduction
for manufacturers who produce goods in the U.S., and he has proposed
a new jobs tax credit to encourage manufacturing companies to
stay and expand in America.
George Bush – No: The Bush Administration has done nothing
to end incentives that encourage manufacturers to move jobs overseas
and has given lucrative government contracts to companies that
haven’t stood by their workers.
II. Crack Down on Countries that Don't Play by the Rules
Stop Countries from Manipulating Currency
John Kerry - Yes: John Kerry will crack down on nations who
manipulate currency to give their goods an unfair price advantage.
George Bush – No: George Bush has done nothing to crack down
countries manipulating their currency or to protect intellectual
property – even though it is undermining American jobs.
Enforce the Trade Laws to Protect America Workers
John Kerry - Yes: John Kerry will crack down on countries that
violate trade agreements and will take action when American industries
are hurt.
George Bush – No: George W. Bush supported cuts to trade
enforcement, even though we need more enforcement to stop the
drain on manufacturing jobs.
III. Make Health Care Affordable
Simply having employers absorb rising health care costs puts
U.S. manufacturers at an impossible competitive disadvantage with
overseas producers. General Motors estimated that as much as $1200
of each car sold goes towards health care costs.
Rewarding Retiree Health Care Coverage
John Kerry - Yes: John Kerry believes prescription drug benefit
should relieve employers who offer retiree coverage and their
employees from high drug costs by counting retiree coverage towards
the Medicare benefit.
George Bush – No: George Bush signed a prescription drug
benefit into law that independent analysts say will cause two
million Americans to lose their retiree health coverage.
Cutting Prescription Drug Prices
John Kerry - Yes: John Kerry will fight to allow Medicare to
negotiate better prices and will allow people to buy more affordable
prescriptions from Canada and other countries.
George Bush – No: George Bush caved to the pharmaceutical
companies and his plan explicitly won’t let Medicare negotiate
for a better deal for prescriptions or let seniors buy drugs from
Canada.
IV. Make Manufacturing Strong for the Future
Make Manufactures More Competitive
John Kerry - Yes: John Kerry will double the Manufacturing
Extension Partnership, which helps American manufacturers stay
competitive and saves thousands of manufacturing jobs.
George Bush – No: George Bush proposed slashing the Manufacturing
Extension Partnership by 90 percent.
Create Manufacturing Jobs of the Future
John Kerry - Yes: John Kerry has a plan to invest in renewable
forms of energy and new technologies that will create 500,000
jobs.
George Bush – No: George Bush’s energy plan is a handout
to big oil and fails to invest in the innovative energy technologies
of the future.
Statement
from Senator Bob Graham on Bush’s Trip to Florida
Under Bush 3 Million Americans Have Lost Their Jobs Nationwide,
19,000 in Tampa Bay Area Alone
February 16, 2004
For Immediate Release
Miami, FL –
Senator Bob Graham, D-Florida, made the following statement
today regarding President Bush’s visit to Florida:
“I’m happy that President Bush has spent the last
two days in Florida. NASCAR’s home is in Daytona Beach, and
he got to see a lot of the fans and the fully employed drivers
and pit crews at the Daytona 500. Had he spent a little more time,
he would have seen some of the suffering people, part of the 3
million Americans who have lost their jobs nationwide.
“I hope that while he’s in Tampa today, he will also
have a chance to talk to the large numbers of people in the Tampa
area who have lost their jobs. In the Tampa area alone, we have
seen significant plant closings. Manufacturing layoffs in the
Tampa area alone have cost 4,675 jobs of some 19,000 persons who
have lost their jobs in the Tampa Bay area.
“It’s unfair to say that the president’s only
plan is massive tax cuts for the wealthy. That’s not his
total economic policy. He’s got other plans, one of which
is to cut overtime pay. Approximately 8 million Americans stand
to lose overtime pay – and that’s the difference between
just getting by and getting by with something to spare. Of those
8 million, 441,809 are Floridians.
“The second new addition to his economic policy is to
positively encourage U.S. jobs to go overseas, saying that the
outsourcing of jobs is good for the American economy. If the president
had the opportunity to talk to some of the people in Tampa today
who have lost jobs because of that outsourcing, he might get a
different picture.
“I hope the President will use this trip as an opportunity
to learn and will reverse these misguided economic policies.”
New Mexico Rep. Tom Udall Backs John Kerry
“His Experience Will Serve America Well As President”
February 16, 2004
For Immediate Release
Washington, DC –
New Mexico’s Representative Tom Udall endorsed John Kerry
for President today, joining 51 members of the U.S. House of Representatives
in backing Kerry’s candidacy.
“I believe the voters of New Mexico made the right choice
in John Kerry,” said Representative Udall. “I’m
endorsing John Kerry because he has the leadership and the vision
to lead us to victory in November. On all the critical issues
facing our country, John Kerry has walked the walk – not
just talked the talk. Whether it’s creating jobs, providing
access to healthcare, ensuring our children have a quality education,
or fighting for our nation’s veterans, his record of accomplishment
serve him well in the campaign, and his experience will serve
America well as President. John Kerry has demonstrated a broad
appeal in every region of the county. He is building a strong
coalition to win this election and I proudly join his effort.”
Before his election to Congress in 1998 to represent the Third
Congressional District of New Mexico, Representative Tom Udall
served as New Mexico’s Attorney General for 8 years. Udall
sits on the House Committees on Resources, Small Business, and
Veterans Affairs. His roots in New Mexico run deep and his father,
Stewart Udall, was elected four times to Congress from Arizona
before being appointed Secretary of the Interior by both Presidents
Kennedy and Johnson.
“Tom Udall has been a leader in the House not just on
New Mexico’s concerns but on the many critical issues that
face our country,” said John Kerry. “Like me, he has
fought to secure a first-rate education system for all students,
improve access to health care, reform our campaign finance laws,
protect our natural resources, honor our veterans, and ensure
small businesses have the tools they need to succeed. He’s
a fighter and I’m glad he’s on my side in the fight
to regain the White House.”
Kerry Campaign
Fires Back at Gillespie’s Misleading Attacks on “Meet
the Press”
February 16, 2004
For Immediate Release
Washington, DC –
The following statement was issued by Chad Clanton, spokesperson
for the Kerry campaign, in response to Republican National Committee
Chairman Ed Gillespie’s misleading attacks against John Kerry
this morning on NBC’s “Meet the Press:”
“Ed Gillespie’s performance on ‘Meet the Press’
was a reminder that the Republican smear machine is already in
full force this election season. He made President Bush’s
reelection strategy crystal clear: attack to distract. Attack
to distract from Bush’s failed record of job losses, from
Bush’s failure to cut health care costs, from Bush’s
go-it-alone foreign policy that’s driving away our friends
and allies around the world. But they underestimate the wisdom
of the American people, who now increasingly question the credibility
of President Bush.”
Rhetoric vs. Reality on Gillespie’s Comments:
Rhetoric: This morning Gillespie questioned John Kerry’s
commitment to national security.
Reality: Kerry Strongly Supports Increased Intelligence Funding
– Including $200 Billion in the Previous 7 Years – A
50% Increase Since 1996 – John Kerry, a former member of
the Senate Intelligence Committee, has strongly supported recent
increases in Intelligence funding, and, in the wake of 9/11, has
supported the bipartisan call for an even larger increase in intelligence
funding. According to a report issued by the Center for Defense
Information entitled “Intelligence Funding and the War on
Terror” John Kerry has supported approximately $200 billion
in Intelligence funding over the past seven years alone. The report
concludes that Kerry has supported a 50% increase in intelligence
funding since 1996 [Senate Intelligence Authorization Funding
voice votes 9/25/02, 12/13/01, 12/6/00, 11/19/1999, 10/8/98 &
9/25/96; 1997, Senate Roll Call vote # 109]
In 2002, John Kerry voted for what John Warner described as
the largest increase in the defense budget since the early 1980s.
This increase provided more than $355 billion for the Defense
Department for 2003, an increase of $21 billion over 2002. [2002,
Senate Roll Call Vote # 239; Websites of U.S. Senators Warner,
Daschle, Dodd accessed 7/25/03]
Kerry Strongly Supports Increased Intelligence Funding –
Including $200 Billion in the Previous 7 Years – A 50% Increase
Since 1996 – John Kerry, a former member of the Senate Intelligence
Committee, has strongly supported recent increases in Intelligence
funding, and, in the wake of 9/11, has supported the bipartisan
call for an even larger increase in intelligence funding. According
to a report issued by the Center for Defense Information entitled
“Intelligence Funding and the War on Terror” John Kerry
has supported approximately $200 billion in Intelligence funding
over the past seven years alone. The report concludes that Kerry
has supported a 50% increase in intelligence funding since 1996
[Senate Intelligence Authorization Funding voice votes 9/25/02,
12/13/01, 12/6/00, 11/19/1999, 10/8/98 & 9/25/96; 1997, Senate
Roll Call vote # 109]
Rhetoric: Gillespie said that under Bush more jobs are being
created.
Reality: America has lost 2.8 million manufacturing jobs since
President Bush took office. [L.A. Times 2/10/04]
Rhetoric: When Tim Russert asked about President Bush’s
credibility gap, Gillespie responded: “This president has
a great deal of credibility.”
Reality: “The first Bush tax break was supposed to create
800,000 additional jobs by the end of 2002. Instead, we lost 1.9
million jobs.” [Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 12/02] This
latest round of tax breaks was supposed to create 510,000 additional
jobs by the end of 2003. [Council of Economic Advisers, 2/4/03]
But we lost about 53,000 jobs in 2003. [BLS 1/04]
Rhetoric: Gillespie also attacked John Kerry for accepting
contributions from lobbyists.
Reality: Bush Has Taken More Special Interest Lobbying Money
THIS YEAR Than Kerry has in HIS WHOLE LIFE. This cycle alone,
Bush has taken $845,262 from Center for Responsive Politic'scategory
of lobbyists, and $5.5 million from lawyers and law firms. On
avariety of issues, Bush and his administration sided with special
interest donors who have been generous to his campaign efforts.
[www.opensecrets.com]
Rhetoric: Gillespie said that Kerry supported and now opposes
Bush’s “No Child Left Behind Act.”
Reality: John Kerry supported Bush’s No Child Left Behind
education reform, because he believed President Bush when he promised
to fully fund it. But Bush has broken his promise.
Kerry began criticizing President Bush’s education plans
in 2001 when he declared: "We will show President Bush how
you leave no child behind." Since then, John Kerry has been
a strong voice criticizing President Bush for failing to fund
Ted Kennedy’s No Child Left Behind Education package. "It
is long since time we had a president who made real the words
'leave no child behind'," Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts
told a child advocacy group in April. "I am running for president
to hold this president accountable for making a mockery of those
words.” And: “By signing the No Child Left Behind Act
and then breaking his promise by not giving schools the resources
to help meet new standards, George Bush has undermined public
education and left millions of children behind.” [Boston
Herald, 6/10/01; Associated Press, 6/27/03]
John Kerry and Representative David Obey to Host Wausau Town
Hall Meeting on Jobs and the Economy
Town Hall to Take Place as Bush Discusses Loss of Manufacturing
Jobs in Florida
Later in Day, Kerry to Join Kennedy at Rally in Green Bay and
Attend Rally in Milwaukee
February 15, 2004
For Immediate Release
Wausau, WI –
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and Rep. Dave
Obey will host a town hall meeting on Monday at Northcentral Technical
College to discuss the devastating impact of the Bush economy
on Wisconsin’s working families. Northcentral Technical College
services many Wausau area adults who are being re-trained after
losing their jobs. Kerry and Obey will tour the machine tool lab
at the college prior to participating in the town hall meeting.
The Wausau Town Hall – which will take place as President
Bush participates in a manufacturing event at NuAir Manufacturing
in Tampa, Florida to tout his business tax credits – will
involve students, workers, labor leaders and Wausau area residents
affected by the failed economic policies of the Bush Administration.
Wisconsin has lost more than 75,000 jobs since President Bush
took office, and just last week the President said that sending
American jobs overseas is good for America and good for the economy.
In Florida, more than 56,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost
since George Bush took office.
Monday, February 16
10:30 am
Tour of Machine Tool Lab
Northcentral Technical College
** Pooled Press **
11:00 am
Town Hall Meeting on Jobs and the Economy
Northcentral Technical College
Residential Building System Room
1000 West Campus Drive
Wausau, WI
3:30 pm
John Kerry: Fighting for America’s Future with Senator Ted
Kennedy
Phoenix Sports Center Gymnasium
University of Wisconsin, Green Bay
2420 Nicolet Drive
Green Bay, WI
7:00 pm
John Kerry: Fighting for America’s Future
Italian Community Center
631 E. Chicago Street
Milwaukee, WI
