President Bush is now barnstorming the country claiming his record shows
that he cares about America's middle class. On everything from taxes to
health care to workers wages, the President says he has fought for average
Americans. But a new comprehensive report shows that in almost every key
economic area, he has actually gone to bat for his wealthiest contributors,
at everyone else's expense.
According to a cover story in this month's American Prospect, Bush has
pushed policies that benefit the major special interests funding his
campaign, while rejecting commonsense, bipartisan proposals that would help
the middle class. On taxes, for instance, Bush has claimed, "If you're
struggling to get into middle class and you feel like you're paying plenty
of taxes, take a look at my agenda."[1] Yet, as the Prospect report points
out, Bush's tax policies have actually shifted more of the tax burden off
of the wealthy, and onto the middle class.[2] His policies have also raised
federal fees on the middle class, and forced state and local governments to
raise middle class taxes to deal with the record federal deficits.
On health care, Bush has said he is working "to help more American families
get health insurance."[3] Yet, as the Prospect report shows, the only major
initiative Bush has offered is an industry-backed proposal that experts say
could further raise health insurance premiums and deductibles for average
Americans. Similarly, Bush has refused to support real legislation to lower
the price of prescription drugs in America.
On wages, Bush has said he wants to help Americans earn better paychecks -
but as the Prospect report shows, he has simultaneously refused to support
a minimum wage increase while pushing to eliminate overtime pay protections
for millions of workers.
Read the full American Prospect report online here,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2103488&l=50799.
Sources:
1. "President Emphasizes Minority Entrepreneurship at Urban League," The
White House, 7/23/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2103488&l=50800.
2. "CBO Report: Bush Tax Cuts Tilted to Rich," Yahoo!News, 08/13/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2103488&l=50801.
3. "Remarks by the President at Traverse City, Michigan Rally," The White
House, 07/23/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2103488&l=50802.
Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration disotortion.
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