http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=125-04062004

Rendell, Vilsack Host Conference Call on Bush's Reckless Spending;

Democratic Governors Ask President to Account for over $6 Trillion

4/6/2004

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

BACKGROUND:

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack will host a
conference call at 1:30 PM today to discuss how George Bush's fiscal
irresponsibility has forced Governors across the country to struggle
to balance their budgets.

The Democratic Governors will highlight the letter that 10 Democratic
Governors sent President Bush today, asking for him to present to the
American public a plan for how to pay for his proposals.


Following is the text of a letter from Democratic Governors to
President Bush urging the President to remain focused during this
election season on turning-around the nation's economy.

April 6, 2004

President George W. Bush

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Bush:

The past three years have left states in the worst fiscal crisis in
half a century a crisis compounded and made worse by the growing
federal deficit.

As governors of states struggling to overcome this crisis, we have
continued to serve our citizens and make progress despite little or no
help from the federal government.

Tomorrow, Senator John Kerry will lay out his budget priorities and
his plan to restore fiscal discipline in Washington.

We urge you to do the same.

Americans deserve to hear, before the election, how you intend to fix
the economy, restore fiscal responsibility and whether these fiscal
policies will enable our nation to meet its responsibilities.

For the past three years, you have proposed or passed initiatives that
would increase the deficit by more than $6 trillion over the next
decade.

You have cut taxes for our wealthiest citizens (at a cost of more than
$2.2 trillion in the next decade alone).

And your administration has pushed a plan to privatize Social Security
that would cost an additional $1.4 trillion.

In contrast, millions of Americans every day take the responsibility
to live within their means and spend within their family budget.

They deserve the same from their elected leaders which is why we urge
you, again, to immediately join Senator Kerry in telling Americans how
you will pay for the cost of your plans.

Sincerely,

Vilsack / Richardson / Rendell / Sebelius / Holden / Wise / Locke /
McGreevey /Minner / Doyle
_________________________________________________

Georgie's busy fundraising. He doesn't time for much lately. Certainly
not for addressing questions he can't answer.

Harry