January 23, 2007 at 22:43:23

Dennis Kucinich: President Needs a Reality Check

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By Dennis Kucinich (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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Economy:
"President Bush's claims that his tax cuts have fueled robust economic growth and record revenues, is wrong. The U.S. has not had strong growth since this President took office. Continuing with Bush's economic policies would do little to stimulate growth and would weaken the country's financial resources.

"In 2005, 37 million people were living in poverty, making the official poverty rate 12.6%. Cleveland had a poverty rate of 32.4%, making it the poorest big city in the United States. The unemployment rate in December 2006 was 4.5% and the state of Ohio's unemployment rate in December 2006 was 5.6%--more than one percent above the national average.

"The President's tax cuts are the leading contributor to federal budget deficits. The Congressional Budget Office reports that tax cuts enacted from 2001 to 2006 were responsible for 51% of the deterioration in the budget. Obviously, economic growth was insufficient to make up for reduced tax levels.

"The President turned a budget surplus into budget deficits. He has never proposed a balanced budget since it went into deficit, never vetoed a spending bill when Republicans controlled Congress and offered little sustained objection to earmarks until the issue gained political traction last year.

Education:
"America's students represent the future of our nation, and it is vitally important that all children have full and equal access to a quality public education. As a member of the Committee on Education and Labor, I am dedicated to ensuring that schools have the resources and flexibility needed to teach every child.

"The President's call for the extension of his No Child Left Behind education program, with modifications to make it more flexible is more empty rhetoric with no fulfilled promises.

"Our schools must be fully funded and given chances to improve where they might fall short, as identified by new testing mandates. Local schools have continuously had to make up for a shortfall left by the No Child Left Behind and also live up to new mandated contained in NCLB."

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Dennis Kucinich is a congressman from Ohio and a 2008 presidential primary candidate. http://kucinich.us/ The best way to reach congressman Kucinich is through the information on his more...)

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