Bush's Broken Promises
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| Tue, 09-28-2004 - 2:37am |
During the presidential campaign and his first year in office, George W. Bush made a number of promises affecting American families, but he has failed to keep them. From breaching the Social Security lockbox to making it harder for middle class families to pay for college and leaving out millions of seniors from his prescription drug proposal, Bush has made a habit out of saying one thing and doing another. Here is a catalogue of Bush's broken promises revealed in his FY 2003 budget and in other key policy areas. In contrast to Bush's failures, Democrats have a strong record of progress on these issues.
Deficit
Bush said his tax cut would not cause deficits, even in a bad economy.
Bush's FY 2003 budget posts $106 billion deficit, the first deficit since 1997. The budget will return to balance in 2005, at the earliest. Learn more » http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/brokenpromises/deficit.html
Social Security
Bush said Social Security Trust Fund would remain in a lockbox.
Bush breached the Social Security Trust Fund and is on schedule to spend $1.65 trillion of it over the next ten years. Learn more » http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/brokenpromises/social_security.html
National Debt
Bush promised to pay down a record amount of the national debt.
Bush not only failed to pay down the national debt, he has been forced to request a $750 billion increase in the debt limit. Learn more » http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/brokenpromises/debt.html
Education Reform
As part of the bipartisan education reform, Bush promised to spend more money on education.
Bush budget cut funding from his own "No Child Left Behind" law and provided the smallest education funding increase in seven years. Learn more » http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/brokenpromises/education.html
Pell Grants
Bush promised to increase the maximum Pell Grant award, thereby increasing access to higher education.
Bush froze Pell Grant limit below his promised level. Learn more » http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/brokenpromises/pell_grants.html
LIHEAP
Bush promised to "fully fund" LIHEAP (the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program).
Bush's budget cut LIHEAP by $300 million. Learn more » http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/brokenpromises/liheap.html
Medicare
Bush pledged to provide Medicare prescription drug coverage for all seniors.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that Bush's plan would cover only 6 percent of Medicare beneficiaries. Learn more » http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/brokenpromises/medicare.html
Yucca Mountain
Bush promised to listen to sound science and local officials before deciding to bury the nation's nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.
Bush designated Yucca Mountain the site before all the science is in, flouting local officials. Learn more » http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/brokenpromises/yucca.html
Student Loans
Bush promised to make higher education more accessible by helping students with high costs.
Bush proposed pulling $1.3 billion from a program that allows students to consolidate education loans at federally subsidized interest rates. Learn more » http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/brokenpromises/loans.html
| Tue, 09-28-2004 - 8:43am |
