Edwards Highlights Bush's Miscalculations on Economy August 31, 2004
Beckley, WV - As the Republicans spent day two of their convention talking about "compassionate conservatism" on Tuesday, John Edwards traveled to Beckley, WV to emphasize that one night of compassion cannot wipe away four years of miscalculations on all the important issues facing our country. Joined by Richard Trumka, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, and hardworking West Virginians, Edwards spoke with families hit hard by the failed policies of the Bush administration and discussed the choice that voters face in this election when it comes to the economy.
Speaking from a West Virginia family's porch, Edwards emphasized the fundamental choice at stake when it comes to strengthening the economy and creating jobs: four more years of an administration that has turned its back on middle class families or the Kerry-Edwards economic plan which will make us stronger at home by putting middle-class families first. Edwards highlighted what the Republicans will not mention during their convention: the Bush-Cheney record is four years of miscalculating and undermining the middle class with fewer jobs, smaller paychecks, and higher costs for health care and prescription drugs. Edwards pledged that he and John Kerry will fight to create more and better jobs here in America and get middle class families the health care that they deserve at an affordable cost.
"President Bush has finally admitted that he miscalculated on Iraq, so will he next admit that he has miscalculated on the economy?" asked Edwards. "Will we next hear that his economic plan was a catastrophic success? His policies certainly have been catastrophic for the middle class, and successful for the very wealthy."
While George Bush has remained silent on job loss and the squeeze on middle class families, 2.7 million manufacturing jobs and 1.8 private sector jobs have disappeared. With these numbers, Bush is on track to be the first president since Herbert Hoover to have a net negative jobs record going into the election.
And while jobs are being lost, health care costs are spiraling out of control. The President has given millions away to HMOs and pharmaceutical companies, leaving families to struggle with rising premiums and unable to pay for the prescription drugs they desperately need. In West Virginia, the total family premium for health insurance has increased by $2,806 to a whopping $9,650 and the average annual health care premium increase has more than doubled under Bush.
Edwards also highlighted one part of the Kerry-Edwards health plan that would be especially beneficial to people like those gathered at the front porch. Some lost their health insurance when a nearby mining company, Horizon Natural Resources, went into bankruptcy. The Kerry-Edwards plan includes a 95 percent refundable, advanceable tax credit to pay for health insurance for workers that lose their jobs due to trade and other job losses covered under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program. Under this plan, a family would have to pay about $40 a month to buy into the same health plan available to Members of Congress. This would also cover spouses who are not yet eligible for Medicare.
"American families are working harder than ever before, and yet they are being squeezed like never before because of George Bush's miscalculations," said Edwards. "George Bush once said that results matter when choosing a president - he couldn't be more right. The past three and a half years may have yielded results for his corporate friends, but everyday Americans have seen nothing but empty promises, fewer jobs and higher costs."
For almost four years now, George Bush has miscalculated on the economy, squeezing middle class families with lost jobs, declining wages and skyrocketing costs. He has broken his promises to West Virginia, and all working Americans. He promised a $2 billion investment in clean coal over the next decade to the state, but he is already $320 million behind in that pledge. He has even gone so far as to cut funding for mine safety and enforcement by $15 million.
When they are elected, Kerry and Edwards will build a stronger economy that works for all Americans, with tax relief for middle class families and small businesses, investment in the jobs and technologies of the future, and a plan to lower health care costs and expand coverage.
"Four years ago, George Bush claimed to be a compassionate conservative," said Edwards. "But there is nothing compassionate about leaving millions of hard working families behind. And there is nothing conservative about a fiscal policy that turns record surpluses into record deficits by combining an ill-planned war with reckless tax cuts for the wealthy. The American people will not be fooled by slogans."
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