Kerry v Bush: How Each Uses The Word Census

George W. Barnum Bush

Exhibit A





Exhibit B



Senator John Kerry

For Immediate Release
August 26, 2004

Statement from Senator John Kerry on New Census Numbers

Washington, DC – Senator John Kerry released the following statement today on the new Census numbers:

“Today’s economic numbers underscore the fundamental choice at stake in this election for the American people: four more years of an administration that puts the narrow interests of the few ahead of the interests of most Americans, or new leadership that will serve as a champion for the middle-class and those struggling to join it.

“Today confirms the failure of President Bush’s policies for all Americans. While George Bush tries to convince America’s families that we’re turning the corner, slogans and empty rhetoric can’t hide the real story. Under George Bush’s watch, America’s families are falling further behind. Family income has fallen $1511 under George Bush – declining for three straight years. 5.2 million people have lost health insurance under George Bush -- 1.4 million people this year alone. 4.3 million people have fallen into poverty under George Bush -- 1.3 million this year alone. All while good paying jobs are disappearing and families struggling to make ends meet are being squeezed by skyrocketing costs for health care, energy and college tuition.

“This election should be a debate about the real issues and about our values – not a campaign of fear and smear. There are real differences between me and my opponent – about real issues facing our families: creating new jobs, making health care more affordable, improving education, reducing gas prices, and rebuilding broken alliances, to make America safer and more secure. Today’s census numbers are more evidence of just how much is at stake.

“The American people want and deserve a debate on the issues – they don’t want mud-slinging personal attacks. To put it simply, when it comes down to it, the American people want us to keep our eye on the ball. I don’t believe that four years of lost jobs, lower wages, higher health care costs, higher tuitions and tax cuts for the few are the best we can do. America can do better and under a Kerry-Edwards administration we will.

“John Edwards and I are going to get this country back on track. We’re going to do the right thing by those who work hard every day. And we’re going to build an America that’s stronger at home and respected in the world.”

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FACT SHEET:
NEW CENSUS NUMBERS UNDERSCORE THAT BUSH HAS MADE WRONG CHOICES FOR MIDDLE CLASS
KERRY AND EDWARDS WILL PUT MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES FIRST

Today we got new Census data showing that under George Bush incomes have gone down while the number of people in poverty and without health insurance has gone up. The Bush administration has made the wrong choices for the middle class. John Kerry has a real plan to put the middle class first.


New Census data shows families are falling further behind. According to the new Census numbers:

The typical family has seen its income decline $1,511 under George Bush – declining for three straight years.

1.4 million more people lost health insurance in 2003. Under George Bush 5.2 million Americans have lost health insurance, bringing the total uninsured to 45 million.

1.3 million people fell into poverty in 2003. Under George Bush, 4.3 million people have fallen into poverty – brining the total number to 36 million.

The Bush Administration Has Made the Wrong Choices for the Middle Class

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Reported That Bush’s Tax Cuts Shifted The Burden Onto The Middle Class. The Washington Post reported, “Since 2001, President Bush’s tax cuts have shifted federal tax payments from the richest Americans to a wide swath of middle-class families, the Congressional Budget Office has found.” (Washington Post, 8/13/04)

Health Care Premiums Increased By $2,630 – While Bush Did Nothing. In the United States, the total family premium for health insurance has increased by $2,630 to $9,068. The employee portion of the premium increased by 49 percent. (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Bush Has Done Nothing To Lower Gas Prices While Increasing Our Dependence On Foreign Oil. The price of oil and gasoline has increased dramatically since Bush took office. Gasoline now costs $0.46, or 33 percent, higher than it did when Bush took office. The price of oil has increased has increased by 40 percent. While over the past four years, America has become increasingly dependent on foreign oil. In 2000, 58.2 percent of the oil consumed in the United States was imported. That has increased to 61.7 percent today. (EIA, “Overview of US Petroleum Trade”; AAA Fuel Gauge Report; Reuters, 8/24/04)

The Bush Administration Has Defended Tax Breaks For Companies That Ship Jobs Overseas And Called Efforts To Reduce Them “Stupid.” Commerce Undersecretary Grant Aldonas said that Kerry’s proposal to end tax breaks for companies that shift jobs overseas: “It’s a tax system that’s calculated to drive manufacturers offshore, rather than to keep (them) here… It’s the single stupidest idea since the Smoot-Hawley tariffs in terms of penalizing our manufacturing sector.” (National Journal’s Congress Daily, 4/13/04)

Inflation-Adjusted Minimum Wage Has Declined 7.8 Percent Under President Bush. President Bush has refused to support an increase in the minimum wage. Between January 2001 and July 2004, prices went up 7.8 percent. As a result, the purchasing power of the minimum wage went down by 7.8 percent. The Kerry-Edwards proposal to raise the minimum wage to $7 per hour by 2007 would lift a family of four working full-time, year-round above the Federal poverty line. (BLS)

John Kerry: A Real Plan to Put the Middle Class First

A Plan To Cut Costs And Expand Health Care. John Kerry and John Edwards will offer a plan that will take the cost of the most expensive health care cases off of employers, eliminating a real barrier to affordable health care. This will help us cut premiums for families by up $1,000. Their plan will also expand coverage to 27 million more Americans, including covering every child in America.

New Tax Cuts For The Middle Class For Health Care, Child Care And Education. As president, John Kerry will close corporate tax loopholes and use some of the money gained from repealing Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans – families making over $200,000 a year - to pay for tax credits without increasing the deficit by one dime. The Kerry-Edwards tax cuts include a tax credit on up to $4,000 of college tuition; a tax credit to help small businesses and vulnerable workers pay for health care and buy into John Kerry's new Congressional Health Plan; and a tax credit on $5,000 of child care expenses.

Raise The Minimum Wage And Defend And Strengthen The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Today, the minimum wage is currently worth only 33 percent of average American wages – its lowest level since 1949. John Kerry and John Edwards understand that today's eroded wage no longer meet the needs of American families. As president, John Kerry will increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.00 by 2007. That will give 7 million Americans a raise, and help millions of families pay for basic needs like education, food and health care. With this increase, parents working full-time will not have to raise their children in poverty. In addition, John Kerry will support and expand the EITC, including expanding relief for the EITC marriage penalty and accelerating the partial refundability of the child tax credit.

End Tax Breaks For Companies Creating Jobs Overseas. Currently companies get special tax breaks when they create jobs overseas. Specifically, under the deferral rules companies do not pay taxes on income they earn abroad until they bring in back to the United States. This encourages companies to create jobs overseas and reinvest the profits overseas to permanently avoid U.S. taxes. John Kerry and John Edwards will end deferral, except where a company is locating a factory overseas to produce for the home market.
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Whom should you trust?