Talking Points For North Carolina Democrats

(It's getting a little dated, but still good)

National Defense/Homeland Security

·        Democrats proposed the Homeland Security Bill.  President Bush initially opposed the bill, but supported it after he realized he could load it up with special interest giveaways, including: a massive pork project for Congressman Tom DeLays district; immunity for pharmaceutical companies whose drugs may be causing autism in children; and the elimination of many of the basic rights that federal civil servants have always enjoyed.

·        Republicans in the U.S. Congress would only support 1/3 of the funding requested by Democrats to help first-responders, the firemen and police officers on the frontline of any terrorist attack.  A recent survey by the National Fire Protection Association found that only 13% of the nations fire departments are prepared to deal with a biological or chemical attack involving ten or more injuries.

·        The Bush Administration has done little to reduce Americas dependence on foreign oil.  Last year, President Bush canceled a ten year program to create, by next year, an 80 MPG family sedan.  Hes dramatically cut funding for energy efficiency research and development.  Hes also weakened regulations to make air conditioners more energy efficient.

The Economy

·        When President Bush took office, he inherited from President Clinton the largest budget surplus in history.  Recently, President Bush presented a budget to Congress which proposed the largest budget deficit in history.

·        When President Bush ran for office, he proposed a tax cut (for the rich) because the economy was doing so well.  Now that hes in office, hes proposing a tax cut (for the rich) because the economy is doing so poorly.

·        Lets look at the Bush tax proposal.  Under his plan, 31% of taxpayers will get no reduction in their taxes.  Another 48% get less than a $100 reduction in taxes.  But, if you happen to be in the top 1%, your average tax cut will be $30,127.

·        The Democratic Plan is fair and will stimulate the economy.  Under our Plan, 94% of taxpayers will get some tax cut.  Low-income taxpayers will get an average tax cut of $266.  Middle-income taxpayers will get an average tax cut of $542.  The richest 1% will get an average tax cut of $817.

·        The Democratic Plan will provide a direct stimulus to the economy without a surge in our national debt.  Our Plan will cost $114 billion over the next ten years.  President Bush's proposed Plan would have cost almost $900 billion over the same period.

Healthcare

·        Right now, 41 million Americans are without healthcare insurance.  Since President Bush came to office, 1.4 million more Americans became uninsured.

·        The Republican Prescription Drug Plan for Senior Citizens provides far more limited coverage, with higher additional premiums, than the Democratic Plan.  In addition, under the Republican Plan, to get real prescription drug coverage, seniors would be required to join HMOs, limiting their choice of doctor.

Environmental Protection

·        Even though 40% of our nations waters are considered unsafe for fishing, swimming and other uses, President Bush has pushed through new regulations limiting the scope of the Clean Water Act. 

·        President Bush has implemented new regulations weakening the Clean Air Act.  For example, in a giveaway to power companies, he delayed by 10 years scheduled reductions in emissions from power plants.

·        He eliminated the tax that oil and chemical companies pay to support Superfund, the federal program through which toxic waste sites are cleaned up.  As a result, President Bush has shifted the cost of cleanup from the polluters to the taxpayers, resulting in a $10 billion giveaway to oil and chemical companies and a 40% reduction in the number of toxic waste site cleanups.

·        Last year, Eric Shaeffer the head of the Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Regulatory Enforcement resigned in protest, stating he was tired of fighting a White House that seems determined to weaken the rules we are trying to enforce.

Progress in North Carolina

·        The Bush recession has placed enormous strains on North Carolinas State Budget.  However, under Governor Easleys leadership, North Carolina is surviving even these treacherous economic waters.

·        Last year, Democrats balanced the state budget, despite an expected $1.5 billion shortfall.  At the same time, North Carolina Democrats: increased spending for education; reduced class sizes in kindergarten and first grade in all schools (and in kindergarten through third grade in low wealth schools); and increased teacher pay (at a time when neighboring states were unable to do the same).  As a result, test scores for North Carolinas children continue to rise, school attendance is rising, and the high school drop-out rate has fallen for the third year in a row.

·        Under Democratic leadership, the legislature recently passed the Clean Smokestacks Act, the toughest clean air legislation in the country.

·        Democrats, under the Governors leadership, passed a Patients Bill of Rights, which ensures that patients and their doctors decide what is proper care not HMOs and their accountants.  Democrats in North Carolina have improved and expanded childrens health and health insurance programs.