I notice the Dubya campaign site now has "ad facts" along with their newest ads. Elaborates on the points in the ads, with references.
Here's the "ad facts" on the 900 billion claim. Really skewers Kerry.
georgewbush.com
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NARRATOR: “Now John Kerry’s plan will raise taxes by at least 900 billion dollars his first hundred days in office… And that’s just his first 100 days.”
BACKGROUND
Kerry Promises First 100 Days Proposal To Congress Will Be Health Care Plan. “John Kerry’s first major proposal to Congress will be a realistic plan that stops spiraling healthcare costs, covers every child in America, and makes it possible for every American to get the same health care as any Member of Congress.” (John Kerry’s “100 Days To Change America,” johnkerry.com
Kerry Promises: “In My First Hundred Days In The White House, I Will Roll Back George Bush's Tax Cut For The Wealthiest So That We Can Invest In Education And Health Care.” (John Kerry, “Kick off new year by making right choice for President,” The Union Leader [Manchester NH], 1/1/04)
Kerry’s Health Care Plan Would Cost The Federal Government $895 Billion Over 10 Years And Still Would Not Cover All Currently Uninsured Individuals. According to Kenneth Thorpe, a health care economics professor at Emory University and former Clinton administration official: “Federal costs under the Kerry plans would be $895 billion over ten years to extend insurance to 26.7 million uninsured [of 43.6 million total uninsured]. This includes approximately $230 billion in federal spending for the reinsurance pool that targets those with health insurance and $665 billion for programs targeting the uninsured.” (Kenneth E. Thorpe, “An Overview And Analysis Of The Democratic Presidential Candidates’ Health Care Reform Proposals,” 9/7/03; “Health Insurance Coverage In The United States: 2002,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/03)
Kerry Accepts Thorpe’s $900 Billion Estimate When Asked. SEN. JOHN KERRY: “[I]f you look at $75 billion a year, the president has just passed a tax cut, 54 percent of which went to 1 percent of Americans, which was about $352 billion. … That’s the choice of this race.” PBS’ MARGARET WARNER: “But your plan totaled, as scored by an independent authority, $900 billion over ten years.” KERRY: “Yes.” (PBS’ “The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer,” 7/2/03)
Kerry Promises To Cut, Not Increase The Deficit: “I’m Going To Cut The Deficit In Half In The First Four Years.” (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Black Caucus/Fox News Channel Democrat Presidential Candidates Debate, Detroit, MI, 10/26/03)
Kerry Promises: Can Pay For Health Care Plan And Balance Budget Simply By Rolling Back Tax Cut On People Making Over $200,000 And Closing Tax Loopholes. “Now, we can balance the budget and be fiscally responsible in America. We proved that in the 1990s. And I’m going to do exactly what we did then and I have enough money for my health care, for education by rolling back the high end, the wealthy tax cut of people $200,000 and more. And I’m going to shut the loopholes that are now in 17,000 pages of tax code...” (Sen. John Kerry, AARP Democrat Presidential Candidates Debate, Bedford, NH, 11/18/03)
Kerry’s Own Campaign Admits That His Numbers Don’t Add Up. “Although Kerry's aides privately admit the Democratic candidate cannot fulfill all of his campaign promises and still reduce the deficit by half as promised …” (Jim VandeHei, “Kerry Gets Boost From Surprising Sources,” The Washington Post, 3/23/04)
Kerry Said He’s Added Up Numbers And Will Still Be Able To Cut Deficit In Half Despite Numerous Campaign Promises. NBC’s TIM RUSSERT: “How can you possibly cut the deficit in half when you listed all the programs – health care, education – that you’re for? It doesn’t add up.” SEN. KERRY: “It does add up. It absolutely does add up, and I have been very careful in doing this. I have gone to some of the best people who’ve already been tested in this ‘cause they did it with Bill Clinton. People like Roger Altman and Gene Sperling and Alan Blinder and others are working with me; Bob Reischauer, who was at OMB. We’ve crunched the numbers, and when you get rid of the top end of the Bush tax cut and put back in some of the inheritance tax, you get more money than I am spending.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 8/31/03) |
