Bush Outlines Second-Term Agenda
Thursday, July 22, 2004
•Bush Campaigns in Iowa, Missouri Toss-Ups
WASHINGTON — President Bush (search) sketched out a second-term domestic agenda Wednesday that would shift focus to improving high school education and expanding access to health care, and charged that Democratic rival John Kerry (search) would raise taxes — the "wrong medicine" for the economy, Bush said.
"This nation is on a rising path, and with four more years we'll achieve more growth, new and higher-paying jobs and greater opportunity for all of our citizens," Bush told nearly 7,000 campaign donors who contributed $23 million to Republican lawmakers. "When men and women have a sound education and the skills to seize new opportunities and the security of health care, they will achieve great things for themselves and for our nation."
Bush offered only broad outlines of what his priorities would be, and no specific new initiatives. Aides said those will come later.
The president promised to build upon the No Child Left Behind (search) law that set new standards for elementary school students and teachers.
"Now we must move forward and make sure our high schools are doing their jobs as well," Bush said. "Every high school diploma must mean that our graduates are prepared for jobs, for college and for success." He did not elaborate.
More than 40 million people have no health insurance and Bush said: "We must move forward to expand access to care, and to keep important health decisions in the hands of patients and doctors, not in government bureaucrats." |
