General Clark's Economic Plan
CNN has the outline of General Clark's economic plan. Here are the main parts:
"So I will reduce the tax cuts Mr. Bush gave the richest households -- those making more than $200,000 a year" and use the money for an economic incentive plan, he said.
A $40 billion fund would focus on improving homeland security by investing in infrastructure, such as hospitals, and training those who are the first to respond in emergencies. That fund would leave hospitals better prepared for potential biological and chemical attacks, provide money to hire more Coast Guard and customs workers, and secure ports, bridges and tunnels, Clark said.
A $40 billion fund for states and local governments -- many financially strapped -- would bolster public education, health care, local law enforcement and social services, he said. About $20 billion would help public colleges keep tuition down and help state and local governments train workers for new jobs, he said. Local governments would receive $10 billion to cope with rising health-care costs, and $10 billion would help finance local law enforcement programs and social services.
The third proposal would provide $20 billion for business tax credits and incentives, including tax credits of $5,000 per every new employee hired by a company. There would be incentives for firms to keep manufacturing jobs in the United States and efforts to make companies more competitive in the trade markets, Clark said.
Of course, we get some classic Democratic demagoguery:
"Three years ago, we were told we were getting a compassionate conservative," he said. "What we got instead were massive tax cuts for the rich, staggering deficits for the country and the worst jobs losses since the Great Depression. That's not compassionate or conservative. It's heartless, reckless and it's wrong."
Now, his plan has come classic class warfare and too much spending, but to a lot of people, it will look good. In reality, all that spending is like Clinton's attempt at economic stimulus of 1993, which was just a give away to areas that supported him. That's exactly what this will end up being.
Posted by Tim at September 24, 2003 09:48 PM
