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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| JANUARY
19, 1999 11:18 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Senator Paul Wellstone Jim Farrell or Andy McDonald (202) 224-8440 |
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| Wellstone Finds State of the Union Address Wanting; Calls on Clinton to Seize Opportunity to Address Historic Challenges While Economy is Strong | ||||
| WASHINGTON
- January 19 - In response to the State of the Union Address, Senator Paul Wellstone called on
President Clinton to do much more to effect real change in the face of America's
historic challenges--especially in health care, child care, and education -- in
an age of unprecedented economic growth. In a statement released following the
address, Wellstone said: "Once again the President has eloquently outlined the historic challenges facing all Americans today. But his incrementalist policies, as outlined again tonight, will not do nearly enough to bridge the broad and growing chasm that divides the wealthy and prosperous from the majority of Americans who continue to struggle to make ends meet, who want job security, decent health care, well-funded schools in which to educate their kids, and a rising standard of living. The modest solutions offered in the President's State of the Union Address are symptomatic of this administration's continued downsizing of the Democratic Party agenda." "Instead of universal health care coverage for the 44 million Americans who have none, we get small health care tax credits for certain groups of Americans only. Rather than boldly addressing one of the biggest concerns of many working families -- paying for child care -- the President has warmed over last year's plan, and again failed to propose the kind of national investments, policies and programs necessary to support children with high quality care and education. Instead of investing substantially in early childhood education that addresses what happens to children before and after school, and in the critical pre-kindergarten developmental years, he has fallen far short. There are an estimated 10 million kids eligible for child care aid right now; the President's modest plan, even if fully implemented, will cover only a small portion of those eligible. While in certain areas, the President's call for more spending may seem substantial, it still will not address the scope of these major challenges." "And while he proposes to offer downsized domestic proposals, he's chosen to increase defense spending by $110 billion over the next six years, the largest Pentagon budget increase since Ronald Reagan was president. The Cold War is over, but whatever happened to the peace dividend? This huge increase now is unjustifiable, and especially so in light of the huge challenges we face on the domestic policy front. I would rather see the President make a much more meaningful budgetary commitment to health care, child care, job security and living standards, retirement security, and the snowballing inequality in our country today." ### |
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