George W. Bush in The Associated Press
On Energy & Oil:
Reduce gas consumption by 20% over 10 years
Pres. Bush, prodded by a Supreme Court ruling, said his administration will decide how to regulate pollution from new motor vehicles by the time he leaves office.Bush signed an executive order that will “cut gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas
emissions from motor vehicles.”
“When it comes to energy and the environment, the American people expect common sense and they expect action,” the president said. “We’re taking action by taking the first steps toward rules that will make our economy
stronger, our environment cleaner and our nation more secure for generations to come.“
What those rules would look like was anything but clear. An official said the president’s position opposing mandatory emissions caps has not changed.
Bush has said that anything other than a voluntary approach would unduly harm the nation’s economy.
Bush officials indicated that the new rules could implement the president’s plan for reducing gas consumption by 20 percent over 10 years.
Source: Jennifer Loven, Associated Press
May 14, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Screens all audiences to avoid hecklers
President Bush’s team exerts close control over admission to his campaign events. Dissenters and would-be hecklers are turned away, campaign officials say. On several occasions in recent weeks, Democrats who have gotten in have been ejected because
they wore pro-Kerry T-shirts. The Bush campaign billed his visit to Beaverton as a chance for ordinary citizens to pose questions to the president. But this was no town hall appearance before a cross-section of citizens. Bush-Cheney re-election
headquarters had instructed Oregon campaign officials to distribute tickets, so the school gymnasium was filled last Friday with 2,000 passionate Bush backers.
Kerry’s more open approach carries political risks. Sometimes protesters show up and
try to disrupt his appearances. Such dissent is never a problem for Bush. When the time came to “Ask President Bush” Friday, none of his 16 questioners challenged him on his policies. Several did not ask questions at all, but simply voiced support.
Source: Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press
Aug 16, 2004
On Education:
$5,000 Grants for poor students in math & sciences
Bush called for the creation of $5,000 grants for poor students who emphasize math and science, a $100 million annual program to be paid for by imposing new restrictions on Pell Grants and by tapping private foundations.
Bush also proposed requiring high-school seniors in every state to take national math and English tests that currently are mandated only for fourth- and eighth-graders.
Source: Deb Riechman, Associated Press
May 10, 2004
On Homeland Security:
Concedes no evidence of Saddam ties to 9-11
Bush conceded there was no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11-disputing an idea held by many Americans. “There’s no question that Saddam Hussein had al-Qaeda ties,” the president said.
But he also said: “We have no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the Sept 11” attacks. Yet a new poll found that nearly 70% of respondents believed the Iraqi leader probably was personally involved.
Source: Associated Press in Australian Financial Review
Sep 18, 2003
On Tax Reform:
Get bigger paychecks in people’s pockets fast
Bush highlighted various groups of Americans that would benefit from the 10-year, $1.6 trillion tax reduction. A Bush adviser said, “We hope that we can accelerate the tax cut, or at least a major portion of it, to the start of this year - get bigger
paychecks in people’s pockets, smaller withholding as soon as possible.” Another Bush spokesman said, “The president intends to highlight that under his fair, responsible tax-relief plan, the typical American family will get to keep $1,600 more of their
hard-earned money.“ Bush says the tax cut is necessary to stave off a recession, and many Democrats agree, although some believe a smaller cut of less than $1 trillion over 10 years is in order. Bush warned of ”troubling“ economic signs as he pitched
the tax-cut plan and Democrats responded that the proposal would disproportionately help the wealthy. The Democrats also argued that Bush’s tax cut and increased spending on improving schools, the military and Medicare would bring new deficits.
Source: Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press
Feb 5, 2001
On Abortion:
No funds to international groups that offer abortion
President Bush has decided to block U.S. funds to international family-planning groups that offer abortion and abortion counseling, a White House official said Monday. The action, which reverses a Clinton administration stance, will be among the first
policy moves of the new Republican administration and was leaked on the same day that abortion opponents staged their annual march on Washington. “The president does not support using taxpayer funds to provide abortions,” Bush’s press secretary
said, refusing to speculate on any final decision to reverse the Clinton administration’s position. U.S. funds to international groups that support abortion had been blocked by former Presidents Reagan and Bush, in what became known as the Mexico City
policy because it was announced by Reagan at a 1984 population conference there. President Clinton, an abortion-rights supporter, had restored funding two days after he became president in 1993.
Source: Associated Press
Jan 22, 2001
On Families & Children:
Tax cut plan helps single people as well as families
Q: What is one example of something in your plans that would improve opportunities for single adults past their college years? A: There are a number of examples in my plans to improve opportunities for single adults, from my proposed health insurance
credit to my proposal [for people to] invest a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes in personal retirement accounts. If I were to highlight just one example it would be the income tax relief that my plan provides to everyone. It improves the
opportunities for all single adults who pay income taxes because they can take more of their paycheck home. An accounting firm examined five hypothetical single taxpayers. Every one of them got a tax cut under my plan. Four out of five got no tax relief
under Al Gore’s plan. For example, a single person earning $40,000 a year pays $5,772 in federal taxes under current law and gets no income-tax relief under Gore’s plan. That same person would get a $496 income tax cut under my plan.
Source: Associated Press
Nov 6, 2000
On Immigration:
Respect other languages, but teach all children English
Q: Should English be made the country’s official language? A: The ability to speak English is the key to success in America. I support a concept I call English-plus, insisting on English
proficiency but recognizing the invaluable richness that other languages and cultures brings to our nation of immigrants. In Texas, the Spanish language enhances and helps define
our state’s history. My fundamental priority is results. Whether a school uses an immersion program or a bilingual program, whichever effectively teaches children to read and comprehend
English as quickly as possible, I will support. The standard is English literacy and the goal is equal opportunity - all in an atmosphere where every heritage is respected and celebrated.
Source: Associated Press
Nov 1, 2000
On Free Trade:
Add Chile, Brazil, Argentina, & others to NAFTA
Q: Would you pursue a hemispheric trade deal extending the benefits of NAFTA to Central and South America and the Caribbean? A: My administration will foster democracy and level barriers to trade. If elected, my goal will be
free trade agreements with all the nations of Latin America. We can do so in cooperation with our NAFTA partners. We should also do so with Chile, and Brazil and Argentina, the anchor states of Mercosur. We will also work toward free trade with the
smaller nations of Central America and the Caribbean. We must be flexible because one-size-fits-all negotiations are not always the answer. But the ultimate goal will remain constant, free trade from
northernmost Canada to the tip of Cape Horn. In the near term, we will renew trade preferences with the Andean nations - enacted in 1991, and set to expire next year.
Source: Associated Press
Oct 31, 2000
On Civil Rights:
Affirmative access means a fair shot for everyone
Q: Do you support the hiring and contracting preferences based on race and sex that are inherent in affirmative action programs? A: I support what I call ‘affirmative access’-not quotas, not double standards, because those divide and balkanize, but
access-a fair shot for everyone. For example, I signed legislation in Texas requiring the top 10 percent of graduates from Texas high schools to be automatically accepted in any public university in Texas. As president, I will strip bureaucratic
regulations, such as high permitting and licensing fees, which disproportionately hurt minority-owned businesses. I will break up federal procurement contracts to allow minority-owned businesses to compete for or partner with more experienced firms as
subcontractors. And I will reward companies making aggressive efforts to involve minority-owned businesses through subcontracting and mentoring programs.
Source: Associated Press
Oct 25, 2000
On Foreign Policy:
Vietnam: Trade better for human rights than sanctions
Q: An agreement has been signed with Vietnam that, if approved by Congress next year, will require that country to protect U.S. intellectual property and open its markets. It makes no demands on human rights. Do you support this deal? A: I support
the trade agreement with Vietnam. I believe expanded trade with Vietnam will help the forces of economic and political reform take root and grow. At the same time, we must make clear to the Vietnamese government that we expect them to cooperate fully
with our efforts to obtain the fullest possible accounting of missing servicemen in Vietnam. Like all Americans, I want to see improved human rights, and living and working conditions worldwide. The best way to address these issues is not through
unilateral trade sanctions, but through multilateral agreements. The primary goal of our trade policy should be to open markets abroad because the better way to raise living and working standards is to increase trade.
Source: Associated Press
Oct 18, 2000
On Tax Reform:
Claim that every taxpayer gets relief isn’t true
Bush said: “Everybody who pays taxes is going to get tax relief.” He would cut all tax rates, but a bipartisan congressional panel has found that nearly 27 million Americans might not get the full benefit because they would have to pay another tax
originally designed to prevent investors and the wealthy from sheltering too much of their income. The panel said some taxpayers would get no break at all from Bush’s plan, because of the so-called alternative minimum tax.
Source: Associated Press analysis of St. Louis debate
Oct 17, 2000
On Energy & Oil:
Clarify rules to allow for more nuclear power generation
Q: Should the US increase its use of nuclear power as part of a strategy to come closer to energy independence? A: Nuclear power plays an important role in meeting the energy needs of the New Economy, supplying over 20% of electricity consumed. As
part of my energy policy, I would clarify IRS rules to make it easier for companies that specialize in operating nuclear power plants to purchase them from companies that do not. My overall energy policy also includes using diplomatic leverage, working
with our allies, OPEC, and other oil-producing countries to ensure greater stability in world oil markets. I will also encourage greater exploration at home including opening the ANWR up to environmentally responsible exploration. We must also
develop our natural gas resources, which are clean-burning and hemispheric in nature, not subject to whims of OPEC. I will also promote renewable sources of energy as part of my agenda because the New Economy is very electric-intensive.
Source: Associated Press
Oct 16, 2000
On Health Care:
Medical Savings Accounts part of affordable access & choice
Q: Should the government let everyone set aside money in a tax-free medical savings account to help pay for their health care? A: I believe every American should have access to quality, affordable health care by giving consumers
better information about health care plans, providing more choices such as medical savings accounts and changing tax laws to help more people, such as the uninsured and the self-employed, afford health insurance.“
Source: Associated Press
Oct 11, 2000
On Technology:
Privacy is a fundamental right; ensure it on the Internet
Q: On Internet Privacy: Should the federal government step in to safeguard people’s online privacy or can that be done through self-regulation and users’ education? A: “I believe privacy is a fundamental right, and that every American
should have absolute control over his or her personal information. Now, with the advent of the Internet, personal privacy is increasingly at risk. I am committed to protecting personal privacy for every American and I believe the marketplace
Source: Associated Press
Oct 6, 2000
On Technology:
Privacy is a fundamental right; ensure it on the Internet
Q: On Internet Privacy: Should the federal government step in to safeguard people’s online privacy or can that be done through self-regulation and users’ education? A: “I believe privacy is a fundamental right, and that every American
should have absolute control over his or her personal information. Now, with the advent of the Internet, personal privacy is increasingly at risk. I am committed to protecting personal privacy for every American and I believe the marketplace
can function without sacrificing the privacy of individuals. Industry appears to be making some efforts to meet consumer demands for privacy protection. I will ensure Americans can exercise their right to know how their information is
collected, how it will be used, and to accept or decline the collection or dissemination of this information, especially sensitive medical, genetic, and financial information.
Source: Associated Press
Oct 6, 2000
On Technology:
Ban identity theft & safeguard genetic information
In Texas, I banned identity theft, safeguarded genetic information, protected driver’s license information and provided for a new Internet Bureau Task Force to combat emerging cyber crimes. As president, I will prohibit genetic discrimination,
criminalize identity theft, and guarantee the privacy of medical and sensitive financial records. I will also make it a criminal offense to sell a person’s Social Security number without his or her express consent.
Source: Associated Press
Oct 6, 2000
On Jobs:
Keep Freedom to Farm Act: cut price supports
Q: The Freedom to Farm Act cut price supports to farmers while giving them more freedom to plant what they want. Do you support this law? A: Yes. The best way to ensure a strong and growing agricultural sector is through a
more market-driven approach that allows our farmers to fully participate in the world economy. As farming moves towards market-driven production, I believe the government should help farmers adapt to a global marketplace by providing
a strong safety net and the means to manage the cyclical downturns in the farm economy. I will reinforce the important role farmers and ranchers play in the U.S. economy by increasing trade opportunities, reducing regulatory
burdens, and reducing the overall tax burden. My administration will also renew our commitment to investments in new and innovative technologies for rural America.
Source: Associated Press
Sep 20, 2000
On Energy & Oil:
Make Amtrak more efficient and competitive
Q: Should the federal government be spending more to help Amtrak expand intercity rail travel and develop high-speed corridors?? A: Our national railroad network is a crucial component of our public transportation system. I support a healthy intercity
passenger rail system. I support current efforts to make Amtrak more efficient and competitive. I believe these efforts will result in better, more extensive and more reliant rail service for the millions of Americans who travel by train.
Source: Associated Press
Sep 17, 2000
On Energy & Oil:
Remove federal impediments to states’ clean energy
Q: What would you do to promote the use of cleaner energy?A: I would remove federal impediments, such as unclear jurisdiction over who is responsible for grid
reliability, to help states be able to deregulate their electric industries effectively. This way states’ green power can be identified and rewarded. As governor, I presided over an electric
deregulation bill that brings competition to Texas residents, makes mandatory emissions reductions from older power plants, and calls for 2,000 megawatts of new renewable
energy by 2009, making Texas the largest market for renewable energy in the country. The Environmental Defense Fund calls this Texas law ‘the strongest in the nation.“‘
Source: Associated Press
Sep 12, 2000
On Homeland Security:
Gays in military OK; “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” OK
Q: Do you support the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military? A: I support the current ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy crafted by General Colin Powell regarding homosexuals in the military. We are blessed and
fortunate to have had so many men and women fight so valiantly for our liberties in America. I respect and admire anyone who has served in any branch of our military and put his or her life on the line for our freedom.
Source: Associated Press
Sep 6, 2000
On Health Care:
Use Texas model for Bill of Rights: access; choice; appeals
Bush already has enacted a patients’ bill of rights in Texas that is considered a model by the AMA. A significant piece of the Texas bill of rights legislation, giving patients the right the sue insurance companies, became law without Bush’s
signature. Among the Texas law’s provisions: - Patients can appeal denials of care to an independent review panel and in some cases, sue their HMO if they are hurt because the HMO denied or delayed the approval of treatment.
- Women have direct
access to their obstetrician and gynecologist and are covered for a minimum of 48 hours in the hospital after giving birth.
- Employees have the right to choose their own doctor, even outside their health plan, so long as they are willing to pay
additional costs of that coverage.
- People have access to their own specialists.
- Final medical decisions must be made by doctors, not HMOs.
- In emergencies, HMOs by law must make decisions about coverage within two hours.
Source: Associated Press
Aug 31, 2000
On Immigration:
$500M to cut INS application time to 6 months
Expanding on a proposal to improve the INS, Bush pledged $500 million in new spending yesterday to cut the time needed to process an immigration application to an average of six months. Bush said the process now takes three to five years.
Late last year, the INS announced that average times had been reduced from two years to 12 months, and were headed lower. ’’We will bring to the INS a new standard of service and a culture of respect,’’ Bush said. The new spending, to be doled
out over five years, is the latest part of an INS overhaul plan that Bush’s campaign believes will resonate with Latino voters. ‘’We’ve got an INS that is too bureaucratic, too stuck in the past,’’ he said.
Last week, Bush announced that he wants
to split the INS into two agencies: one for legitimate immigrants and one for border enforcement. He also proposed allowing relatives of permanent residents to visit the US while their own immigration papers are being processed.
Source: Paul Shepard, Associated Press, in Boston Globe, page A12
Jul 6, 2000
On Social Security:
Open questions: transition costs & bad investors bailouts
| Bush | Gore |
|---|
- Allow investing an unspecified amount of payroll taxes in the stock market.
- Does not preclude decreasing guaranteed benefits for future retirees.
| Use the federal budget surplus
to pay down the debt and use the interest saved to keep Social Security solvent.- Subsidized retirement savings plan open to families earning up to $100,000 a year.
|
| Unanswered questions |
|---|
- Will the
government bail out people who make poor investment decisions?
- What about the costs of making the transition to & then maintaining the accounts?
- If some payroll taxes are diverted to private accounts, how will the government make up the difference
for current retirees?
| - What if future administrations don’t display the kind of fiscal discipline Gore’s plan requires?
- What if the projections of budget surplus money to pay down the debt doesn’t come true?
|
Source: Associated Press in Boston Globe, p. A10
Jul 5, 2000
On Crime:
134 Texas executions are “fair and just”
Texas Gov. George W. Bush defended his state’s legal system Wednesday as “fair and just” and said there was no need for a moratorium on executions. “As far as I’m concerned there has not been one innocent person
executed since I’ve become governor,” Bush said. Since he took office 5 1/2 years ago, 134 inmates have been executed in Texas. Bush said he has analyzed each capital case that reaches his desk.
Source: Associated Press, N.Y. Times
Jun 21, 2000
On Social Security:
Privatize Social Security to take advantage of stock market
Gore accused Bush today of devising a “secret plan” that could bankrupt the Social Security system. Gore asserted that Bush was quietly developing a “risky” plan to allow individual investment accounts in Social Security that would jeopardize millions
of taxpayers’ savings. “How does the Bush plan propose to deal with the bankruptcy of Social Security that his privatization scheme would cause? He doesn’t even bother to provide an answer.” Under Bush’s proposal, taxpayers would be allowed to invest
a small part of their Social Security payroll taxes in the stock or bond markets. Bush’s aides argue that such a plan would help taxpayers take advantage of the stock market’s historic growth.
But Gore asserted today that the plan would make the
system vulnerable to huge market fluctuations that could hurt millions of retirees. And as he has repeatedly done in recent days, he suggested that Mr. Bush was charting a course that was “reckless” and “irresponsible.”
Source: James Dao & Frank Bruni, Associated Press
May 4, 2000
On Free Trade:
Fast Track in west; WTO in east
Bush said he would seek “fast-track” negotiating status from Congress to expand free trade in the Western Hemisphere: “I will work to create an entire hemisphere in free trade,” he said. “I will work to extend the benefits of NAFTA from the northernmost
Alaska to the tip of Cape Horn.” He said he wanted to build on NAFTA to bring other countries throughout Latin America Meanwhile, the Bush campaign distributed a policy statement that said he supports admission of China and Taiwan to the WTO.
Source: Kelley Shannon, Associated Press, in L.A. Times
Apr 24, 2000
On Gun Control:
Agrees with Gore on trigger locks;but wants more enforcement
Where They Agree: Regarding guns, Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore would, if elected president:- Support the current ban on assault weapons.
- Prohibit juveniles from possessing assault weapons.
- Ban imports
of high-capacity ammunition clips.
- Raise the minimum age for possessing a handgun from 18 to 21.
- Require that trigger locks be sold with handguns.
Where They Differ- Bush also would:
- Provide more money
for enforcement of gun laws.
- Support automatic detention for young people who commit crimes with guns.
- Oppose government-mandated registration of guns owned by people who don’t break laws.
- Gore also would:
- Require photo
licensing for handgun purchases.
- Limit gun purchases to one per month and require a three-day waiting period.
- Require manufacturers and federally licensed sellers to report sales to a state authority.
Source: Associated Press in Los Angeles Times
Apr 21, 2000
On Technology:
Bush would be more friendly toward Microsoft
The government won the first round of the antitrust case against Microsoft, but with years of legal appeals anticipated, who the new president is could change how the case is resolved. Bush has signaled he would be more friendly to the company. A law
professor said, “Could the outcome of the election have an impact on the case? Yes. But less because of control over the Justice Dept. and more because of control over the Supreme Court.” Judge Jackson could send the case directly to the Supreme Court.
Source: Associated Press
Apr 9, 2000
On Health Care:
HMOs should cover emergency room; & gynecology directly
On HMOs: Favors requirement that patients be covered for hospital emergency care, that women be able to go directly to gynecologist, and patients with ongoing illnesses not be forced to change
doctors, among other protections. Also favors independent review process and ultimate avenue for legal action by patients, but says any federal move on this front should not supersede protections in place in states.
Source: Associated Press
Mar 14, 2000
On Health Care:
Medicare Rx drug coverage for low-income seniors
Medicare is one of the most important contributions to seniors’ health care ever enacted. I will work to strengthen Medicare by enhancing its financial stability and ensuring seniors
have access to more comprehensive coverage better tailored to their health care needs. We now have an inefficient system that is run by a 132,000-page document where the
government makes all the decisions. I support increasing competition and giving seniors the right to choose their health care plans that include basic coverage such as prescription
drugs. We should also ensure prescription drug coverage is available for low-income seniors who otherwise cannot afford it.
Source: Associated Press, in Brockton (MA) Enterprise, p. B6
Mar 1, 2000
On Education:
Freedom & flexibility in return for high standards & results
Q: Should federal money be linked to how well students perform on national or statewide tests? A: As president, I will fundamentally change the relationship between the
states and federal government in education. I strongly believe in local control of schools and curriculum. We will grant unprecedented freedom and flexibility in return for high standards and results. In my administration,
federal dollars will no longer follow failure. We will ask states and local school districts to set their own standards to achieve excellence in the core
areas of math, English, science, and history, and hold them accountable for results. I oppose a national test because it would undermine curriculum developed at the state and local level.
Source: Associated Press
Feb 23, 2000
On Foreign Policy:
Russia: Troubling that Putin gained from Chechnya
Bush was asked by reporters what he thought about Russia’s acting President Vladimir Putin, who got the job after the surprise New Year’s resignation of Boris Yeltsin. Putin has gained support in Russia by
promoting Moscow’s military offensive in Chechnya, a breakaway region. “I’m troubled by the fact that Mr. Putin has gained popularity as a result of Chechnya,” Bush said. “I’m hopeful that he will lead his country to substantive and real reforms.”
Source: Associated Press, in The Enterprise (Brockton MA), p. A9
Jan 4, 2000
On Education:
$3 billion for Charter School Fund
Bush said he would require states to “test every child, every year, in grades 3 through 8.” Bush also would expand the federal Education Savings Account program to $5,000 a year per child for use in elementary and high schools. Currently, families can
invest just $500 per child per year in the tax-free, interest-bearing accounts, and the money can only be used for college.
Source: Beth J. Harpaz, Associated Press
Oct 5, 1999
On Principles & Values:
A “call to conscience” for personal responsibility
Bush issued today what he said was ‘a call to conscience.’ [Bush seeks to] “usher in an era of personal responsibility, an era in which every person understands that they are responsible for the decisions they make in life,” Bush said. “Today Americans
are rich in possessions. We also must be rich in our ideals,” he said. “There must be a purpose to our prosperity.” Bush added that Americans are relearning that public interest depends on pride and that standards and commitments produce integrity.
Source: Katherine Vogt, Associated Press
Sep 6, 1999
On Technology:
Make the Internet a duty-free zone
Bush advocates making the Internet a duty- and tariff-free zone.
Source: Associated Press
Aug 13, 1999
On Civil Rights:
English-plus, not English-only
Bush firmly rejected “English-only,” which has caused problems among Hispanics. “I support English-plus, not English-only,” said Bush. “English-only says to me that if Hispanic happens to be your heritage, you’re not part of the process.”
Source: Mike Glover, Associated Press
Aug 6, 1999
On Immigration:
Guest workers, maybe; citizenship waiting period, yes
Bush pledged to revisit guest worker programs and other ways for immigrants to come into the country, but said he would insist on immigration controls and a waiting period before citizenship.
Source: Mike Glover, Associated Press
Aug 6, 1999
On Civil Rights:
State lottery OK, but qualms about casino gambling
Bush presided over a state lottery approved by Texas voters three years before he became governor. Bush himself, as a private citizen, voted in favor of creating the lottery, his office said. Yet, Bush has made clear that he has qualms about gambling and
would campaign and vote against the introduction of casinos if voters are presented with another ballot question. “Casino gambling is not OK. It has ruined the lives of too many adults and it can do the same thing to our children,” Bush declared.
Source: Laurence Arnold, Associated Press
Jul 26, 1999
On Education:
More state and local control over education
Bush espoused giving state and local governments more control over education, including curriculum, disciplining students and punishing juvenile offenders. “Trust local people to make decisions for their schools.”
Source: Associated Press
Jun 25, 1999
On Abortion:
Would support - but not pursue - a pro-life Amendment
Bush has said he is opposed to abortion and would support a constitutional amendment making the procedure illegal - except in cases of rape, incest and when the woman’s life is jeopardy. But he also says Americans don’t support the measure, thus there is
no need to pursue it. But he would not require his Supreme Court nominees to pass an anti-abortion ‘litmus test.’
Source: Associated Press
Jun 14, 1999
On Civil Rights:
Reach out to minorities, but without quotas
Bush opposes quotas and racial preferences, but said the private and public sector should be encouraged to reach out to minorities. He refused to state his position on a California law that eliminated affirmative action programs.
Source: Associated Press
Jun 14, 1999
On Government Reform:
Judges should interpret Constitution, not legislate
Bush would not require his Supreme Court nominees to pass an anti-abortion ‘litmus test.’ Bush told reporters he would nominate Supreme Court judges based on three criteria: Judicial temperament and “do the judges share my overall philosophy and will the
judges strictly interpret the Constitution as opposed to using the bench to legislate?”
Source: Associated Press
Jun 14, 1999
On Foreign Policy:
Cox Report: Should have done something immediately
[Bush said] the White House failed to take the Cox Report seriously and was slow to react. “I’d do something about it immediately,” he said. Bush acknowledged that the problem has been going on for years, but he doesn’t believe that gives Clinton an
excuse. “It’s unfortunate that China has been stealing secrets during Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton. But there is only one administration that has been given the news; only one administration knew, and that’s the Clinton administration.” he said.
Source: Associated Press, “Republicans on China”, by K. Srinivasan
May 26, 1999
On Foreign Policy:
Chinese nuclear spying will shift balance of power
Bush also called for a congressional investigation into “what went wrong and why.”“I think the balance of power is going to shift as a result of this,” Bush said. “I think it’s going to accelerate China’s emergence as a nuclear power. And the next
president and presidents after that are going to have to deal with that.”
Source: Associated Press, “Republicans on China”, by K. Srinivasan
May 26, 1999
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