George W. Bush in USA Today

On Energy & Oil: Incentives for high-mileage cars, but drill for more oil

The problem	The Bush plan	Other choices
Soaring gasoline prices	Open new federal lands to oil exploration and drilling Ease regulations on refineries and pipelines	Establish regional gasoline reserves to smooth out price spikes Limit the types of summer gasoline blends Investigate if oil companies are withholding supplies to bolster prices Lift sanctions on Iraq, Iran, and Libya
Increasing dependence on foreign oil	Promote domestic on oil exploration, especially in ANWR Provide tax incentives for the purchase of high-mileage cars	Mandate higher fuel efficiency standards for cars, trucks, and SUVs Increase funding for gasoline-electric “hybrids” and hydrogen-powered cars Diversify foreign supplies away from OPEC nations Promote energy-sector reforms in Russia and the Caspian Sea region Expand mass transit

Source: USA Today, p. 2A May 14, 2001

On Energy & Oil: More exploration, more nuclear, more energy research

The problem	The Bush plan	Other choices
Tighter natural gas supplies	Open new lands in the Rockies & Gulf of Mexico to oil exploration Ease regulations on pipelines Diversify electricity generation to fuel sources such as nuclear & coal	Construct a gas pipeline in Alaska Open ocean coasts to gas exploration Import more liquefied natural gas
Blackouts	Extend federal eminent domain rights to include power line right-of-ways Streamline regulations on new power plants Federal aid for upgrading & relicensing nuclear power plants Fund clean-coal research New efficiency standards on TVs, radios, & other appliances	Cap wholesale power costs in California Fund research into alternative power sources Connect regional electrical grids into a national power grid Deregulate electricity nationally Promote electricity conservation

Source: USA Today, p. 2A May 14, 2001

On Social Security: Bush commission members all back privatization

Bush named a bipartisan commission today to study Social Security reform and develop a plan to let workers invest some of their payroll taxes in private accounts. The co-chairman will be former New York senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a prominent Democrat who has long urged partial privatization of the government retirement program. The other members of the new commission, all of whom also support privatization, include academics and former lawmakers.

Congressional Democrats immediately complained that the commission is made up only of those who already support Bush’s plan to allow taxpayers to put part of their 12.4% Social Security payroll tax into private retirement accounts. Supporters of the idea say it would allow workers to reap higher returns.

Reforms are needed because the program will go broke by 2037. Opponents call Bush’s plan too risky, especially in light of recent stock market turbulence.

Source: Mimi Hall, USA Today, p. 7A May 2, 2001

On Education: Vouchers ensure school accountability

Bush said he was sticking with his education proposal, which calls, among other things, for parents to receive tuition vouchers that would allow them to send their children to private schools. “In the course of the campaign, I said that we were going to insist upon strong accountability -- that if a district or school receives federal money, they must measure so we know (if children are learning),” Bush said. If after a period of time, the schools did not meet certain standards, the federal monies that would have been spent on each child in the school system could be used by parents to send their children to private schools, Bush said, but left room for debate: “I’ve always believed that a voucher plan is up to the states.” Source: CNN.com reporting from USA Today Jan 12, 2001

On Tax Reform: Retroactive tax cuts may bolster faltering economy

President-elect Bush said in an interview published Friday that he was open to the prospect of making tax cuts retroactive to Jan. 1, if that could spur growth in the faltering US economy. Bush called a recent suggestion by congressional Republicans to backdate the tax cut “encouraging” and described himself as “open-minded” to discussing it. But for now he planned to send Congress his original $1.3 trillion, nine-year tax relief package, which would not take effect until 2002. “It’s the plan I campaigned on,“ he said.

”I think the plan ought to not only fulfill the goals, which are reducing all marginal rates, simplifying the code, helping make sure the tax system is more fair to people at the bottom end of the economic ladder, getting rid of the death tax, doing something on the marriage penalty.“ But if it looked as though retroactive tax cuts would help a faltering U.S. economy, then Bush said he would ”make that decision based upon where we are at the time.“

Source: CNN.com reporting from USA Today Jan 12, 2001

On Abortion: Approval of RU-486 is wrong

The FDA approved yesterday the abortion pill RU-486, but leaders on both sides of the abortion issue say debate over the pill will continue. The FDA approved the drug under a regulation that gives the agency more leeway to impose tighter restrictions or even take it off the market.“The FDA’s decision to approve the abortion pill RU-486 is wrong,” Bush said in a statement. “As president, I will work to build a culture that respects life.” Source: Rita Rubin, USA Today, p. 1A Sep 29, 2000

On Health Care: Family Health Credit: pay for 90% of basic low-income policy

[My proposed] “Family Health Credit” would make a basic health plan more affordable. It would pay for 90%of the cost of an insurance policy, up to $2,000 a year, for every family making less than $30,000. Every family that is not already covered by government programs or an employer plan would be eligible. This Family Health Credit would help to buy a basic policy that covers visits to a doctor, discounted prescriptions, and hospitalization. Source: USA Today editorial by Bush, page 16A Apr 13, 2000

On Health Care: Small business health insurance via trade associations

We will increase the number of good, lower-cost plans available to workers. Small businesses should be allowed to buy insurance from a trade association, giving them the same purchasing power as a large company and bringing down the cost. This would allow a family restaurant, or a local hardware store, to insure their workers through the National Restaurant Association or the US Chamber of Commerce. Source: USA Today editorial by Bush, page 16A Apr 13, 2000

On Health Care: $3.6B for 1,200 new community health centers

I support increasing the number of community health centers across America. Community health centers are community-owned, locally administered medical clinics where people can receive preventive care, free vaccine clinics, health alerts, disease screening, and counseling. They have become America’s health care safety net. Under my plan, we would provide $3.6 billion in federal money over a five-year period to create 1,200 new centers from coast to coast. Source: USA Today editorial by Bush, page 16A Apr 13, 2000

On Health Care: Health care access via empowerment, not nationalizing

We can start by making a basic health plan more affordable, via a “Family Health Credit.”
Second, we will increase the number of good, lower-cost plans available to workers.
Third, I support increasing the number of community health centers across America.
Finally, I am proposing a Healthy Community Innovation Fund-an extra source of federal support for health care in underserved communities. This initiative would support pilot programs for targeted purposes, such as AIDS education or mental health awareness.

These health care proposals will increase access to better health care and health insurance for millions of low-income Americans. And unlike my opponent’s approach, my proposals will not nationalize our health care system; they will empower our patients. Source: USA Today editorial by Bush, page 16A Apr 13, 2000

On Health Care: More CHIPs; more multistate HMOs

George W. Bush’s plan:	Al Gore’s plan:
Tax credit for 90% of health insurance costs for families making up to $60,000, individuals up to $45,000	Tax credit worth 25% of premiums paid by people who buy insurance on their own
Flexibility for states to expand coverage under the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIPs)	Coverage for more children under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIPs)
Help for small businesses to buy cheaper insurance through multistate organizations	Enact a Patient’s Bill of Rights, with access to specialists, emergency rooms, and the right to sue HMOs

Source: USA Today editorials, page 16A Apr 13, 2000

On Civil Rights: No gays in Boy Scouts

Bush disagrees with the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that said the Boy Scouts of America must accept gays in their organization. “I believe the Boy Scouts is a private organization and they should be able to set the standards that they choose to set,” Bush said Source: USA Today, “Not taking GOP nomination for granted” Aug 19, 1999

The above quotations are from Columns and news articles in USA Today. Click here for other excerpts from Columns and news articles in USA Today. Click here for other excerpts by George W. Bush. Click here for a profile of George W. Bush.
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