Harry Reid in State of the Union address
On Budget & Economy:
Bush’s deficit is a ‘birth tax’ of $36,000 on every child
It’s time that America’s government lived up to the same values as America’s families. It’s time we invested in America’s future and made sure our people have the skills to compete and thrive in a 21st-century economy. Too many of the president’s
economic policies have left Americans and American companies struggling. And after we worked so hard to eliminate the deficit, his policies have added trillions to the debt -- in effect, a ‘birth tax’ of $36,000 on every child that is born.
Source: Democratic Response to 2005 State of the Union Speech
Feb 2, 2005
On Education:
World-class education to compete in world-wide economy
This 21st-century economy holds great promise for our people. But unless we give all Americans the skills they need to succeed, countries like India and China will take good-paying jobs that should be ours. From early childhood education to better
elementary and high schools to making college more affordable to training workers so they can get better jobs, Democrats believe every American should have a world-class education and the skills they need in a world-wide economy.
Source: Democratic Response to 2005 State of the Union Speech
Feb 2, 2005
On Health Care:
Affordable healthcare makes America competitive
Healthcare costs have shot up double digits year after year of the Bush administration and that’s costing us jobs, costing us our competitiveness and costing families their peace of mind.
We need to make healthcare and prescription drugs affordable so that our families and our small businesses will no longer have to shoulder this dead weight.
Source: Democratic Response to 2005 State of the Union Speech
Feb 2, 2005
On Social Security:
Bush’s plan guarantees a 40% benefit cut
We strongly disagree with the president’s plan to privatize Social Security. Let me share with you why I believe the president’s plan is so dangerous. There’s a lot we can do to improve America’s retirement security, but it’s wrong to replace the
guaranteed benefit that Americans have earned with a guaranteed benefit cut of up to 40 percent. Make no mistake, that’s exactly what President Bush is proposing. The Bush plan would take our already record high $4.3 trillion debt and put us another
$2 trillion in the red. That’s an immoral burden to place on the backs of the next generation.
But maybe most of all, the Bush plan isn’t really Social Security reform. It’s more like Social Security roulette. Democrats are all for giving
Americans more of a say and more choices when it comes to their retirement savings. But that doesn’t mean taking Social Security’s guarantee and gambling with it. And that’s coming from a senator who represents Las Vegas.
Source: Democratic Response to 2005 State of the Union Speech
Feb 2, 2005
Page last updated: Feb 23, 2019