New
Report: Bush Economic Plan
Fails Pennsylvania
For
Valentine’s Day, the Fair Taxes
for All Coalition calls upon
Senators Specter and Santorum to
Vote Down Bush “Sweetheart Deal
for Millionaires” and Vote to Turn
the Economy Around
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –
Local citizens and organizations
belonging to the Fair Taxes for
All Coalition released a new
report detailing the damage Bush’s
economic plans would have on
Pennsylvania. The report
contrasts the damage of the Bush
approach with alternatives in
Congress that would turn the
economy around by putting
Americans back to work. Activists
will deliver the report to
Senators Specter and Santorum next
week and urge them to stand for
Pennsylvanians and against the
failed policy of sweetheart deals
for only millionaires.
Taking part
in the press conference were
representatives from Responsible
Wealth, a project of United for a
Fair Economy, the Institute for
America’s Future, Citizens for
Consumer Justice, AFSCME District
Council 47, Pennsylvania Alliance
for Retired Americans, and the
Philadelphia Unemployment
Project. The local coalition is
part of a national campaign to
oppose the Bush tax cuts.
Lauren Townsend, Executive
Director of Citizens for Consumer
Justice said, “Governing is about
choices, and Senators Specter and
Santorum face a real choice here –
are they going to keep holding
their noses and vote for this
latest Bush giveaway? Or are they
going to vote to put our country
on the right track?”
“As Americans
watch our economic health
deteriorate – the president
continues to aggressively shove
our nation’s economy in the wrong
direction: $90,000 tax cuts for
millionaires and sound bites for
the rest of us,” said Townsend.
The report
was released by Adam Luna of the
Institute for America's Future
based in Washington, DC. It
presents clear evidence that the
President’s economic plan does not
benefit average Pennsylvania
citizens. In fact, the report
states that if passed, the Bush
proposals could actually worsen
Pennsylvania’s fiscal deficit by
$97 million while the Senate plan
would close the Pennsylvania state
fiscal deficit by $1.787 billion,
reducing the need to raise state
taxes or cut program spending, and
helping to stimulate the
Pennsylvania economy by that
amount.
Furthermore,
the Bush plan would only create
8,085 jobs in Pennsylvania during
the next year. But even this
meager gain would be reversed in
future years. The report finds
that in ten years the Bush plan
would reduce the number of jobs
available to Pennsylvanians by
33,972.
Maureen Tate
of Responsible Wealth, a project
of United for a Fair Economy,
said, "The Bush proposal, combined
with plans to make recent tax cuts
for the wealthy permanent and to
abolish the estate tax, is really
a very sweet and unexpected
gesture from the Bush
administration - a valentine bonus
for the wealthy and Wall Street.
But what about Main Street? We
don't need tax cuts for
millionaires, we need a real
economic plan to provide
short-term relief and long-term
prosperity for all Americans.”
Representing
United for a Fair Economy, Helena
Schaaremen added, “The only result
of the economic stimulus package
as proposed by President Bush is
“stimulating” the economic
inequality in the U.S. “
Bush Plan: Who Gets What in
Pennsylvania:
-
Top 1%
would get $29,051 -
49% would receive a tax cut of
less than $100
-
Typical
middle-income taxpayer would get
only $285
-
Bush plan would
create only 8,085 jobs through end
of 2004, and in 10 years the Bush
plan would reduce the number of
jobs available to Pennsylvania by
33,972
“As an
activist working to help senior
citizens in Pennsylvania, I can’t
believe that the president is
pushing a plan that actually would
worsen our state budget. I sure
hope Senators Specter and Santorum
will stand up for the people of
Pennsylvania and vote against the
Bush plan,” said Martin Berger of
the Pennsylvania Alliance for
Senior Citizens.
The Fair
Taxes for All Coalition is part of
a nationwide campaign to oppose
the Bush tax cuts. It is a
growing network of individuals and
organizations who have agreed to
the following statement of
principles:
-
The package of tax
cuts proposed by President Bush is
too costly and would do little to
stimulate the weak economy and
create jobs now. The tax cuts are
far too large, poorly designed,
and highly inequitable.
-
The new tax cuts
jeopardize the nation’s ability to
meet its domestic and foreign
responsibilities, threaten
national and state fiscal
stability and security both now
and in future years, and
inequitably distribute the
benefits they provide.
-
In contrast to the
Bush plan, any economic package
must provide temporary, short-term
stimulus that is fiscally
responsible and equitable. Any
such package should include aid to
states to help respond to their
fiscal crises, and should focus on
people who will spend the money
now, including those hard hit by
the economic downturn.
For more information about the
Fair Taxes for All Coalition,
contact Citizens for Consumer
Justice at our toll free number
877-841-9976 or visit our web site
at
www.ccjustice.org.
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