Kerry Widens Criticism of Bush Economy

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer

BOSTON - John Kerry (news - web sites) is broadening his economic assault on President Bush (news - web sites) with a "misery index" that suggests a combination of soaring college and health care costs and stagnant incomes have battered working families during Bush's term, campaign documents obtained Sunday showed.


Much of the Democrats' criticism of Bush is focused on job losses during his tenure, but Kerry's study argues that far broader and more ominous economic trends are at work.


"Less noted, but perhaps even more important, is the fact that middle-class families are increasingly being squeezed by the rising cost of health care, college tuition and gasoline at the same time that wages and incomes are stagnating and personal bankruptcies are at record levels," the campaign report said.


Kerry's presidential campaign planned a formal release Monday at coordinated events in more than a dozen electorally competitive states. The document, obtained Sunday by the AP, discusses the economic status of all 50 states.


Between 2000 and 2003, the study says, inflation-adjusted figures show wages dropped 0.2 percent while tuition at public colleges and universities increased by 13 percent. The campaign says the tuition increase is the largest on record for a comparable time span. At the same time, health insurance premiums grew by 11 percent and gasoline prices were up by 15 percent, according to the study.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=533&e=4&u=/ap/20040412/ap_on_el_pr/kerry

[PfcHammer]

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