Kerry uses data on poor to challenge tax cuts

[Judi Lynn]

Kerry uses data on poor to challenge tax cuts
Most of the highly contested states show increases in poverty; Bush is quiet on issue.


By Scott Shepard
Cox News Service
August 27, 2004


WASHINGTON -- Administration officials tried to fend off criticism of President Bush's economic policies Thursday after new census figures revealed a rise in the number of Americans living in poverty and without health insurance.

The most pointed criticism of Bush came from Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, who said the new figures reflect the emptiness of Bush's repeated statements that the economy is turning the corner.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday that the number of Americans living in poverty increased last year by 1.3 million to 35.9 million and that the number of people who went without health insurance swelled by 1.4 million, to nearly 45 million.

Almost all of the 17 most contested states in the presidential election experienced increases in poverty and the uninsured. In Ohio, for example, those living in poverty rose from 10.1 percent to 10.3 percent, and those without health insurance climbed from 11.4 percent to 11.7 percent.
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http://www.indystar.com/articles/1/173644-8331-009.html

[Born Free]

1. Fire the bush coward ...

He has been a complete failure, caused much more harm than good and does not deserve a 2nd term