Statement from Kerry in Response to Dean's attacks on his record

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Statement from Kerry Spokesperson David Wade in Response to Howard Dean’s Comment
January 31, 2004
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0130d.html

“Apparently this newest of the new anger-powered Howards is a master of desperate distortions. From fighting for opportunity for young people to stopping the drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, John Kerry has spent a lifetime keeping his word and fighting the fights that need fighting.”

“There is a choice between talkers and doers in this presidential campaign. George Bush says one thing and does another. John Kerry fights to put police on the beat, George Bush takes them off the street. John Kerry fights for veterans health care, George Bush lays a wreath at Arlington Cemetery and then tries to cut the V.A. That’s the choice in this race, and we can’t wait for that fight.”
12 Legislative Accomplishments of John Kerry:

Cosponsored Gramm-Rudman-Hollings bipartisan deficit reduction Act. Kerry was one of the earliest Democrats to sign on to the effort to address the growing budget deficit.

Secured assistance for families of Agent Orange victims: Kerry cosponsored and worked to pass the Agent Orange Benefits Act to extend health care benefits to children of Vietnam Veterans who suffer from spina bifida. <1995 VA-HUD Approp>

Passed international anti-money laundering law: John Kerry proposed and passed anti-money laundering amendment that forced negotiations with foreign banks to keep records of US currency transactions of $10,000 & up and established penalties for countries engaged in money laundering. <1988: S Amdt 3697, HR 5210, #374, passed 85-3>

Introduced bill to significantly increase commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS: Kerry introduced, along with Senator Bill Frist (R-TN), the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria Act. The bill would increase the U.S. governments funding of international HIV/AIDS efforts from approximately $1.7 billion in 2003 to $1.9 billion in 2004. This effort led to the unanimous passage in May 2003 the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria Act of 2003. AIDS activists characterized Kerry as one of Congress top leaders on HIV/AIDS policy.

Passed law addressing nurse shortage: Kerry introduced and passed the Nurse Reinvestment Act, to address the current shortage of Nurses in the medical profession.

Expanded early childhood development efforts: Kerry introduced legislation to expand state and local early childhood development efforts, including education, child care and health care for children between birth and six years old. At the end of 2000, a version of this bipartisan legislation was signed into law. .

Strengthened protection of seals, dolphin, whales and other marine mammals: Kerry sponsored legislation that extended and strengthened laws protecting Marine Mammals from commercial fishing.

Introduced plan that expanded childrens health insurance coverage: Kerry and Kennedy drafted an innovative plan to help states expand health care coverage for children in the 104th Congress. Their plan served as the framework for the Childrens Health Insurance Program in 1997

Instrumental in passing last minimum wage increase: Kerry was instrumental in passing the last increase in the minimum wage to $5.15 per hour in 1997.

Led fight to defeat Republican regulatory reform that threatened to roll back environmental and safety regulations: Kerry was a leader on the Senate floor to stop Republican efforts to roll back labor, environmental and consumer safety regulations under the guise of regulatory reform.

Led inquiry into savings and loan cleanup: Kerry conducted hearings into waste fraud and abuse in the RTC, the agency responsible for cleaning up the S&L scandal. (1993-94)

Boosted COPS and Police Corps funding: Kerry successfully lobbied the Senate and the administration to move funding from $5.9 billion to $22.2 billion over four years, with the goal of putting 100,000 new cops on the street. He also succeeded in boosting funding for Police Corps scholarship program.

[slinkerwink]

1. nice to know he worked with Bill Frist

[creativelcro]

3. Yup, good pair.

[polpilot]

10. Look how worried Frist is. I bet Kerry gave him those flowers.

Dean '04...

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11. How do folks expect him to be effective

in a republican controlled Congress without working with the majority once in a while? I think the senator was correct when he suggested that the governor didn't have a clue about how a bill becomes law.

[Old and In the Way]

7. Hard to believe, US Senators actually trying to pass legislation.

You may not be aware but the Democrats are the minority party in both Houses....you do know that to get anything passed means they need to form bipartisan coalitions to mitigate bad legislation and promote good bills, right?

Like it or not, Frist is Senate Majority leader....nothing happens if you don't work with him.

[PVnRT]

2. Check your post

You have a strikethrough link in there somewhere.

[creativelcro]

4. It's a Freudian slip. Even Kerry supporters know it's not true...

:evilgrin:

[OutlawCorporatePolls]

5. both bush and kerry are the same

check my signature line and read for yourself.. time's a wastin. pass it on.

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6. Only one of them will win

Hope it's a Democrat.

[Old and In the Way]

8. Right, there's no difference between them.

I recall someone who ran in the last GE that said there wasn't a dime's worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats.

You won't mind if I don't take your posts too serious, will you?

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9. bink

:kick: