Kerry- Edwards Criticize Bush's Corporate Ties

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Monday August 16, 2004 6:49am
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0804/166326.html

KETCHUM, Idaho (AP) - Presidential nominee John Kerry (website - news - bio) and other Democrats are organizing a new line of attack against President Bush (website - news - bio) , accusing him of stacking the federal government with friends and donors who are gutting regulations on U.S. corporations.

Kerry, running mate John Edwards and supporters are stressing a theme this week that they've been campaigning on all year - Bush puts corporate interests ahead of workers and the middle class.

-The coal industry gave $300,000 to Bush and got less protection against black lung disease for workers.
-The chemical industry gave more than $1 million to Bush and got reduced regulations on chemicals exposed to workers.
-The auto industry gave more than $300,000 to Bush and got eased rules on reporting potential defects and a rule allowing truckers to drive 11 hours a day.
-The restaurant industry gave more than $1.2 million and got killed a regulation intended to prevent their workers from exposure to smoke.

The Kerry campaign also names many administration officials who used to work for the industries they now oversee.