FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 30, 2004

CONTACT: Stacey Farnen 202-225-3130

HOYER: PRESIDENT BUSH MOVES “FORWARD STATE” BACKWARDS

Wisconsin, Like Other States, Needs Jobs Not Rhetoric

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today in response to President Bush’s visit to Wisconsin, another state that has been hit hard by his failed economic policies:

“President Bush left Wisconsin today without answering the one question residents of the Forward State are most concerned about: how is the President going to take them forward instead of backwards on jobs?  Unfortunately, the President resorted to the usual empty campaign rhetoric and partisan attacks instead of putting forward a real plan. 

“Wisconsin has lost more than 80,000 manufacturing jobs since President Bush took office.  Unemployment has jumped from 3.8% to 5.2%.  And all the Wall Street figures the President recited this morning won’t change the fact that on Main Street in Wisconsin there are no new jobs. 

“The President once again touted his tax plan, which has put Social Security and Medicare at risk and created record deficits that will place a ‘debt tax’ on our children.  In fact, under his plan, 46% of Wisconsin’s taxpayers received less than $100 in tax cuts.  Even more disturbing, the average Wisconsin taxpayer’s share of the deficit is now $2,007. 

“It is time for the President to end drive-by campaign stops and present a real jobs program to the people of Wisconsin and America.”

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