WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) delivered the Democratic
response to President Bush’s weekly radio address in Spanish. Schakowsky,
who is Chief Deputy Whip and a member of the Democratic Leadership, said,
“A key component of the Homeland Security plan is having a robust economy
and consistent growth in our country. We Democrats understand this need.
And that is why our group of House Democrats came together this week in
Washington to establish a consensus on our strategy to strengthen the economy.
The President must recognize that tax cuts directed only to the rich is
not the correct solution and will not serve to stimulate the economy. This
plan has not worked and we should not repeat the errors of the past.”
Below
is the text of Schakowsky’s radio address in English and Spanish.
English
Version:
Good
morning, I’m Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois.
This
week, more than 140 House Democrats came back to Washington to conduct
a two-day forum to discuss the problems affecting our nation's economy.
During the meeting, we heard from our country’s leading economic policy
experts, who concluded that the President's economic plan has failed.
By
firing his team of economic advisors this week, the President was forced
to admit his failure to the entire country. However, replacing his economic
advisors is not enough. The President must change not just his economic
team, but also his economic plan.
A
key component of the Homeland Security plan is having a robust economy
and consistent growth in our country.
We
Democrats understand this need. And that is why our group of House Democrats
came together this week in Washington to establish a consensus on our strategy
to strengthen the economy.
The
President must recognize that tax cuts directed only to the rich is not
the correct solution and will not serve to stimulate the economy. This
plan has not worked and we should not repeat the errors of the past.
On
December 28th, just three days after Christmas, one million Americans will
lose their unemployment benefits. The President refused to extend benefits
for those people and their families, and is abandoning them when they need
it the most.
The
President's abandonment has been most severe with regard to the Latin community.
The unemployment rate for Latinos is 7.8% -- nearly two percent higher
than the national average.
While
we are focusing on ensuring a better future for this great nation, Republican
leaders like Senator Trent Lott prefer to relive the past, full of discrimination
against minorities.
Democrats
continue fighting to return to an economic plan with a balanced budget
that guarantees economic growth and offers more job opportunities for all.
Thank
you for listening. This is Jan Schakowsky, Congresswoman of Illinois.
Spanish
Version:
Buenos
días, soy la Congresista Jan Schakowsky de Illinois."
Esta
semana, más de 140 Demócratas en la Cámara de representantes
convocaron un foro de dos días para discutir los problemas que afectan
nuestra economía.
Durante
la reunión, escuchamos las posiciones de expertos en asuntos económicos,
quienes concuerdan que el plan económico del Presidente ha fracasado.
Al
despedir a su equipo de asesores económicos esta semana, el Presidente
tuvo que admitir su derrota a todo el país. Sin embargo, sustituir
a sus asesores económicos no es suficiente. El Presidente no solo
debe cambiar su equipo, sino su plan económico.
Un
componente clave del plan de Seguridad Nacional es el tener una economía
fuerte y un crecimiento continuo en nuestro país.
Nosotros
los Demócratas entendemos esta necesidad. Y es por eso que los Congresistas
Demócratas nos reunimos en Washington esta semana con el proposito
de establecer un consenso cuyo objetivo es fortalecer nuestra economía.
El
Presidente necesita reconocer que los cortes de impuestos dirigidos solo
a los ricos no es la solución correcta y no sirve para estimular
la economía. Este plan no dio resultado y no debemos repetir los
errores del pasado.
Este
28 de diciembre - tres días después de la Navidad--un millón
de personas perderán sus beneficios de desempleo. El Presidente
rechazo extenderles los beneficios a estas personas, sus familias y las
esta abandonando cuando más lo necesitan.
Y
cuando se trata de nuestra comunidad Latina, el abandono por parte del
Presidente es mas agudo. El nivel de desempleo entre los Latinos se mantiene
en un 7 punto 8 porciento, casi dos puntos mas alto que el nivel promedio
del país.
Mientras
que nosotros nos enfocamos en asegurar un mejor futuro para esta gran nación,
lideres Republicanos como el Senador Trent Lott prefieren revivir un pasado
lamentable lleno de discriminación en contra de las minorías.
Los
Demócratas seguiremos luchando por regresar a un plan económico
de presupuestos equilibrados que garantice un crecimiento económico
y que ofrezca más oportunidades de empleos para todos.
Les
hablo Jan Schakowsky, Congresista de Illinois, gracias por escucharme. |