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Here is what I put on the web site.
Claim vs Fact on The Bush Accomplishments
1) Economy
Claim: The President’s Economic Policies Continue to Drive Steady Job Growth in States
Fact: Since President Bush took office in January of 2001, the economy has a net loss of 1.1 million jobs. Additionally, the White House Counsel of Economic Advisors pledged that the President's "jobs and growth" package would create 5.5 million new jobs by the end of 2004. Only 1.5 million new jobs have been created since Bush took office. That is not even close to the 5.5 million new jobs they promised by the end of 2004.
2) Education
Claim: On Jan. 8, 2004, President Bush celebrated the second anniversary of the signing of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
Fact: Despite rhetoric to the contrary, the administration is leaving millions of children behind by failing to fully fund the programs he signed into law in the No Child Left Behind Act. The president's budget contains $9.4 billion less than the levels authorized under NCLBA.
3) Energy
Claim: In May 2001, two and a half years ago, President Bush proposed a comprehensive National Energy Policy and has taken steps to implement it. In fact, Tom Delay (House Majority Leader R-TX) said "The Democrats have hamstrung the energy bill in the Senate."
Fact: The bill is being blocked by a bipartisan coalition, including Sam Brownback (R- KN), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Ensign (R-NV), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Trent Lott (R-MS), John McCain (R-AZ), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and John Sununu (R-NH).
4) Environment
Claim: In February President Bush said he will work with Congress to strengthen the Clean Air Act through the passage of Clear Skies so we can improve air quality for all Americans.
Fact: The so-called "Clear Skies" initiative expands the pollution trading system that results in some communities getting cleaner, but many communities losing out on cleaner air. The two-stage plan isn't even fully in place for another 15 years. Even if the plan caused some net reductions in pollution, many communities would still be threatened by more pollution.
5) Health Care
Claim: President Bush said under his Health Care plan Millions of Americans will get help with their out-of-pocket medical expenses through health savings accounts.
Fact: Since Bush took office the number of people without health insurance increased by 3.4 million. Currently, 44.6 million Americans lack health insurance. And sharply higher health insurance deductibles may hit workers in the next two years as employers embrace newly created tax-free Health Savings Accounts.
6) Homeland Security
Claim: President Bush said his job is to protect and defend the American homeland. Bush said protecting the homeland is his #1 priority.
Fact: Bush opposed the department of homeland security, until after public pressure forced him to support it. A late 2003 study by the U.S. Conference of Mayors showed 90 percent of cities have not received their share of $1.5 billion allocated by the nation's largest homeland security funding program. Additionally, a poll in 43 states recently showed that a third of counties nationwide still have not seen any federal funding for first responders.
7) Social Security
Claim: Bush pledged to never touch the Social Security Surplus. "We're going to keep the promise of Social Security and keep the government from raiding the Social Security surplus."
Fact: The president's new budget uses Social Security surpluses to pay for other programs every year through 2013, ultimately diverting more than $1.4 trillion in Social Security funds to other purposes.
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