Kerry outlines state tax relief, help for states.

[blm]

John Kerry Outlines State Tax Relief and Education Fund and Other Help for States

Ensures States Can Improve Safety and Don’t Have to Raise Taxes, Cut Education

In part because of the Bush economic approach, states across the country are in the largest deficits in a generation. As a result, they are raising taxes and cutting back on health care, education, and on first responders who are critical to keeping our country safe. This not only hurts middle class families, it is exactly the opposite of what is needed to bring back the economy.

Today, John Kerry outlined details about his plan to provide relief so states don’t have to cut education or raise taxes.  Kerry’s plan also gives states relief on health care. Finally, John Kerry does not believe we should leave our frontline workers - our firefighters and cops – without the manpower or the equipment to do their jobs. His plan restores funding for the COPs program and creates a new fund to hire 100,000 firefighters. 

(1) A NEW “STATE TAX RELIEF AND EDUCATION FUND”
The Bush economic approach has left states with nearly $90 billion in budget deficits, forcing cuts in schools, cuts in teachers, and tax increases.  John Kerry has proposed a new “State Tax Relief and Education Fund” that will help states struggling to bridge deficits resulting from Bush’s economic policies with an additional $15 billion a year for two years. This fund will help:

* Restore and prevent education cuts. and assure states don’t have to lay off teachers or make cuts in schools. In this budget, New Hampshire had to cut programs to prevent dropouts and ensure quality testing.

* Stop tuition increases. College tuition has been rising across the country making it harder for students to afford a college education. In New Hampshire, recent increases have been 7 percent which means students will leave school with more debt. The average student at the University System of New Hampshire leaves college with $18,000 to $20,000 of debt.

* Stop new taxes and fees. States across the country has raising taxes and fees that are inhibiting economic growth and causing layoffs. This fund would help relieve these tax increases.

(2) NEW DEAL FOR STATES WITH HEALTH CARE
States across the country, including New Hampshire, have had to cut back on Medicaid to balance their budget. As part of his health care plan, John Kerry has proposed significant relief to states to stop these cuts. In fact, his health plan includes $15 billion over three years that goes directly to state relief.

* A New Deal for States. Under John Kerry’s health care plan, the Federal government will pay the full costs for the 20 million children on Medicaid. In return states will expand coverage to higher income children, parents and ultimately low-income single adults and childless couples.
(3) PROTECT THE HOMELAND AND SUPPORT WORKERS ON THE FRONTLINE.

* President Bush has left first responders in a lurch. President Bush has failed to seek adequate funding for virtually every aspect of terrorism preparedness. President Bush has neglected America’s First Responders. He has cut COPS and firefighters at the same time many of them are off to serve in Iraq in the Reserves. And Bush’s economic policies have starved state governments, forcing states to cut back on first responders.

* John Kerry’s plan will ensure that those on the frontlines are given the tools they need to get the job done. John Kerry recognizes that first responders are critical to our safety and security. Under his plan, first responders will be provided the equipment and training they need to get the job done.  This is the least we can do for the women and men who put their lives on the line for us every day.  We do it for our uniformed services we can do it for our first responders.

* A new Father Judge Fund which will pay for 100,000 new professional firefighters and the training and equipment which they need. 
* Reinvigorating the successful COPS program to assure 100,000 community police officers are funded.

* Resources to the frontlines. John Kerry will stop trickling federal resources through layer upon layer of bureaucracy and instead get the resources to those on the front lines. All together, John Kerry has proposed $25 billion to improve Homeland Security.

(4) FULLY FUND EDUCATION.
John Kerry believes we need to fully fund special education and the new No Child Left Behind Act so that we give schools additional resources to support teachers and improve our schools.

(5) KEEP MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS.
Some Democrats believe that just because some middle class families got tax increases at the state and local level, they shouldn’t get to keep the tax cuts they received from the Federal government. John Kerry believes the last thing middle class families need is another hit from Washington. He wants to keep tax cuts that give millions of middle class families a $2000 break.

[molly]

1. This is great news since most states are really hurting

Kerry's platform is getting stronger!

[blm]

2. He's been working with key members

of Clinton's economic team for many months now.

[sandnsea]

3. Concise, targeted, thorough

Exactly what we need.

[Loyal]

4. Sounds good to me!

:bounce:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. Adds up to $30 billion to states to stop cuts in educations & health care

Instead of tax cuts aimed at the wealthy, Senator Kerry would take an additional $30 billion to invest in the American people with domestic programs to help the states provide services to our communities, to support education for our children, and to restore jobs eliminated over the past two and a half years during the Bush Administration’s job-destroying “recovery.”

[Octafish]

6. Great ideas!

Good Lord willing, a Kerry Administration would be great for our country and our kids' futures.

You can tell a lot about a person by the company she or he keeps. In Sen. Kerry's case, he surrounds himself with the top people in their field. He listens to their trusted opinions, weighs what they have to say, and knows how to get things done.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. The mere thought of a Kerry presidency...

...brings a happy smile to my face. The contrast between what we have now and a Kerry presidency is stark indeed. I wouldn't hesitate for a nanosecond punching Kerry's name on a general election ballot.