The Bush Tax Cut and Election Year Politics

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The War on Terror and Homeland Defense are costing big money. Highways, schools, health care and veterans' benefits are also expensive. President Bush says he wants to help Congress make tough choices. But with his sky-high approval ratings on the decline and Democrats hoping to cut off his coat tails in November while still supporting the war, Bush faces some tough choices too. How will he balance principles, politics and pragmatism? Will he veto programs that Democrats say voters want? Can he convince the public that permanent tax cuts aren't just for the rich? We weigh the prospects for pre-election partisanship with economists, political pundits and a former spokesman for the Republican Party. Newsmaker: Bush Delivers War on Terror Progress Report President Bush updated the Virginia Military Institute today on the war on terror and the Secretary of State's Middle East trip. Doyle McManus, bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times, that despite Colin Powell's failure to cinch a cease-fire of specific agreements, Bush made it clear that he and Powell are in the peacemaking process for the long haul. Reporter's Notebook: Oil and Gas: Alaska's Bread and Butter? Alaskans pay no income tax. In fact, every Alaskan gets 1850 dollars a year from royalties on oil. So how do they feel about more drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? Bill McAllister, who reports for the Alaskan daily, Juneau Empire, has more on economic development, the environment and the oiling of the state's coffers.
The War on Terror and Homeland Defense are costing big money. Highways, schools, health care and veterans' benefits are also expensive. President Bush says he wants to help Congress make tough choices. But with his sky-high approval ratings on the decline and Democrats hoping to cut off his coat tails in November while still supporting the war, Bush faces some tough choices too. How will he balance principles, politics and pragmatism? Will he veto programs that Democrats say voters want? Can he convince the public that permanent tax cuts aren't just for the rich? We weigh the prospects for pre-election partisanship with economists, political pundits and a former spokesman for the Republican Party.
  • Newsmaker: Bush Delivers War on Terror Progress Report
    President Bush updated the Virginia Military Institute today on the war on terror and the Secretary of State's Middle East trip. Doyle McManus, bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times, that despite Colin Powell's failure to cinch a cease-fire of specific agreements, Bush made it clear that he and Powell are in the peacemaking process for the long haul.
  • Reporter's Notebook: Oil and Gas: Alaska's Bread and Butter?
    Alaskans pay no income tax. In fact, every Alaskan gets 1850 dollars a year from royalties on oil. So how do they feel about more drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? Bill McAllister, who reports for the Alaskan daily, Juneau Empire, has more on economic development, the environment and the oiling of the state's coffers.

US Department of State

2003 Budget

Center for Economic and Policy Research

Foundation for the Defense of Democracies

The Nation

The Savage Wars of Peace

Scorecard on Globalization

Social Security: The Phony Crisis

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Juneau Empire

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney