They Simply Don’t Have a Plan

Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) President Paul Beckner challenged Democratic Congressional Leaders to either offer a specific fiscal and economic plan to get the economy moving, or to stop criticizing the President’s plan. “The President submitted a specific budget. House Republicans passed it. The Democrats don’t even have a budget blueprint. They simply don’t have a plan.

“The President believes the 2001 tax cuts should be made permanent. House Republicans have acted and supported his plan. They have repeatedly passed legislation to permanently end the Death Tax. Rep. Gephardt and Senate Majority Leader Daschle have not said whether they support repeal, extension or modification. They simply don’t have a plan.

“The President has acted to end the work stoppage at our west coast docks. This work stoppage was costing innocent Americans jobs and families their livelihood. Rep. Gephardt said the President was wrong to get involved. Rep. Gephardt wanted the job losses to continue and the exports to stay on the docks. But he offered no explanation of how to end the strike. They simply don’t have a plan.

“The President has offered specific principles to save Social Security – a program headed towards bankruptcy. House and Senate Republicans have shown leadership and withstood the scare tactics and half-truths. Rep. Gephardt and Senator Daschle can only attack the President’s leadership. They have no alternative vision of how to save Social Security. They simply don’t have a plan.

“Ten years ago, Bill Clinton offered a specific plan, called “Putting People First.” I didn’t like it, but at least it was a specific, real plan. Ten years later, the leaders of the Democrat party can’t even offer a basic budget blueprint. They simply don’t have a plan.”