Democratic Leaders Push 'America Competes'

AP on Yahoo ^ | 1/24/06 | Ron Fournier - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - The United States will "spiral downward" and may not recover in a fast-changing global economy without urgent investments in education, health care and alternative energies, Democratic governors said Tuesday.

"We're getting the living daylights kicked out of us," said Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.

Rendell, finance chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, said the United States is falling behind China, India and other nations on education, health care and the race to find alternatives to oil. In addition, he said unfair trade practices are shipping U.S. jobs overseas.

He unveiled the DGA's $75 billion "America Competes" plan and asked President Bush to make the proposals part of next week's State of the Union address. The ideas include:

• A 17 percent tax credit for companies that contribute to employee health care.

• Increasing the number of high school students who pass advanced placement exams by 25 percent.

• Requiring the federal government to make at least 25 percent of its 600,000 vehicles equipped with hybrid technology.

• Working with the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization to crack down on China's currency manipulation.

Rendell said there is no time to waste because the nation's competitors are catching up and passing the United States.

"If we don't do something about our competitive edge and do something about it soon, America will continue to spiral downward to the point where ... we may not recover," Rendell said.

The Pennsylvania governor said money should not be a roadblock for a federal government that paid for the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq and hurricane relief in the Gulf Coast.

"When the Congress and the president need to find money to spend, we find it, right?" Rendell said.

[NormsRevenge]

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell discusses the Democratic Governors' vision of 'America Competes' at the National Press Club in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006. Rendell urged President Bush to join him and the Democratic governors in their plan to lessen our dependence on foreign oil, level the international playing field for American companies, provide affordable health care by giving tax credits, and to reform our education system to ensure American students can compete in a 21st century workforce. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

[OrioleFan]

Two words: Fair Tax

[phoenix0468]

Rendell, finance chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, said the United States is falling behind China, India and other nations on education, health care and the race to find alternatives to oil.

I guess this left leaning loon hasn't heard about China's new race to beat us to the oil. What a duffus.

[phoenix0468]

He looks dumber than Ed Asner and uglier too.

[SierraWasp]

The ONLY rational alternative to oil at this time, is NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION!!!

Unless you're a Demonicrat Luddite!!!

[dyed_in_the_wool]

Do they mean this Ed Rendell

[phoenix0468]

"If we don't do something about our competitive edge and do something about it soon, America will continue to spiral downward to the point where ... we may not recover," Rendell said.

Yeah Gov. Rendell, slippery slope arguments always catch my attention. Because they are so lame.

[SierraWasp]

Psssssssst! Rendell!! Canada has as much oil as Saudi Arabia right NOW!!! Wake up and smell it!!! It was on you're beloved "CBS 60 Minutes" show night before last... Did'ja TIVO it???

[Truthsearcher]

I'll take his or any Democrat's suggestions seriously when they include in their proposal a plan that would tie that public school teachers' salary/employment to the performance of their students.

Until then I'm just going to assume that it's another ploy to expand the government.

[neodad]

"Rendell, finance chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, said the United States is falling behind China"

Yeah, I want to be more like them: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1564381/posts

Adult Diaper Sales Soar in China (Ahead of Chinese New Year)

[Mygirlsmom]

"We're getting the living daylights kicked taxed out of us," said Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.

Increasing the number of high school students who pass advanced placement exams by 25 percent.

How? By lowering the test standards or helping them cheat?

[Texas_Jarhead]

"The United States will "spiral downward" and may not recover in a fast-changing global economy without urgent investments in education, health care and alternative energies, Democratic governors said Tuesday."

The energy issue is the only one that I would consider applicable to the assertion. Education spending at all levels is enormous. The problem isn't the dollar value of education spending but rather the negative rate of return on that "investment".

[Vince Ferrer]

the United States is falling behind China, India and other nations on education

How much does everyone else spend per student? And not one mention of drilling new wells, or nuclear energy.

[phoenix0468]

HA! He's to busy trying to find those new Chinese Nuclear Energy plants while he trips over all the new Patroleum Refining Plants they are building.

Rendell, it's not the energy and education game we're losing. It's the economic and internally deciscive game we're falling behind on. You could actually help us with one of those, you pick. LOL

[goodnesswins]

Okay kiddies.....today's Democrat WORD of the DAY DEFINITION:

INVESTMENT; .....means......more TAXES!

[Darkwolf377]

The United States will "spiral downward" and may not recover

That is the message all Americans will carry with them into the voting booth, don't ya think? "We are spiralling downward and may not recover, so I'm gonna vote Democrat!"

Keep it up, dems, oh, we are so very scared of that message pouring out of your drooling, American military-hating pie holes.

[ILS21R]

Let's see if I've got this straight. Rendell wants to give tax credits to Haliburton, supports a school choice voucher program, will force the government to purchase all the POS hybrids that nobody else wants and is willing to beat up on China.

It all sounds good to me.

[VeniVidiVici]

More major "investments" in education and healthcare.

There are two original and award winning subjects for the Dimwits.

[kromike]

That's all I read out of his boring speech...T-A-X-E-S.