Posted on 02/14/2006 9:09:44 AM PST by Peach
QUINCY - The Bush administration is as slow to respond to a host of pressing demands on the nation’s economy as it was in responding to Hurricane Katrina last year, Sen. John Kerry told a breakfast meeting of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce today.
‘‘Katrina underscores lack of preparation, unpreparedness, despite all the warnings,’’ Kerry told a group gathered at the Quincy Marriott Hotel. ‘‘Katrina stripped away the confidence, the veneer that had cloaked this administration for a period of time, and people began to see a whole series of choices that have been wrong.’’
Kerry praised South Shore business leaders for laying the groundwork for economic development by making long-term infrastructure investments.
‘‘You’ve got a great investment effort going over here at the air base, you’ve got great energy in the Hingham Shipyard, you’ve got great energy in the Quincy shipyard, you’re trying to make things happen,’’ Kerry said.
‘‘You’ve got the Route 44 connection, you’ve got the Route 3 expansion, you’ve got an enormous number of housing growth, you’ve got Greenbush coming on line. That’s what we ought to be doing on a national level.’’
But Kerry said the federal government must do its part to help businesses overcome obstacles to competing in the global economy - such as rising healthcare and energy costs, and lagging investments in education and research and development.
Kerry laid out what he called a ‘‘three-pronged competitiveness challenge’’ facing the nation’s economy - energy, education and incentives for business growth.
Kerry called for focusing on new technologies and alternative fuels to reduce the nation’s oil dependence and create new jobs. His proposal includes tax incentives for automakers to produce more fuel-efficient cars and for consumers to buy them, and developing energy alternatives such as bio-fuels and wind energy.
‘‘You just heard the president give a speech in the State of the Union message and he talked about how America is addicted to oil,’’ Kerry said. ‘‘Mr. President, the nation is not addicted to oil, your administration is addicted to oil.’’
On education and business competitiveness, Kerry called for using the same money that goes for tax cuts to instead be used to improve schooling and for new investments in research and development.
‘‘We are going ahead, like it or not, with a tax cut for the wealthiest people in America yet again,’’ Kerry said. ‘‘We’re spending billions exporting democracy to other parts of the world, we need to make our own democracy work a little better right here at home.’’
Tom Benner may be reached at tbenner@ledger.com.
Copyright 2006 The Patriot Ledger Transmitted Monday, February 13, 2006
I agree with that 100%.
If this economy is "faltering", I can't wait to see it "collapsing"!
Thank you God for providing us with such consistently dopey opponents.
Good one!
Breaking news....brain cells faltering between Kerry's ears!
Well, Kerry's slow to respond to most things. Actually, he's just slow.
Unemployment is 4.6% and the norm is considered to be 6.4% by most economists.
John Kerry and the Democrats need to stop "talking down the economy."
Who's Kerry?
Yeah, maybe he does need to do that eventually, but right now it's fun sitting back and watching (letting) the dems hang themselves. LIHOP.
The first President Bush maintained his dignity and his love of country. Never once succumbing to bitterness or vitriol.
Swann's answer.......I grew up!!!!
I hadn't kept up on Swann and didn't realize he used to be a Democrat. Well, good for him!
Dow currently @ 11,005.58. But this is from the guy who thinks he won the last election except for those 60,000 Bush supporters in Ohio who wouldn't jump parties to vote for Kerry...
It took a month for FEMA under Clinton to get to the survivors of hurricane Floyd. Guess it's OK to be slow for Democrats.
Good point. Have you looked at your phone bill lately? There are more taxes on there than you can shake a stick at.
WIND BAG - Kerry's energy plan
He really should have checked today's business news before making an a$$ of himself.
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