NewsMine — economy — united-states — 2003 — 2003-sept-oct — Viewing Item

Bush cuts schools highways { September 10 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usiraq103448166sep10,0,2090355.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-headlines http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usiraq103448166sep10,0,2090355.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-headlines Price Tag Problems Congress faults Bush on Iraq planning By Craig Gordon WASHINGTON BUREAU; Anne Q. Hoy of the Washington bureau contributed to this story. September 10, 2003 Washington - Reeling from sticker-shock over a new $87 billion anti-terror price tag, top senators from both parties yesterday accused the Bush administration of fumbling postwar planning in Iraq and leaving American taxpayers holding the bill. At a Senate hearing, top Pentagon officials acknowledged President George W. Bush's request for military and reconstruction funds for Iraq and Afghanistan was sizable but argued that senators had little choice but to approve it to demonstrate U.S. resolve. "We don't start a job we can't finish ... That's the American way," Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "The costs are large but it is a battle that we can win, and we must win. Because victory in this battle will be a major victory in the war on terrorism." Both parties appear all but certain to sign off on $66 billion designed to pay for military operations, now costing about $1 billion a week. But Democrats made clear that they weren't prepared to approve the remaining $21 billion earmarked for reconstruction projects without a lot more from the administration, including a greater push to bring in foreign troops and a clearer exit strategy. "Congress is not an ATM - we have to be able to explain this new enormous bill to the American people," said Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), who has for months accused Bush of failing to level with Americans on the war's true cost. Democrats said Bush's failure to build a large international coalition to provide troops and money, and the Pentagon's failure to foresee the amount of postwar resistance, have pushed the cost to U.S. taxpayers higher. Even one leading war backer, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), faulted Pentagon planning and sharply questioned why the administration hadn't gone to the United Nations to secure additional foreign troops sooner. "The facts as I see them ... are clearly that we underestimated the size of the challenge that we would face after the military operations were completed," McCain said. The hearing's more contentious tone was a clear contrast to last fall, when Democrats and Republicans joined to give Bush the authority to wage war in Iraq. But with a postwar period more costly in American lives than even the war itself, and spiraling costs boosting a record-setting deficit, Democrats and some Republicans have begun to challenge the administration's handling of Iraq. Other Republicans at the hearing defended the administration's planning, with Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) asking Wolfowitz if he believed criticism of Bush's policies at this time might lead terrorists to think the United States wasn't united in the fight against terror - echoing a suggestion made this week by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Democrats are seeking to seize on what they see as a potent issue in the 2004 presidential campaign - accusing Bush of choosing guns over butter, spending billions in Iraq while ignoring funding needs at home. The committee's top Democrat, Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, charged that Bush is failing to fully fund his own education programs in the No Child Left Behind Act, proposing to cut highway funding by $2.5 billion and after-school programs by $400 million. "This huge sum is a bitter pill for the American people to swallow," Levin said. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) called for putting on hold the tax cut Bush won earlier this year for those who make more than $250,000, and even fiscal conservatives in Bush's party are uneasy about the mounting costs. Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said the White House will not be able to win any further tax cuts with the price tag for the war looming. Wolfowitz and Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said they believe pressure on the United States to shoulder the load will begin to ease, especially if a UN resolution clears the way for an additional 10,000 to 15,000 foreign troops. Iraqis also are taking on more security tasks, with 55,000 Iraqis now helping U.S. troops with security and 184,000 expected by 2005. Anne Q. Hoy of the Washington bureau contributed to this story. Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.

2 years in a row more in poverty Asian debt withdrawal threat to us deficit { September 7 2003 } Asian unpegging crucify us { October 3 2003 } Bush bid weaken dollar against asia { September 24 2003 } Bush cuts schools highways { September 10 2003 } Bush priorities under scrutiny Bush takes credit economic upturn { September 1 2003 } China brings us export resictions into trade debate Deficit not manageable { September 18 2003 } Deflation still worries federal reserve { September 17 2003 } Deflation will continue for years { September 10 2003 } Disappointed earnings bonds rally Dollar gains on euro { September 2 2003 } Dollar over valued { September 18 2003 } Dollar plunges 3 year low Dollar tumbles low against euro { October 8 2003 } Economy expands fastest since 1984 no jobs { October 31 2003 } Fed holds rates warns on deflation Firms dont buy rebound Firms still slashing jobs Foreign investors fear weak dollar { September 22 2003 } Gold hits 7 year high { September 25 2003 } Gold records as tumbling dollar { September 10 2003 } Government claims unemployment stabilizing { October 3 2003 } Grocery workers 3rd day strike san diego { October 14 2003 } Job loss like great depression Jobless claims lowest eight months { October 9 2003 } La transit strike may strand 500 thousand { October 14 2003 } Mass august layoffs { September 26 2003 } Monthly costs iraq approach vietnam Poor gained 1 3m in 2002 { September 3 2003 } States risk big losses bond funding pensions { October 12 2003 } Stocks at 14 month high { September 2 2003 } Stocks fall economy worries { September 30 2003 } Stocks lower after production data Stocks rebound hopes intact { October 1 2003 } Stocks rise on upbeat analyst reports { September 8 2003 } Stocks slip bonds rise Trade gap bring down dollar warns imf { September 19 2003 } Trade gap could bring down dollar { September 19 2003 } Uninsured increases 2 4 million last year { September 30 2003 } Us bonds face gloomier future as selling continues { September 7 2003 } Us closes last levis manufacturer { September 26 2003 } Us losing millions manufacturing jobs { September 4 2003 } Weak dollar raises stocks Files Listed: 45

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