FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 28, 2003
CONTACT: LINDA MACIAS/PAUL TODD (202) 225-6161
Baca Statement on the State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Joe Baca (D-Rialto) made the
following statement in response to President George W. Bush’s January
28, 2003, State of the Union Address:
“The Bush Administration, in its rush to war, has neglected to lift up
those who need it most in these difficult times – working families.”
“Going to war with Iraq without letting the weapons inspectors finish
their job and gaining international support will place American
families in increased danger of terrorist attacks and further bankrupt
the failing economy. The Administration should not rush into war
without allowing the UN weapons inspectors to complete their job.
Acting unilaterally could only increase anger towards the U.S. and
incite further terrorist threats.”
“Acting alone will not make this world safer for our children. We must
make every effort to protect our nation, but we must not isolate
ourselves and alienate our allies in the process. If the case can be
made for war, then let it be made when all other options have failed.”
“The Bush Administration must first take care of the American people
if we are to successfully disarm Saddam Hussein. The economy, jobs,
and homeland security are still the priority. Security begins at home!
Seven in 10 Americans say that they would give UN weapons inspectors
months more to pursue their arms search in Iraq. We cannot in good
conscience fund a war overseas while people on the homefront are
jobless, cold, and hungry.”
“The Bush economic stimulus plan does not pay enough respect to the
working families who drive the economy, and it will make the fiscal
problems that states are facing worse. Working families need to keep
more of their own money in their own pockets. Any tax cut that the
president offers needs to focus on working families – not the rich.”
“But, we can’t fix the economy on the backs of our children and
grandchildren. Any economic stimulus must get the economy moving by
being fiscally responsible. Eliminating the Stock Dividend Tax will
not ignite a fire under the economy because it does not help working
people. Nearly 60 percent of the tax cuts would be focused on only 10
percent of the population. We learned from the 1980’s that money
doesn’t trickle down from the wealthy to the working class. Under the
Bush plan, those making over a million dollars would receive up to
$88,000 in tax breaks!”
“Small business owners need to be given incentives to invest money and
create new jobs here in America, not overseas. Since 2001, over 1.2
million jobs have been lost right here at home! With 8.6 million
Americans out of work, we must create jobs now!”
“States all over our nation, including California, are facing the
worst fiscal crisis since World War II. They are being forced to raise
taxes and decrease spending. We must make sure that the states have
the resources available to take care of their people! The President’s
plan only makes a bad situation worse for California!”
“Under the Democratic Economic stimulus plan, the states would receive
$31 billion dollars in fiscal relief. This money would go toward
Medicaid, Homeland Security, and transit. Working families fuel the
fire under this nation.
Only with the creation of new jobs and targeted tax cuts will we be
able to increase consumer confidence, jump-start the economy, and beat
this recession.”
“With a sagging economy and looming war, we must continue to invest in
our future – our children – by fully funding educational programs. The
President patted himself on the back for getting No Child Left Behind
passed, then failed to fund its most vital programs in his budget –
leaving EVERY child behind!”
“The President asked for $7 billion less in his budget than what the
Act promised—leaving what some are saying is the worst education
budget in seven years. Without a fully funded No Child Left Behind
Act, our schools will be in even more trouble than they already are.
The Governor has announced that California may have to cut education
by $5.2 billion. If schools fail, they risk losing their federal funds
that they need to meet No Child Left Behind requirements and to keep
their doors open.”
“The President must give states the funds they need to improve
schools. Standards alone will not improve education for our students.
The President has taken credit for passing the No Child Left Behind
Act, but has not backed up the plan with the resources the states need
to meet those goals. How can closing our schools help leave no child
behind! Mr. President, give our schools the resources they need, not
the rhetoric you need!”
“One of my top-priority education goals for the 108th Congress is to
Increase Federal Support for Education Programs, Especially Title III
of the No Child Left Behind Act, which is the program that funds
bilingual programs and development grants for colleges who serve
limited English proficient students. We also need to ensure that the
needs of our students are met in upcoming reauthorizations. The
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act should be fully funded.
HeadStart should be fully funded. The Carl Perkins Vocational and
Technical Education Act should be maintained. I have received many
letters from Ontario, Chaffey, and Etiwanda High School students in my
district who are urging Congress to fully reauthorize the Perkins Act
that helps students gain vocational training essential to our society
and our economy.”
“Many times vocational education programs are the best way for Latino
and African American students to gain a foothold in their careers. It
is sad that at the same time the Bush administration is proposing
cutting our vocational education programs it is trying to dismantle
other initiatives that contribute to diversity at our nation’s
institutions of higher education.
We must make sure that all students have equal access to high quality
education. The President, by interfering with university admissions
requirements, will end up making it harder for minority students to
gain admission to our top schools. The Supreme Court will decide in
July whether considering race as a factor in college and law school
admissions violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bars
racial discrimination by federally-funded institutions, or the clause
of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment that guarantees equal treatment
for all citizens under state law. This is the first time the court has
considered the issue since its ruling in the 1978 Bakke case.
“This case is absolutely about equal protection and equal treatment.
It is about whether people of color can be given a fair shot.
Unfortunately, the Bush Administration refuses to acknowledge that
affirmative action is necessary to right the wrongs of the past and
those that are occurring today. Without equal access to our nation’s
institutions of higher learning, the problems that Hispanics, African
Americans, and other people of color face will get worse. And the Bush
Administration does not seem to care. They think that by playing some
mariachi music and saying a few words in Spanish that our community
will be satisfied. I have a surprise for you Mr. President. We are
smarter than that. We want more than just empty rhetoric. We want
action!”
“Every citizen in our nation will stand behind the Commander in Chief
and our men and women in uniform if it should come to war. We will
support them as they fight for our nation and for our freedoms. But
before that time comes, we must make sure we have done all that we can
to provide for our citizens’ security here at home. They need jobs,
access to healthcare and prescription drugs, and equal access to
education and job training for their kids. Our security begins at our
kitchen tables, in our boardrooms, in our storefronts, and in our
classrooms. Mr. President, please don’t leave the working families who
fuel the fire under our nation out in the cold as they face an
uncertain but optimistic future.”
