A Look at Bush Promises Past

01/29/2006

(AP)—A look at President Bush’s track record of major initiatives from his State of the Union addresses and a budget address in 2001:

_2001: Bush proposed one of the biggest tax cuts in history, a boost in spending for environmental protection and health research, and the “No Child Left Behind” education program. He also advocated a “faith-based initiative” to transfer some government social programs to religious and charitable organizations.

Congress passed his tax cut plan and provided immediate rebates for most taxpayers. The education plan, which emphasized standardized testing for both students and schools, was enacted in 2002. When Congress did not pass the religious-based measure, Bush administratively put some of its elements into force.

_2002: After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Bush pledged to push the fight against terrorism beyond Afghanistan and warned of an “axis of evil” made up of Iraq, Iran and North Korea. He asked Congress to pass an energy bill to stimulate U.S. production, called for more fuel-cell research, and proposed restoring “fast track” trade negotiating powers that had lapsed.

Congress in October gave the president the authorization he sought to use force in Iraq, if necessary. The energy bill languished and little was done on the fuel-cell initiative. Congress renewed presidential trade authority.

_2003: He proposed spending $15 billion to “turn the tide against AIDS,” particularly in Africa. He proposed a far-reaching Medicare prescription-drug benefit.

The prescription drug measure was narrowly approved. Bush got only a fraction of the money he sought for combating AIDS.

_2004: Bush called on Congress to extend the Patriot Act, set to expire in 2005. With the budget deficit mushrooming, the president proposed few new domestic initiatives. He backed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages.

The gay-marriage proposal flared briefly as a campaign issue, then receded. The Patriot Act was not extended.

_2005: Bush proposed restructuring Social Security to allow younger workers to divert some of their Social Security taxes into private investment accounts - in exchange for lower future guaranteed benefits. He vowed to reform the tax code. He said his foreign-policy goal was to spread democracy through the world, beginning with the Middle East. He again asked for a Patriot Act extension.

Most remaining congressional interest in the Social Security plan was washed away after Hurricane Katrina and its soaring reconstruction costs. Bush’s tax-code overhaul still awaits recommendations from the Treasury. Bush claimed victories on bills limiting multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuits and tightening bankruptcy rules. He narrowly got a Central American trade agreement and finally saw passage of his energy bill, although without the Alaska drilling provisions he wanted. Congress extended the Patriot Act - but only to Feb. 3.