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For immediate release: February 12, 2003
Contact: Margot Friedman or Camden Richards at 202-588-5180
Women and Families Will Be
Harmed By Bush Tax Cuts
Statement of Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President,
National Women’s Law Center,
at the Launch of National and Grassroots Campaign
to Defeat Bush Tax Plan
The National Women’s Law Center is co-chairing the Fair Taxes for All Coalition for one reason: to fight the devastating effect of President Bush’s massive new tax cuts on women and children. These tax cuts threaten to sabotage all of the priorities critical to women, and the vast majority of Americans. Over the next several months, we’ll be bringing this message to the Administration, to Congress, and to the public.
The Administration’s priorities are simply wrong. In order to provide even more tax cuts for a tiny handful of the wealthiest Americans, President Bush shortchanges the economic security, and hopes for the future, of millions of ordinary Americans -- and especially the women and families who need Social Security, health care, education, child care and other programs essential to children’s well-being. For example, as documented by the Children’s Defense Fund, for the amount of the President’s $364 billion dividend tax cut, we could both provide health insurance to all of the 9.2 million children who are still uninsured and provide Head Start for all unserved eligible preschool children in need of the services that prepare them for school and a productive future. Instead, the President’s FY 2004 budget narrows the scope of and block grants Head Start and cuts health insurance for uninsured children, child care, after-school programs, and several child nutrition programs. Instead, in the next year alone, the new Bush plan would give millionaires an average tax cut of $89,000.
We hear a great deal these days about keeping families strong and “leaving no child behind.” But make no mistake about it: the Administration is not simply failing to help families and children; it is actually causing them harm. To help bring this point home, I would like to introduce two individuals who have first-hand experience with the costs of the Administration’s priorities. Janice Sanford will tell us about the threatened cuts to after-school programs in her state and the impact these cuts would have on her and her children. Read statement of Janice Sanford. Maude Hurd, the President of ACORN and a staff member at a substance abuse treatment program that has suffered major cutbacks, will tell us about the impact of these cuts on the communities she serves. Read statement of Maude Hurd. As you listen to their stories, ask yourself which is more important: after-school programs for children or tax breaks for the very rich? Rehabilitating drug users or tax breaks for millionaires? I think the answers will be clear.
Read additional statements from the launch of Fair Taxes for All's national and grassroots campaign to defeat Bush tax plan.
For more information on how the Bush tax cuts would harm women and families, please see www.nwlc.org/womenandtaxes .
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