George W. Bush for President 2000 Campaign Brochure

‘Opportunity, Security and Responsibility -- A Fresh Start for America’

I’m running for President because I want to help usher in the responsibility era, where people understand they are responsible for the choice they make and are held accountable for their actions.

As President, I’ll make our schools accountable for results. I’ll encourage our schools to take more responsibility for teaching character to our children so they understand right and wrong and that actions have consequences. I’ll give local school districts more flexibility to spend money where it is needed to improve our children’s education. I’ll strengthen Social Security, guaranteeing government is responsible for the promises it has made America’s seniors and allowing younger American’s to voluntarily invest some of their Social Security taxes in Personal Accounts. I’ll reform Health Care so every family has access to affordable health insurance, and seniors have a choice of plans, including prescription drug coverage. I’ll rebuild our military, giving it the resources it needs to meet its responsibility to keep the peace. I’ll promote a responsible economic agenda to continue our prosperity. I’ll provide tax relief for all Americans, especially those struggling to make it into the middle class.

I will use the Presidency to promote a greater sense of responsibility across this great country. By encouraging communities to be responsible for their citizens and asking individuals to be responsible for their actions, we will renew our country’s spirit. If elected, when I put my hand on the bible, I will swear to not only uphold the law of the land, but also the integrity of the office to which I have been elected.

Signed George W. Bush

Vision to Improve Education.

Governor Bush will fight for fundamental reforms so no child is left behind.

His plan will restore local control, set high standards, give schools flexibility to meet them, measure progress, and insist on results.

Bush will reward successful schools and demand failing schools improve. He will withdraw federal funds from schools that fail to improve after three years and give the money to parents to use to better their children’s education.

Families should be able to have tax-free education savings accounts for tuition or education expenses from kindergarten through college.

Bush will spend $5 billion for early intervention to help every child read by third grade.

He will expand character education in schools to help teach our children there are right and wrong choices in life.

He will make it easier to remove disruptive students, stop junk lawsuits against teachers and strengthen classroom safety.

Clinton/Gore had eight years, but failed. National reading scores stagnated. American students place almost last in international high school math rankings. The achievement gap between poor and non-poor students remains wide.

George W. Bush will provide the leadership to change and improve public education in America.

Quality Heath Care for Every Family.

George W. Bush’s goal is for every American to have access to quality health care. His proposal for tax credits will help working families buy affordable insurance. Bush will increase the number of community health centers to increase access to health services. Governor Bush will expand Medical Savings Accounts and strengthen and reform Medicare so everyone -- especially low income seniors -- has access to prescription drug coverage. He believes doctors should make medical decisions, not insurance companies. He’ll sign a Patient’s Bill of Rights that holds HMOs accountable and reduces junk lawsuits, as he did in Texas. Governor Bush will help people afford long term care policies with new incentives. Seniors should not worry about being burdens to their children. And families should get help with the cost of caring for elderly family members at home. He’ll expand research into curing cancer, Alzheimer’s and other diseases, in part by dramatically increasing the budget of the National Institutes of Health.

Cut Taxes and Make The System Fairer.

The Bush economic plan saves over half the surplus to strengthen Social Security and reduce the national debt, and saves over 10% of the surplus for important priorities like education, national defense and health.

This still leaves a quarter of the surplus for much needed, long-overdue tax relief. Governor Bush’s goal is to make it easier for people to join the middle class by cutting taxes and making them fairer.

The Governor’s tax cut will reduce tax rates for every taxpayer, double the child tax credit, slash the marriage penalty, expand deductions for charitable giving, make the research and development tax credit permanent and end the death tax. The biggest percentage reductions go to those in the lower tax brackets because they often face higher marginal tax rates than the wealthy. Taxpayers earning below $50,000, will see their income tax bills cut by over 20% on average. Some politicians say America cannot afford a tax cut in this time of prosperity. Governor Bush says if we leave the money in Washington, it will spent on more government and that giving it back to taxpayers through cuts and reforms is an important insurance policy to help guarantee continued prosperity.

Strengthen Social Security.

Governor Bush believes America has a moral responsibility to save and strengthen Social Security.

As the number of senior Americans grows, Social Security will begin running big deficits after 2025. To put Social Security on a sound financial footing, Governor Bush has offered six principles for reform.

1. Seniors must know their benefits will be safe. No change in benefits for retirees or those near retirement.

2. Social Security surpluses must be locked away for Social Security only. No more spending the Social Security surpluses on other government programs.

3. Young workers should be allowed to voluntarily invest part of their Social Security taxes in a personal retirement account. Young people should be able to build a bigger nest egg by investing in safe, secure investments like bonds, stocks and mutual funds.

4. No government investment of Social Security funds in the stock market. People should be able to invest; not politicians.

5. Social Security’s disability and survivors support must be preserved.

6. No Increase in Social Security Taxes. They already take 12.4% of a worker’s paycheck.

Governor Bush will work with Republicans and Democrats to pass a bipartisan reform that protects Social Security. Already, his approach has drawn praise from leading Democrats.

Like Governor Bush, they know Social Security means comfort and security for millions of seniors. Governor Bush will provide leadership to save and strengthen it for today’s retirees and tomorrow’s as well.

A Dangerous World Requires A Strong Military.

George W. Bush believes America’s military is challenged by aging weapons and failed intelligence. He will strengthen our military and rebuild America’s stature in the world.

He will increase military pay $1 billion to raise morale and get military families off food stamps. He will improve military housing and allowances.

He’ll end shortfalls in training, spare parts, and equipment and modernize weapons and equipment.

Bush will defend Americans and our allies against missiles and blackmail by deploying an anti-ballistic missile defense.

He will rebuild our intelligence services.

As President Bush will order an immediate review of overseas deployments: no U.S. troops should be in harm’s way unless America’s interests are at stake, no U.S. troops will ever serve under UN command.

Help Charities And Faith-Based Groups Serve Those In Need.

George W. Bush knows changing a heart can change a life.

So he’ll reform laws and remove regulations that discourage and hamper charities and faith-based groups from delivering social services.

Bush will dedicate $8 billion for new tax incentives to encourage charitable giving.

Bush will start a new program to mentor and assist the 1.3 million children with parents in prison.

He’ll encourage and expand the role of charities in after-school programs and remove obstacles to faith-based groups being more involved in drug treatment and maternity group homes.

Private and religious groups should be able to compete to provide services in federal, state and local social programs.

He will work to usher in the responsibility era, where all of us understand we’re responsible for the choices we make. He understands the most enduring gift we give our children are values -- the values that have stood the test of time.

The Bush Plan Cuts Taxes For Every Taxpayer

Single parent making $22,000 with 1 child: 100% reduction ($1,000)

Single parent making $32,000 with 2 children: 93% reduction ($1,500)

Single person making $15,000: 25% reduction ($300)

Married couple, each making $18,000, with 2 children: 100% reduction ($1,670)

Married couple, each making $35,000, with 2 children: 33% reduction ($2,613)

Married couple, with one earner making $35,000, with 1 child: 13% reduction ($2,345)

Bush Outlined A Bold Tax Cut Plan, Which:

Lowers All Tax Rates for All Taxpayers

Doubles Child Credit to $1,000

Saves Social Security Money only for Social Security

Ends the Social Security Earnings Test

Slashes the Marriage Penalty

He’s A Reformer With Results