FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2002
(Rochester, MN) Minnesota native Steve Andreasen, the DFL candidate for Congress in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, today proposed a plan to put education, prescription drugs, and protecting Social Security and Medicare ahead of tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent of Americans. Andreasen also restated his pledge not to privatize any part of Social Security.
"When this Congress and this Administration were sworn into office, the government projected a surplus of $5.6 trillion over the next ten years. Promises were made to protect Social Security and Medicare, provide a prescription drug benefit to seniors, increase our commitment to education, and institute a tax cut," Andreasen remarked. "Today, over $5 trillion of our hard-earned federal budget surplus is gone, much of that going for tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent of Americans."
Andreasen quoted his opponent, Mr. Gutknecht, who last year maintained that the government could provide a tax cut and guarantee the Social Security and Medicare trust fund remain untouched, and had even suggested that the $5.6 trillion surplus could grow by an additional $2 trillion. "I'll say this for Mr. Gutknecht: he is consistent. Unfortunately, with respect to our economy, he was consistently, and tragically, wrong."
Andreasen proposed an Economic Security and Investment Plan that would reexamine budget priorities. "Like any business or family that suffers a dramatic turnaround in its business or personal finances, the government should follow this simple piece of advice: when you are in a hole, stop digging. My plan provides a blueprint for leading Southern Minnesota to a future of economic growth and fiscal discipline."
Andreasen proposed an Economic Security and Investment Plan that would reexamine budget priorities. "We should defer the reduction in the highest tax bracket passed by Congress last spring, and use the money instead as a down payment toward restoring fiscal balance, including the Social Security and Medicare surplus," Andreasen said. His plan also includes targeted tax cuts for new business investment and a review each year in Congress before further scheduled reductions in tax rates go forward.
Andreasen lives in Rochester. Prior to running for Congress, he was the Director of Defense Policy and Arms Control on the National Security Council staff at the White House from 1993-2001. He also served in the Bush Sr. and Reagan Administrations. He is a national security consultant and is writing a book on nuclear weapons, arms control and missile defense policy.
Paid for and authorized by Andreasen for Congress