Economists Optimistic, but Kerry Keeps Attacking Bush's Policies
Susan Jones, CNSNews.com
Monday, March 29, 2004
As Democrat John Kerry rails against President Bush's "failed policies on the economy," 56 economists surveyed by USA Today offered an optimistic outlook on the U.S. economy. In fact, one of the economists called this a "booming economy."
According to the report Monday in USA Today, employers are expected to "add jobs steadily as the economy continues to expand."
The 56 economists surveyed by the newspaper predicted that businesses and consumers would continue to spend more money as the jobless rate falls. They expect inflation and interest rates to remain low.
USA Today noted that the rosy predictions come as jobs "take center stage in the presidential election."
On Monday, Sen. John Kerry was campaigning in California, where he planned to blast what he called President Bush's "failed policies."
According to a press release issued by Kerry's campaign, "John Kerry will spend Cesar Chavez Day, Monday, in California talking about his plan to create 10 million new jobs during his first term in office and get the economy back on track."
But USA Today's survey indicates the economy is getting back on track right now, under President Bush.
Hiring Boost Expected
"Business looks really very, very good," USA Today quoted Decision Economics President Allen Sinai as saying. Sinai told the newspaper that rising corporate profits would prompt more companies to hire more workers in the weeks ahead.
"In the survey conducted March 19-24, 31% of the economists said they expect hiring to begin in earnest in the second quarter," USA Today reported. "More than half expected considerable gains in the second half."
Kerry has pounced on President Bush for costing Americans their jobs. On Saturday, after President Bush in his weekly radio address discussed good news about rising home ownership, Kerry's campaign put out the following rebuttal: "Nearly three million Americans have lost their jobs since George Bush took office and the President's response is to give himself a pat on the back."
In his radio address, President Bush said the economy was growing, which is helping more Americans afford new homes. "Incomes are rising," Bush said. "The unemployment rate is falling. Mortgage rates are low. And because of tax relief, Americans have more to save, spend and invest - and that means millions of American families have moved into their first homes."
But in his response to Bush's radio address, Kerry said, "American jobs are being shipped overseas, health care costs are overwhelming working families, and George Bush still doesn't get it."
Kerry promised that "change is coming. When I'm President, we'll pursue a bold new economic plan to jumpstart job creation, renew American competitiveness, balance the budget, and create 10 million new jobs in the next four years."
On Monday and Tuesday, Kerry was bringing his "10 million new jobs" theme to California.
He planned to host a town hall meeting with students at a job training facility in Sacramento on Monday. According to a press release from the campaign, Kerry "will hear firsthand from students about the real impact of Bush's policies - increased unemployment, more manufacturing jobs lost, rising health care costs, skyrocketing gas prices and decreased support for education - and talk about his plans to get the economy back on track."
On Tuesday, at a rally at the University of California, San Diego, Kerry planned to talk about "the economic impact of rising gas prices and the effect on consumers and families," his campaign said.
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