A Quakerly Guide to Grade the President's 2003 State of Union Address, Jan. 28.

Chapel Hill Meeting Forum, Jan. 26

What is included? How accurate is it? What is Omitted?

Foreign Policy

US diplomatic leadership [preventive diplomacy vs. pre-emptive war] in resolving conflicts in Iraq, North Korea, Afghanistan, Palestine-Israel, Kashmir, and Columbia. What measures are proposed: negotiation and cooperation? demilitarization and disarmament initiatives? strengthening the rule of national and international law? withdrawal of military training and weapons sales to oppressive regimes? material support for democracy development, human rights and human development?

Iraq. What consequences of war in Iraq are noted? What are the projected costs of war in Iraq: 2003-2012.: Military: $50-120 Bil?Aftermath: nation-building: $121 Bil-$1.6 Tril. [est. by economist Wm Nordhaus, Yale, 12/02]

Nation building for failed, failing, or destroyed states [e.g., in addition to Iraq and North Korea: Nigeria, S.Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia; Colombia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Congo, Somalia, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Angola, Zimbabwe, et al.]:

Background: GW Bush's Millenium Challenge Account proposes $10 Bil in new money to developing countries by 2006, & $5 Bil each year thereafter to countries that "..govern justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom" [i.e., are open to US exports and investment], which is likely to exclude failing states, except, as currently, where US troops are based [i.e., Bosnia, Afghanistan, Colombia, Pakistan]

Explanation for opting out of International Agreements/Treaties re the environment, arms control, childrens and women's rights, international law, development aid.[e.g., US unilateral agreements with countries to exempt American military from extradition to the International Criminal Court

Civil Liberties: Justification of use of the new powers in the USA Patriot Act of 2001

Background: The Act allows surveillance of religious or political groups without evidence of suspicious behavior; access to library, medical, purchasing, banking records without suspicion of criminal conduct thru intrusive reporting requirements: "sneak and peak" covert searches in home and offices, and of computers by location [not person]; indefinite detention of a citizen without charge or access to counsel if Pres. names person "enemy combatant" with no judicial review.

Submission of Legal Brief to the Supreme Court opposing affirmative action at the University of Michigan.

Total Information Awareness program: to search and analyze all private records of all people via the Internet by obtaining cooperation of Internet ISPs to monitor users [now in process]; headed by Iran-Contra defendant John Poindexter in Dept of Defense.

Women's Rights: reproductive health

Backround: Bush Re-Submission of anti-choice judges for Senate Judiciary approval [Pickering and Priscilla Owens]

Appointed Head of FDA: Dr. D. Hager, who wants to ban morning-after pill RU-486; refused to insert IUDs; hesitated to prescribe birth control pills to single women.

President withheld approved $34 mil for UN Population Fund, which supports family planning [not abortion] services, maternal care, HIV prevention for poor women around the world.

Pulled off research information from National Cancer Institute and Centers for Disease Control websites which reported there is no evidence linking abortion to breast cancer and that condom education does not promote early sexual activity.

DHHS now allows health insurance coverage [under Child's Health Insurance Program] for uninsured pregnant women & unborn child?only until birth, thereby granting legal standing to the embryo/fetus, without regard to the post-birth health of the mother.

Dept of Homeland Security: What is the President's interpretation of the Homeland Security Act of 2002?

Background: President can decide which elements of DHS are concerned with analysis of foreign intelligence; controls all forms of information that may/may not be made available to Congress, the Comptroller General of the US, the press and public, in the name of protecting international relations, national security, his "deliberative processes" or performance of constitutional duties.

Domestic Policy

Explanation of "Economic Stimulus Package": 2003 proposed tax cut: $674 Billion over 10 years.

Background: "Stimulus" is very little for 2003: $1 is added to the economy for every $6 in costs;

States will lose $4-5 Bil in revenues, requiring increased taxes and cuts in services.

The top 1% will get over $27,000 per year, after already getting $130,000 per year when the 2001 tax cuts are in full effect.

40% of the tax cuts go to the 5% of tax payers who earn over $200,000 per year; people with incomes between $30-50,000 will get a yearly benefit of $42-$84.

Elimination of stock dividend income tax: Cost: over $300 Bil. [over 85% of stocks are owned by the richest 10%; half are owned by the top 1%]

Faith-Based Initiative

Background: now fully established by a new Executive Order following the November election:

Federal agencies can contract for social/health services with religious organizations which discriminate in employee hiring on basis of religion. Any church may provide services and display religious icons/ art, maintain its structure, and pursue its religious missions "provided it does not use direct Federal financial assistance to support any inherently religious activities, such as worship, instruction, or proselytization". Vouchers [considered indirect Fed. funds] have no restriction on mixing social services with inherently religious activities if clients are assured their choice will not affect the services they get. No new federal funds are allocated.

"Regulatory Relief"/"simplification"/"smart regulation". Background: Whitehouse Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs invited proposals to rewrite regulations, mainly by business lobbies: e.g.,., EPA will reconsider the rule that bans arsenic in certain wood; plant expansions no longer need use new [vs.older] anti pollution technology; FDA might allow the "health benefits" of wine on labeling; FAA might allow less fresh air in airplane cabins [requested by Boeing] [NYT, 12/20/02]

Many Federal agencies are required to ask: is Federal role critical in providing their services?, e.g.,.Neighborhood Legal Services; Supplemental Security Income [for blind, disabled, elder poor]; vocational and adult education programs; substance abuse, homeless, and mental health programs; child health insurance; housing vouchers and rental assistance; air toxicology control,etc?a possible prelude to privatization.

Social and Health Policy

Background: Under the 2003 Budget being passed this month, education, Head Start, child health, housing, heating fuel, and virtually all non-Security domestic programs are being cut beyond initial cuts because of the growing deficit.[over 700 Bil in next 10 yrs]; 700,000 children are now living with unemployed parents. 41 mil. people are uninsured.

Prescription drug Medicare benefit: the Bush proposal to subsidize private pharmacy benefits amounts to the beginning of privatization of Medicare.

Prospects for Bush Legislation: New Senate Chairs

Environment & Public Works: Inhofe: League of Conservation Voters rating=0%

Judiciary: Hatch: ACLU rating: 14%

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: Gregg: AFL-CIO index of issues: lifetime 2%

Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs: Shelby: got 93% from Chamber of Commerce rating

Budget: Nickles: the most severe critic of the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is the single most important policy in reducing poverty since Social Security.

The new Senate Leader, Dr. Bill Frist, opposes abortion, emergency contraception, and international family planning.