President Bush sought Thursday to position himself as the responsible steward of the nation's economy, decrying opponents who are seeking increased government regulation and higher taxes.
In a preview of his election-year State of the Union address next Tuesday, Bush said his fiscal 1993 budget proposal would include five components - stimulating investment, bolstering real estate values, a comprehensive health-care plan and measures to control spending and improve global competition.Hoping to portray other solutions as politically expedient, he told a friendly audience of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, "These tests, I believe, will separate serious proposals from the quick fix proposals, the gimmicks."
Bush told the organization at a White House gathering, "These gimmicks are about politics, not about prosperity in America."
A number of Democratic leaders have proposed increasing the top tax rate on the wealthiest Americans and intend to seek deeper cuts in military spending and more on social programs than Bush will propose.
In an indication of the upcoming legislative battle, Democrats Wednesday approved legislation in committee that would force employers to pay for health insurance or contribute 7 percent to 8 percent of their payrolls to help finance it. (Story above.)
The administration is squarely opposed to this approach. Bush is expected to offer tax credits for workers whose employers do not provide health insurance. An estimated 36 million Americans have no health coverage.
"Government efforts to centrally manage or mandate benefits produce more problems than they solve," Bush said. "We must forgo approaches to the problem that cost jobs."