AMERICA UNDER BUSH: THE STATE OF FLORIDA WORKING FAMILIES

■*• 87,173 Of Florida Workers Have Become Unemployed Since Bush Took Office.

■*• 41,900 Of Florida Workers Have Lost Their Unemployment Benefits Since January 2004.

■*• 61,600 Florida Manufacturing Jobs Lost Since Bush Took Office.

■*• 51 Percent Of Florida Taxpayers Will Receive Less Than $100 From Latest Bush Tax Cut.

■* Florida Families Face Rising Share Of National Debt Burden: $23,940 Over Six Years.

-» 737,000 Florida Children Abandoned By Bush, Left Out Of Child Tax Credit.

■*• 2,843,000 Florida Residents Have No Health Insurance.

■* 315,500 Florida Seniors Worse Off Under Bush Medicare Prescription Plan.

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FLORIDA UNDER BUSH

JOBS AND ECONOMY:

Bush Does Nothing While Jobs Are Lost,

Salaries Stagnate, And Poverty Soars

"When America works, America prospers, so my economic security plan can be summed up in one word: jobs." —George W. Bush [state of the union Address, 1/29/02]

Nationally, Businesses Have Lost 2.6 Million Jobs Lost; Unemployment Rate Up 36 Percent. The

national unemployment rate in March 2004 was 5.7 percent, up from 4.2 percent when Bush took office in January 2001 - a 36 percent increase. Nationally, the economy has lost 2.6 million private sector jobs under Bush. Over 2 million Americans have also seen their federal extended unemployment benefits expire due to Bush and the Republican Congress's failure to extend them: 1 million in December 2002 and another 1.1. million since January 2004. [Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov; AP, 1/9/03; CBPP, 3/25/04, www.cbpp.org]

> Florida Fact: Unemployment Has Increased 23% Under Bush. The unemployment rate in Florida was 4.8 percent in March 2004, up from 3.9 percent in January 2001; this change represents an 23 percent increase since Bush took office. In total, 87,173 more workers in Florida have become unemployed under Bush. [Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov]

> Florida Fact: 41,900 Jobless Florida Workers Have Lost Their Unemployment Benefits Since January 2004. Bush and the Republican Congress have refused to provide additional federal unemployment benefits to workers looking for work. In Florida, 41,900 workers have lost their benefits since January 2004. [CBPP, 3/25/04, www.cbpp.org]

Bush Fails to Improve Prosperity for Working Families. Bush recently stated, "We're prosperous now, which is good — particularly if you're a guy seeking the vote." But since he took office in 2001, corporate profits have expanded by 57.5 percent ($365 billion), while private wage and salary income declined by 1.7 percent ($73 billion). In 2003, median weekly wages actually grew slower (2.0 percent) than the rate of inflation (2.3 percent), meaning that real value of workers paychecks actually declined. Overall, adjusted for inflation, weekly wages have only rise 0.2 percent since 2000. [Bush Remarks in Washington, 4/21/04; Economic Policy Institute, 4/12/04, 2/5/04, www.epinet.org; Democratic Joint Economic Committee, March 2004]

Nationally, Nearly 2.8 Million Manufacturing Jobs Lost Under Bush. The manufacturing industry has lost 2,783,000 jobs nationwide since Bush took office in January 2001 . Employment for this key sector of the American economy is at its lowest level since October 1958. [Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov]

> Florida Fact: 61,600 Manufacturing Jobs Have Been Lost Under Bush. In Florida, 63,400 manufacturing jobs have been lost since Bush took office in January 2001. [Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov]

Nationally, 3.5 Million More Americans Have Fallen Into Poverty Under Bush. In 2002, the number of Americans living in poverty increased to 34.6 million — 12.1 percent. Three-and-a-half million more Americans live in poverty under Bush. For 2002, a family with two parents and two children lives at the poverty threshold if their total household income is below $ 1 8,244. [Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States: 2002, Table 4, http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/povertv.html1

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FLORIDA UNDER BUSH

> Florida Fact: Florida Poverty Rate At 12.6 Percent. The Florida poverty rate is now higher than the national percentage. According to the most recent state estimate (2001-2), 12.6 percent of Florida residents are defined as living in poverty, up from 11.8 percent from 2000-2001 . [Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States: 2002, Table 4, http;//www.census.gov/hhes/www/povertv.html1

Consumer Debt and Bankruptcies At Ail-Time High. In January 2004, reports indicated that "Consumer debt, which includes auto loans and credit cards but excludes mortgages, rose to a record $1.99 trillion in November, the Federal Reserve reported yesterday. That's roughly $18,249 per U.S. household. Holiday spending certainly raised that number still higher." [Baltimore Sun, 1/9/04]

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FLORIDA UNDER BUSH

TAXES: Bush Squandered Surplus, Increasing Debt Burden, Gave Tax Breaks To Rich

"The Bush tax cuts benefit all Americans, but reserve the greatest percentage reduction for the lowest income families." —George W. Bush [bc oo Fact sheet, 12/1/99]

Bush Squandered $10.6 Trillion In Three Years. President Bush inherited a ten-year government surplus of $5.6 trillion in January 2001. Today, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities projects a ten- year deficit of $5.2 trillion - a $ 10.6 trillion deterioration since Bush took office. The 2004 deficit alone is projected to be a record $477 billion. Bush's tax cuts are the largest single reason for the deterioration in the surplus since January 2001. In the ten-year period from 2002-201 1, 36 percent of the projected deficits are due to the enacted and expected Bush tax cuts, whereas only 20 percent is due to the war on terrorism, Iraq, and homeland security. The CBO has projected deficits "as far as the eye can see." [CBO, 2/27/04, 8/03; OMB Mid-Session Review, 7. 15/03; CBPP, 2/1/04; Los Angeles Times, 8/29/03]

> Florida Fact: Small Benefits of Bush Tax Cut Dwarfed by Rising Debt Burden For Florida's Middle Income Families. Over six years, the middle 20 percent of Florida taxpayers will receive an average of $3,449 in Bush tax cuts. However, this money is greatly offset by the cost of increased debt burden facing middle class taxpayers. The average increased debt burden over the same period for Florida will be $23,940, creating an average net increased debt burden of $20,491. [CTJ Fact Sheet, 9/23/03]

Average Tax Cut For Taxpayers Far Less Than What Bush Touted. After final passage of Bush's 2003 tax cut, the Bush administration touted its large tax cuts for American families. A Treasury Department statement said, "In 2003, 91 million taxpayers will receive, on average, a tax cut of $1,126." But, nationwide 83 percent of households will get less than the Bush administration's promised average. [Treasury Press Release, 5/22/03; CBPP Fact Sheet, 5/28/03, 6/13/03]

> Florida Fact: 4,135,000 Florida Taxpayers Get Less Than $100 in 2004; Richest 1% Will Get $79,201.

— > 4,135,000 Florida taxpayers (51 percent) will receive less than $100 from Bush's tax plan

in 2004. [CTJ Fact Sheet, 6/5/03, 6/13/03, http://www.ctj.org1 — > The top 1 percent of Florida taxpayers receive 36.5 percent of the benefits in 2004 and get

an average tax cut of $79,201. [CTJ Fact Sheets, 6/5/03, 6/13/03]

> [Florida Fact: 737,000 Children in Florida Are Left Out of Bush Child Tax Credit Provision.

The 2003 Bush tax cut accelerated the $400 increase of the child tax credit from his 2001 tax cut. However, the final bill left out 12 million children in moderate and low-income families nationwide, whose households earn between $10,500 and $26,625 per year. According to an analysis by Citizens for Tax Justice, 737,000 children in Florida would benefit if the child tax credit were expanded.

[New York Times, 5/29/03; CBPP Fact Sheet, http://www.cbpp.org/5-28-03tax3.htm; CTJ Fact Sheet, 6/3/03, emphasis added]

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FLORIDA UNDER BUSH

HEALTH CARE:

In the Face of Rising Health Care Costs and Uninsured, Bush Offers

Prescription Drug Plan That Actually Hurts Seniors

"A priority in my budget will be to make sure that the health care system in America is strong for the elderly, for the uninsured, and for all of us concerned

about health." ~ George W. Bush [Remarks in St. Louis, MO, 2/20/01]

Rising Health Care Costs Prohibit Coverage For Many Families. President Bush has no plan to deal with runaway health care costs that have increased 40 percent since he took office. The average cost of job-based health care increased by $2,630 to $9,068 for families in 2003. Health costs are expected to rise another 12 percent in 2004 alone. "Affordability remains the number one reason people lack health coverage today," said Dr. Donald Young, president of the Health Insurance Association of America. [Kaiser Family Foundation, Employer Health Benefits Survey 2000 and 2003, www.kff.org; Towers Perrin, 2004 Health Care Cost Survey; Los Angeles Times, 9/30/03]

Personal Bankruptcies At All Time High; Medical Bills A Leading Cause. An estimated 1.6 million families will file for bankruptcy in 2004, 90 percent from the middle-class. Health care costs contribute to half of all bankruptcies. [NOW With Bill Moyers, 2/6/04; Consumers Union, 2/25/04]

> Florida Fact: 232,153 Of Florida Households Have Filed for Bankruptcy Since Bush Took Office. Personal bankruptcies have reached record highs under Bush's watch. In Florida, 232,153 households declared bankruptcy between 2001 and 2003. [Administrative Office of the US Courts, www.uscourts.gov]

Nationally, One in Nine Have No Health Insurance Under Bush. In 2002, the number of Americans without health insurance increased by 2.4 million to a decade-high 43.6 million. [Census Bureau, Historical Health Insurance Tables, Table HI06, http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins.html]

> Florida Fact: 2,843,000 Florida Residents Have No Health Insurance.

— > 17.3 percent of Florida residents were uninsured in 2002, well above the national percentage of 15.2 [Census Bureau, Historical Health Insurance Tables, Table HI06, http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins.html]

— > 4,626,000 Florida residents went without health insurance at some point during 2001-2002. [Families USA, Going Without Insurance, March 2003, www.familiesusa.org]

Nationally, Many Seniors Worse Off Under Bush Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. The Medicare bill that President Bush signed in November 2003 includes limited prescription drug coverage but protects drug companies by failing to bring down the cost of prescriptions. The bill has been described as a "big win" for the drug industry, and nationwide, many seniors are worse off under the plan. fWall Street Journal, 1 1/17/03; Senate HELP Committee Minority Staff, "National and State Impacts of the Medicare Prescription Drug Conference Proposal," 1 1/03, emphasis added]

> Florida Fact: Florida Seniors Hurt By Bush Plan.

— > 160,440 Florida Medicare beneficiaries will lose their employer-based retiree health benefits.

— > 3 15,500 seniors will pay more for the prescription drugs they need. [Senate HELP Committee Minority Staff, "National and State Impacts of the Medicare Prescription Drug Conference Proposal," 11/03]

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FLORIDA UNDER BUSH

EDUCATION:

Bush Ignores Skyrocketing Tuition, And Underfunds His Own Education

Reform Plan

"The days of excuse-making are over. In return for federal money, we expect results so that not one single child in America is left behind."

~ George W. Bush [Remarks in St. Denver, CO, 8/11/03]

Nationally, College Tuition Skyrocketing. Tuition and fees at public colleges have increased by an average of 35 percent since Bush took office, with 49 out of 50 states raising tuition last year. These tuition increases have been the direct results of cuts in state aid due to state budget crises. Tuition at 4- year public schools increased by an average of 14 percent for the 2003-2004 school year alone. [Associated Press, 8/25/03; College Board, College Costs 2003, www.collegeboard.coml

New Bush Budget Again Breaks Campaign Promise to Increase Maximum Pell Grant Award.

During the 2000 presidential campaign, Bush promised to increase the maximum Pell Grant award to $5,100. Yet his FY 2005 budget is the third in a row that not increased the value over the current $4,050. The value of the maximum Pell award has fallen dramatically in the past years from covering 42 percent of a public four-year institution in 200 1 to just 34 percent today. [Bush Speech in Hampton, New Hampshire, 8/30/00; Associated Press, 5/2/02; Chronicle for Higher Education, 4/4/03; House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus, 2/6/04, www.house.gov/budget democrats; Children's Defense Fund, Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Analysis, www.childrensdefense.org]

> Florida Fact: At Least 246,052 Students in Florida Could Have Their Pell Awards Affected. In

2001-2002 (the last year for which data is available), 246,052 students in Florida received a Pell Grant award. Bush's refusal to raise the maximum Pell award is negatively affecting these students' ability to go to college. [Education Department, Pell Grant End of the Year Report, 2001-2002, www.ed.gov]

New Bush Budget Underfunds "No Child Left Behind" by $9.4 Billion. Bush's new budget proposes $24.9 billion for Elementary and Secondary Education Act programs, $9.4 billion less than was authorized under Bush's No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Bush's last four budgets have cumulatively provided $33.2 billion less than what was pledged under NCLB. In February, 2003, the National Governors Association, which includes both Republicans and Democrats, voted unanimously to label Bush's No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) an unfunded mandate. [President's FY 2005 Budget, www.ed.gov; historical data at www.ed.gov; Associated Press, 2/24/03]

> Florida Fact: Florida Schools Facing $640,983,000 in Unfunded Mandates Under No Child Left Behind. Schools in Florida are responsible for covering $296,422,000 in unfunded federal mandates for No Child Left Behind under the budget Bush signed into law January 2004. They face an additional $344,561,000 shortfall in Bush's new budget proposal, creating a two-year total of $640,983,000 in No Child Left Behind unfunded mandates. [National Conference of State Legislatures, Mandate Monitor, March 2004, www.ncls.org]

> Florida Fact: Florida Schools Facing $1,057,500,000 in Special Education Unfunded Mandates.

Schools in Florida will pick up the tab for $546,91 1,000 in special education programs that are federally mandated, but inadequately financed under the budget Bush signed into law January 2004. Bush's new budget proposal would add another $510,589,000 if enacted, bringing the two-year total to $1,057,500,000. [National Conference of State Legislatures, Mandate Monitor, March 2004, www.ncls.org]

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FLORIDA UNDER BUSH

Florida Fact: Florida Stands to Lose $7,354,820 Under Bush Proposal to Eliminate Federal Funding for Even Start Literacy Program. Bush's new budget proposes eliminating $247 million in federal grants to the states for Even Start, a literacy program designed to increase academic achievement of young children and their parents by helping them learn together. First Lady Laura Bush herself has touted this type of program, stating "Family literacy programs. . . work on the front lines of the battle against illiteracy." Florida would lose $7,354,820 in grants in 2005 if Bush's budget is enacted. [President's FY 2005 Budget, www.ed.gov; Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning, www- tcall.tamu.edu/bbush/bbtf.htm; grant data from www.ed.govl

Florida Fact: Florida Stands to Lose $9,095,610 in Federal Grants Due to Bush Proposal To Eliminate Smaller Learning Community Program. The President's new budget proposes eliminating $173 million in federal Smaller Learning Community grants to high schools to create smaller settings for learning, which studies show increase academic achievement and reduce dropouts and discipline problems. Florida would lose $9,095,610 in grants to local communities that include Bartow, Largo, Ocala, Orlando, Tampa, Tallahasee and Tavares. [President's FY 2005 Budget, www.ed.gov; Serving Smaller Learning Communities, www.nwrel.org/scpd/sslc; Department of Education, 10/8/03, www.ed.gov; grant data from www.ed.gov]

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FLORIDA UNDER BUSH

MILITARY AND VETERANS: Despite Promises, Bush Abandons Struggling Veterans And Military Families

"We will not only keep our commitments to the men and women who wear our uniform today, but we will keep our commitments to the veterans who have worn

the uniform in the past." — George W. Bush [Remarks in Chattanooga, TN, 11/6/00]

Bush's Policies Angering Veterans. VFW Commander-in-Chief Edward Banas called the funding package a "disgrace," a "sham," "inexcusable," and "deplorable." In a release entitled, "Another Year, Another Inadequate Budget Request for Veterans' Health Care," PVA called Bush's budget "grossly inadequate." The Disabled American Veterans said "the Bush Administration has broken faith with the nation's sick and disabled veterans" with its budget proposal. And AMVETS National Commander John Sisler said of Bush's proposal: "To say we are extremely disappointed with it is an understatement." [DAV Release, 2/4/04; AMVETS Release, 2/3/04; PVA Release, 2/3/04; CQ, 2/2/04; VFW Release, 2/2/04, emphasis added]

Bush's New Budget Freezes Impact Aid Funding After Repeatedly Trying to Cut Education Funds For Children In Military Families. Despite a campaign promise to fulfill "a special obligation" to military families and "rebuild the schools that educate their children," Bush's new budget flatlines Impact Aid Basic Support Grants to schools serving military children. Bush's 2004 budget cut $200 million from Impact Aid and his 2003 budget tried the program by $3 million. [New York Times, 8/22/00; Department of Education, www.ed.gov; House Appropriations Committee, Minority Staff, 6/17/03, 6/16/03; Omaha World Herald, 2/5/02; State News Service, 2/4/02]

> Florida Fact: Bush cut Florida Impact Aid Basic Support Grants by 8.1 percent in his 2005 budget. The grants go to assist school districts near military instillations that serve large number of children from military families. [Department of Education, www.ed.gov]

Thousands of Veterans Waiting to See a Doctor and Resolve Disability Claims. At least 250,000 veterans are being forced to wait for their disability claims to be resolved by the Veterans Administration (VA). In January 2003, the VA stopped allowing higher-income veterans to enroll for health care. Still, nearly 30,000 veterans have been waiting six months or more for an appointment for primary care. [State & Local Health Law Weekly, 2/12/04; New Orleans Times-Picayune, 2/15/04; House Committee on Appropriations hearing, Principi testimony, 3/31/04]

> Florida Fact: Over 1,800,000 Veterans In Florida Affected By Bush Policies. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are roughly 1,800,000 veterans living in Florida, all of whom are affected by Bush's policies. In 2002, nearly 410,000 people were treated at Florida veterans health facilities, and 254,468 received disability or pension payments from the VA. The VA operates 6 health care facilities as well as 9 other outpatient clinics across the state. [Department of Veterans Affairs, http://www.appcl.va.gov/opa/fact/statesum/index.htm]

Bush Attempts to Impose New Costs on Middle-Income Vets. Bush's new budget will institute a new annual $250 enrollment fee and an increase in prescription drug co-pays from $7 to $15 for middle- income veterans. In 2003, Bush tried to pass the same charges on middle-income veterans, only to be rebuffed his own Republican-led Congress. And in December 2001, Bush more than tripled the prescription co-payments for nonservice-connected veterans from $2 to $7. [CO, 2/2/04, The Times Leader, 10/9/03]

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FLORIDA UNDER BUSH

Bush Administration Proposed Closure of Seven Veterans Hospitals. In August 2003, the Bush Administration announced it was closing seven hospitals in its efforts to "restructure" the Department of Veterans Affairs. Hospitals to be closed are in Canandaigua, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; Lexington, KY; Brecksville, OH; Gulfport, MS; Livermore, CA; and Waco, TX. In all, the Bush proposal institutes over 30 mission-changes at VA hospitals and puts approximately 5,800 beds on the chopping block nationwide, r Associated Press, 8/4/03, 10/28/03, 12/16/03; Department of Veterans Affairs; Draft National CARES plan, http://wwwl. va.gov/cares/page. cfm?pg=1051

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FLORIDA UNDER BUSH

HOMELAND SECURITY: Bush Ignoring Dangerous Security Concerns

"One of my biggest priorities, of course, is to make sure the homeland is secure."

— George W. Bush [News Event, Portland, ME, 1/25/02]

From Day One, Bush Opposed Creating a Homeland Security Department. Bush stalled the creation of a new cabinet agency for months, opposing it until it became apparent that legislation creating it would pass Congress in mid-2002. [White House Press Briefing, 10/24/01; National Journal, 6/5/02; George W. Bush,

11/19/02]

Bush Shortchanges First Responders and Leaves Major Security Gaps

Firefighters: Bush cut FIRE Act grants in his 2005 budget by $246 million. An International Association of Firefighters spokesperson called the cuts "profoundly disappointing to first responders," and noted, "It's a continuation of the president's lack of commitment to first responders in general and firefighters in particular." [UPI, 2/2/04; DHS Budget Brief]

Chemical Plants: Federal auditors found that chemical facilities' security measures were "unknown" and that the Bush administration backed down from new regulations due to "concerns . . . [of a] significant litigation risk" from the chemical industry. [GAO, 3/ 2003]

Air Travel: The initial federal air security screening force of over 55,000 has been cut by thousands, to an eventual level of 45,000, an 18 percent cut. TSA's air cargo security program meant to alleviate concern about unscreened cargo on passenger jets mandates only spot checks conducted by the cargo carriers themselves, allowing most cargo to remain unscreened. In addition, just one day before a 2003 DHS warning about airline hijackings, air marshals were told to cancel long flights with hotel stays due to "monetary considerations." [TSA; AP, 4/30/03; Wash Post. 5/1/03, 7/31/03; House HS Cmte Dems, 1/04]

Port Security: Bush's Container Security Initiative uses ships' manifest data, which the GAO called "one of the least reliable or useful for targeting purposes," to assess risk. Only one port in the country has radiation portals installed, while others screen for radiological weapons using handheld detectors not designed for large containers. In addition, Bush slashed port security grants by $150 million from 2004 to 2005. [Sunday Telegram, 3/30/03; House HS Cmte Dems, 1/04; US Budget, OMB; Journal of Commerce, 3/24/03; CQ, 2/9/04]

Border Security: Only 1,000 border agents patrol the 5,000 mile-long northern border, despite the fact that Canada's intelligence agency has documented Al Qaeda activity within the country. [Deseret Morning

News, 7/20/03; Washington Post, 12/25/02; New York Times, 12/17/02]

Intelligence Integration: DHS still competes with the CIA and FBI for intelligence consolidation, and reported the other agencies continued to have "responsibilities that overlap with, duplicate, or even trump those of DHS. GAO also found that the vast majority of state and even federal officials believed intelligence sharing was inadequate. In addition, over two years after the 2001 attacks the US still does not have a comprehensive terrorist watch list. [CQ, 2/20/04; House HS Cmte Democrats, 1/04; CQ, 03/02/04]

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FLORIDA UNDER BUSH

ENVIRONMENT: Bush Helped Industry By Weakening Rules And Oversight

"We have a duty in our country to make sure our land is preserved, our air is clean, out water is pure, our parks are accessible and open and well-preserved."

—George W. Bush [Remarks on Earth Day, 4/29/02]

Bush Loosened Environmental Standards, Weakened Oversight. Since taking office, the Bush Administration has let industry insiders guide environmental policy. Bush sought to change the rules that govern our nation's land, air and water, often at the insistence of industry interests. The administration has cut funding and weakened oversight laws, turning a blind eye towards law-breaking polluters.

Bush Administration Postponed Rules to Fight Mercury Pollution. The Bush administration's plan to deal with mercury emissions offers lower reductions in mercury emissions than the previous Clinton administration plan and would postpone reducing mercury pollution from power plants until 2018. [Associated Press, 3/22/04; Washington Post, 12/3/03; 12/5/03; Houston Chronicle, 12/5/03]

> Florida Fact: 65 Mercury Warnings Not to Eat Fish: Mercury exposure can harm the function and development of the central nervous system which puts unborn and young children at great risk of exposure. About 320,000 babies born every year are at risk of developmental problems because of prenatal mercury exposure. In 2002, there were 65 fish consumption advisories in Florida. President Bush is putting our families and environment at risk. [Source: US Public Interest Research Group, Fishing for Trouble, June, 2003]

Republicans Pushing to Exempt MTBE Producers Liability. Methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MTBE, is classified as a possible carcinogen and studies have shown that as little 2 parts per billion of MTBE can affect drinking water. A provision known as the "Fuels Safe Harbor" in the House energy bill, championed by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) would grant MTBE makers protection from defective product lawsuits related to groundwater contamination and give refiners incentives to switch MTBE production to other uses [Houston Chronicle, 10/14/03; Washington Post, 10/12/03; Newsday, 9/29/03; Los Angeles Times, 1 1/17/03]

> Florida Fact: 629,000 At Risk of Cancer Causing MTBE. MTBE is a possible cancer-causing agent. Instead of forcing polluters to pay to clean up the MTBE contamination of our drinking water systems, President Bush wants to let them off the hook. In Florida there are 1 1 public water systems that are contaminated by MTBE, placing the health of 629,000 in jeopardy. [Source: Environmental Working Group]

Bush Administration Has Failed to Clean Up Toxic Waste Sites. Completed Superfund cleanups have decreased every year under the Bush administration. Superfund is a trust fund that polluting corporations pay into to help clean contaminated sites. The GOP Congress refused to re-authorize funding for Superfund, so the program is slowing depleting. Taxpayers now pay the cost for 80% of Superfund cleanups nationwide. [Boston Globe, 1/9/04; General Accounting Office, www.gao.gov]

> Florida Fact: 51 Superfund Sites that Harm Public Health: In Florida, there are 5 1 Superfund sites endangering local public health and environment. These sites - located in our communities - are contaminated with toxic chemicals from PCBs to arsenic and are in urgent need of clean up. The Bush Administration refuses to make polluters pay for the clean up and is taking more time to complete the cleanups. [Source: Environmental Protection Agency, Superfund Information Systems]

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