Information You May Find Usefull

[Chief Grey Bear]

This is what can be accomplished by TEAM EFFORT. Meaning both Democrats and Republicans. But as you have seen, not only in the state of the Union but, from posters to this thread, its all been talk since 2000.

Longest Economic Expansion in U.S. History. In February 2000, the United States entered the 107th consecutive month of economic expansion -- the longest economic expansion in history. [National Bureau of Economic Research and Council of Economic Advisors]

Moving From Record Deficits to Record Surplus. In 1992, the Federal budget deficit was $290 billion - the largest dollar deficit in American history. In January 1993, the Congressional Budget Office projected that the deficit would grow to $455 billion by 2000. The Office of Management and Budget is now projecting a surplus of at least $230 billion for 2000 - the third consecutive surplus and the largest surplus ever, even after adjusting for inflation. Compared with original projections, that is over $685 billion less in government drain on the economy and over $685 billion more potentially available for private investment in this one year alone. The 2000 surplus is projected to be 2.4 percent of GDP -- the largest surplus as a share of GDP since 1948. This is the first time we have had three surpluses in a row in more than a half century, and it is the second consecutive surplus excluding Social Security. [Office of Management! and Budget; National Economic Council, 9/27/00]

Paying Off the National Debt. In July 2000, the Treasury Department announced that the United States will pay off $221 billion of debt this year -- the largest one-year debt pay down in American history. This will be the third consecutive year of debt reduction, bringing the three-year total to $360 billion. Public debt is on track to be $2.4 trillion lower in 2000 than was projected in 1993. Debt reduction brings real benefits for the American people -- a family with a home mortgage of $100,000 might expect to save roughly $2,000 per year in mortgage payments. Reduced debt also means lower interest rates and reduced payments on car loans and student loans. With the President's plan, we are now on track to eliminate the nation's publicly held debt by at least 2012. [Treasury Department, Office of Economic Policy, From Widening Deficits to Paying Down the Debt: Benefits for the American People, 8/4/99]

More Than 22 Million New Jobs. 22.2 million new jobs have been created since 1993, the most jobs ever created under a single Administration -- and more new jobs than Presidents Reagan and Bush created during their three terms. 92 percent (20 million) of the new jobs have been created in the private sector, the highest percentage in 50 years. Under President Clinton and Vice President Gore, the economy has added an average of 248,000 jobs per month, the highest under any President. This compares to 52,000 per month under President Bush and 167,000 per month under President Reagan. [bureau of Labor Statistics]

Fastest and Longest Real Wage Growth in Over Three Decades. In the last 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased 3.8 percent -- faster than the rate of inflation. The United States has had five consecutive years of real wage growth -- the longest consecutive increase since the 1960s. Since 1993, real wages are up 6.5 percent, after declining 4.3 percent during the Reagan and Bush years. [National Economic Council, 6/00]

Household Income Breaks $40,000 for First Time in History. Income for median households rose $1,072, or 2.7 percent, from $39,744 in 1998 to $40,816, marking an unprecedented fifth year of significant growth in income. In 1999, the median income of African American households increased from $25,911 in 1998 to $27,910 -- an increase of $1,999, or 7.7 percent, which is the largest one-year increase ever recorded. The income of the median Hispanic household, adjusted for inflation, increased from $28,956 in 1998 to $30,735 in 1999 -- an increase of $1,779, or 6.1 percent, which is the largest one-year increase ever recorded. [Census Bureau, Money Income in the United States: 1999, 9/26/00]

Unemployment is the Lowest in Over Three Decades. Unemployment is down from 7.5 percent in 1992 to 3.9 percent in September, the lowest in more than three decades. The unemployment rate has fallen for seven years in a row, and has remained below 5 percent for 37 months in a row -- over three full years. Unemployment for African-Americans fell to the lowest level ever recorded, and for Hispanics it remains at historic lows. [bureau of Labor Statistics]

Highest Homeownership Rate in History. The homeownership rate reached 67.2 percent in the second quarter of 2000 -- the highest ever recorded. Minority homeownership rates were also the highest ever recorded. In contrast, the homeownership rate fell from 65.6 percent in the first quarter of 1981 to 63.7 percent in the first quarter of 1993. There are almost 9 million more homeowners than in 1993. [bureau of the Census, 7/26/00]

Lowest Poverty Rate Since 1979. In 1999, the poverty rate dropped from 12.7 percent to 11.8 percent, the lowest rate in two decades. Since President Clinton and Vice President Gore passed their Economic Plan in 1993, the poverty rate has declined from 15.1 percent in 1993 to 11.8 percent in 1999 - the largest six-year drop in poverty in nearly 30 years (1964-1970). There are now 7 million fewer people in poverty than in 1993, and over 2.2 million, or over 30 percent, of this decline occurred during the past year. [Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States: 1999, 9/26/00]

Largest One-Year Drop in Child Poverty in More than Three Decades. Under President Clinton and Vice President Gore child poverty has dropped by 25.6 percent -- from 22.7 percent in 1993 to 16.9 percent in 1999. While this is still too high, it is the lowest child poverty rate since 1979 and includes the largest one-year decline since 1966, which occurred from 1998 to 1999. The African American child poverty rate has fallen 28.2 percent since 1993, and dropped from 36.7 percent in 1998 to 33.1 percent in 1999 -- the largest one-year drop in history and the lowest level on record (data collected since 1959). The Hispanic child poverty rate has fallen by 26 percent since 1993, and dropped from 25.6 percent in 1998 to 22.8 percent in 1999 -- the lowest level since 1979. [Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States: 1999, 9/26/00]

Families and Communities: Strengthening America's Working Families

Tax Cuts for Working Families. 15 million additional working families received additional tax relief because of the President's expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit. In 1999, the EITC lifted 4.1 million people out of poverty - nearly double the number lifted out of poverty by the EITC in 1993. This year, the President proposed expanding the EITC to provide tax relief to an additional 6.8 million hard-pressed working families. [Good News for Low Income Families: Expansions in the EITC and Minimum Wage, CEA, 12/98; Census Bureau]

Helping Parents Balance Work and Family. The Family and Medical Leave Act allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for seriously ill family members, new born or adoptive children, or their own serious health problems without fear of losing their jobs. Nearly 91 million workers (71% of the labor force) are covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act and millions of workers have benefited from FMLA since its enactment. President Clinton has proposed expanding FMLA to allow workers to take up to 24 unpaid hours off each year for school and early childhood education activities, routine family medical care, and caring for an elderly relative. [Five Years of Success: Report on FMLA, Department of Labor, 8/98 (updated number provided 7/99)]

Improved Access to Affordable, Quality Child Care and Early Childhood Programs. Under the Clinton-Gore Administration, federal funding for child care has more than doubled, helping parents pay for the care of about 1.5 million children in 1998, and the1996 welfare reform law increased child care funding by $4 billion over six years to provide child care assistance to families moving from welfare to work. Since 1993, the Clinton-Gore Administration has increased funding for the Head Start program by 90 percent, and in FY 2000, the program will serve approximately 880,000 children - over 160,000 more children than in 1993.

Increased the Minimum Wage. The minimum wage has risen from $4.25 to $5.15 per hour, increasing wages for 10 million workers. The President and Vice President have called for an additional increase to $6.15 over two years. [Good News for Low Income Families: Expansions in the EITC and Minimum Wage, CEA, 12/98]

[Guest kevinkirk]

Look, you can say what you will, but that was before 9-11, before enron and all those companies were found to pad their books so the economy looked REALLY good, before terrorism was on our doorstep, and in the natural cycle of things.

The stock market and economy are USED by the very wealthy to get back the monies that have gotten out to the middle class. This last big grab was in the 401k's/ That was invented to help the middle class gain wealth. WE FORGET that there are ppl out there watching that and will recapture that wealth when you risk it in the stock market by manipulation. And we thot we were so cagey? hah.

When everyone lost 25% on their 401k, someone else made 25%. HMMMMM, wonder who that was. I took all mine out and put in cash funds. Just dont trust these bastards. I know, I am missing out on gains, but have paid in too long to stay even and just tired of the game. I bet the wealthy just laugh their butts off at us working class ppl.

If you think a democrat in the white house would have made a difference you are badly mistaken. You had a democratic congress and those guys make the laws and run the country. WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN DOING all this time. THe presiden does NOT run the country. DUH....

[Danoinark]

THe presiden does NOT run the country. DUH....

Man you are absolutely correct, so why are we arguing on who will sit in the Oval office? If you want real change then elect legislators those you think can make a difference.

[Guest kevinkirk]

They go to Washington making $175,00 a year and come home multimillionaires....how does that work. I am not doing that well personally?

[jjtroutbum]

Man you are absolutely correct, so why are we arguing on who will sit in the Oval office? If you want real change then elect legislators those you think can make a difference.

There is the ability of the President to appoint SCOTUS judges.

[Danoinark]

There is the ability of the President to appoint SCOTUS judges.

Yeah, but dang it, the Congress has to approve em!

Dano

[bigredbirdfan]

Yeah, but dang it, the Congress has to approve em!

Dano

If they ever vote on them. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20...0080625-11.html

[Danoinark]

If they ever vote on them. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20...0080625-11.html

Not moving to fast are they...

Dano

[Chief Grey Bear]

THe presiden does NOT run the country. DUH....

Do you ever read or just naturally start spouting off? In the very first line of the post it stated TEAM EFFORT. I would think that you would be able to recall that the congress was lead by republicans with a democrat president, there in lies the team effort. Take your bitter blinders off for awhile and take a deep breath.

[bigredbirdfan]

Reagan + Democrat Congress = Success

G H Bush + Democrat Congress = Some Success

Clinton + Democrat Congress = Crap

Clinton + Republican Congress = Success

G W Bush + Republican Congress = Crap

G W Bush + Democrat Congress = Most Crappy

See how I can admit reality. The old checks and balances thing.

I still see Obama + Democrat Congress = Most Stellar Crappy

McCain + Democrat Congress = Best Scenario for Change