President Blames Senate Democrats for Recession: Citing Resistance to ...
NEW YORK, Nov. 12ÛÓPresi-de'nt Bush, on the political defensive as! he begins his reelection drive, today put the blame for the recession on Senate Democrats and offered a stew of remedies that mixed everything from tort reform to a plia to credit card firms to drop thtir interest rates.</br></br>fn the third of a series of Bush-Qqayle fund-raising events. Bush portrayed himself as having a full program to deal with the nation's ills anti said the Democrats have resisted that program at every turn.</br></br>In a broadside at Congress, Bush said the American people "have seen Congress up close and theyÛªve seen their inability to move when Americans demand action.Û he accused Congress of an ÛÏendless appetite for sideshows that have really kind of embarrassed our country" and of ÛÏoverindulgence in pehts and privileges.Û Pounding the leijtem, he insisted, ÛÏIÛªm not going to; be the javelin-catcher for the liberals in Congress anymore.Û</br></br>On the economy, Bush said what the nation needs is "confidence" and he offered one suggestion that was new for him. ÛÏI would like to see those credit card rates go down," he said, adding he had discussed the idea with business executives. He called again for his capital gains tax cut and blamed Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell (D-Maine) for stopping it and thus causing the recession.</br></br>Noting there were enough votes to pass it in 1989, Bush said, "It took a last-minute political maneuver by Senator Mitchell to block the package.Û Mitchell, he said, "got that political victory and eight months later our economy slipped into a recession."