Senator Richard Burr admitted in a conference call with reporters today that John McCain wants to continue President Bush’s tax policies, claiming that “the Bush tax policies that McCain wants to continue” have benefited North Carolina.

In reality, the Bush economy has been a nightmare for North Carolina. Unemployment, child poverty and the number of North Carolinians who lack health insurance have all soared on President Bush’s watch.

John McCain and his campaign allies will clearly say anything to deflect attention from McCain’s promise to extend the flawed, out of touch Bush policies on everything from health care and social security to the mortgage crisis.

John McCain may not understand the economy, but America’s working families already understand that he is the wrong choice for our nation’s future.

FACT CHECK:

MCCAIN VOTED FOR NEARLY $10 TRILLION IN BUSH SPENDING

McCain Voted for 4 of 5 Bush Budgets Adding to $9.8 Trillion in Spending. McCain supported four of the five Bush budgets that the Senate voted on from 2001-2006.
- 2001: H. Con. Res. 83: $1.95 Trillion [2001 Senate Vote #98]
- 2002: McCain Voted to Table [2002 Senate Vote #134]
- 2003: McCain Voted No [H.Con.Res. 95; 2003 Senate Vote #134]
- 2004: S. Con. Res 95: $2.45 Trillion [2004 Senate Vote #58]
- 2005: H.Con.Res. 95: $2.6 Trillion [2005 Senate Vote #114]
- 2006: S.Con.Res. 83: $2.8 Trillion [2006 Senate Vote #74]

MCCAIN VOTED AGAINST EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR DISPLACED WORKERS

McCain Voted Against Establishing An Emergency Assistance Grant Program For Community Colleges That Provide Training Programs For Displaced Workers. In 2002, John McCain voted against a proposal, sponsored by Senator John Edwards, which included funding for an emergency assistance grant program for community colleges that provide training programs for displaced workers. As Congressional Quarterly noted, the amendment was “aimed at helping textile and apparel employees thrown out of work as a result of foreign competition. The amendment would make concerns of the textile industry the subject of a fast-track negotiating objective. The Edwards amendment also would expand Trade Adjustment Assistance for textile workers and set up a federal job training grant for community colleges in regions hit hard by foreign competition.” [Senate Vote 111, HR 3009, Senate amendment 3417, 5/15/02, Adopted 66-33; R 15-33; D 50-0; I 1-0; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 5/15/02]

BUSH ECONOMY HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR NORTH CAROLINA

jobs and economy
Unemployment Up 27% in North Carolina. The unemployment rate in North Carolina was 4.4% in January of 2001, and preliminary figures for March 2008 are 5.2%. The number of unemployed workers went from 184,340 workers to 234,086, an increase of almost 49,746, or by 27%. [Local Area Unemployment Statistics, (Seasonally Adjusted), Bureau of Labor Statistics, accessed 5/2/08]

Gas Prices Up 221%. In January of 2001, a regular gallon of gas averaged $1.12 in North Carolina. Currently the average is $3.60, an increase of 221%. [Energy Information Administration, available here plus taxes available here; AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report, accessed 5/2/08. available here]

Children in Poverty Up 21% in North Carolina. The number of children living below the federal poverty line in North Carolina has increased from 354,000 in 2000 to 429,000 in 2006. [Kid Count Data Book, accessed 5/2/08, available here]

North Carolina Has Over 1.4 Million People Uninsured. 1,448,325 people have no health insurance. That’s 17 percent of North Carolinains living without any insurance. [statehealthfacts.org, accessed 5/2/08, available here]
• More than 305,000 kids in North Carolina have NO health insurance. 305,690 kids in North Carolina have no health insurance. [statehealthfacts.org, accessed 5/2/08, available here]
• And Over 115,000 poor kids in North Carolina don’t have health insurance. That’s 20 percent of poor kids in North Carolina. [statehealthfacts.org, accessed 5/2/08, available here]
• Over 1.1 million adults in North Carolina don’t have health insurance. 1,131,246 adults in North Carolina don’t have health insurance. That’s 21 percent of adults. [statehealthfacts.org, accessed 5/2/08, available here]
• More than 392,000 poor adults in North Carolina have NO health insurance. 392,760 poor adults have no health insurance. That’s 46 percent of poor adults. [statehealthfacts.org, accessed 5/2/08, available here]

North Carolina Is Being Hit By the Mortgage Crisis. North Carolina families are facing foreclosure at troubling rates. In March:
• Over 3,200 homes in North Carolina received a foreclosure filing. 3,298 homes in North Carolina received a foreclosure advisory in March. [Realty Trac Press Release, 4/15/08]
• 1 in every 1,222 in North Carolina households received a foreclosure filing. [Realty Trac Press Release, 4/15/08]

In the First Quarter of 2008, Over 10,000 Homes in North Carolina Received a Foreclosure Filing.
• 10,283 homes received a foreclosure filing in the first quarter. [Realty Trac Press Release, 4/29/08]