As President George W. Bush put the finishing touches on an economic growth package that could cost US$600 billion over 10 years, Democrats who want his job pledged to scuttle what they characterize as a plan that would help the wealthy without reviving the economy.
The jockeying Saturday came three days before Bush unveils his plan in Chicago and 22 months before the next presidential election. But it previewed the coming political battle over how to spur the economy.
Bush's growth package probably will include an acceleration of tax cuts Congress approved in 2001; a cut in dividend taxes; tax incentives to prompt more spending by businesses; aid to financially strapped states; and extended unemployment benefits.
He signed off on key portions of the plan Friday after meeting with senior political adviser Karl Rove, and has steadily consulted other aides by telephone since starting a vacation at his ranch here Dec. 26.
The growing flock of Democrats vying for the right to challenge Bush in 2004 pounced on leaked details of Bush's stimulus package.
Senator John Kerry said that Bush's emerging package was "a stimulus mirage, not a plan for economic growth."
"They won't propose major investments in infrastructure, or provide help to small businesses, and instead cling to ineffective and unaffordable new tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans," Kerry said.
"I don't think we've ever witnessed an administration more out of touch with the economic needs of average Americans and small businesses."
Representative Dick Gephardt said of the plan: "President Bush must accept that his economic plan is flawed and start from scratch instead of compounding our economic challenges with this deeply flawed proposal."
Senator John Edwards said the White House is "trying to use the Bush recession to put money in the pockets of the richest Americans over a long period of time while providing very little help for regular people."
Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, on the brink of announcing his candidacy, used his party's weekly radio address Saturday to slam the president's tax-break plan, saying it's "the wrong idea at the wrong time to help the wrong people."
The plan, Daschle argued, would almost exclusively benefit the wealthiest Americans, while ignoring middle-income families.
White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said Bush was assembling a plan to strengthen growth, create jobs and help people who are hurting.
"Given that Senator Daschle has already found fault with a proposal he hasn't even seen, it's clear he's more interested in politics than helping people," Buchan said.
Daschle said he planned to "do everything I can to replace this misguided plan with a proposal for immediate tax relief for middle class families -- tax relief that will actually spur economic growth."
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