For Immediate Release
September 24, 2003

Gen. Wesley K. Clark Announces Bold Job Creation Plan to Reverse Three Years of Failed Bush Policies

Plan a Key Component of Clark's New American Patriotism

NEW YORK -- To promote his ideal of a New American Patriotism, Gen. Wesley K. Clark (Ret.) today unveiled a three-pronged, $100-billion strategy to create American jobs and help middle-income families.

"Three years ago, we were told we were getting a compassionate conservative. What we got instead were massive tax cuts for the rich, staggering deficits for the country, and the worst job losses since the Great Depression. That's not compassionate or conservative; it's heartless, it's reckless, and it's wrong," Clark said.

"And if you elect me President, I'll put it right," he said.

Since President Bush took office, the American economy has lost 3.3 million private-sector jobs, including 2.5 million manufacturing jobs -- the worst record of any administration since Herbert Hoover. "The President won't change his policies, so we have to change the President," Clark said.

Clark's plan will maintain fiscal discipline while creating new jobs. It would:

- Create a Homeland and Economic Security Fund of $40 billion over two years. The fund will both create jobs and boost America's defenses by improving port security, investing in critical infrastructure and better equipping first-responders.

- Create a state and local Tax Rebate Fund of $40 billion over two years. States and local governments are in crisis, staggering under a projected $80 billion deficit. The rebate fund would return money to localities, lessening the need to raise property taxes, fees and university tuition and giving the economy room to create more jobs.

- Provide $20 billion in business tax incentives over two years. Clark's plan would give businesses a tax credit of up to $5,000 for every new employee hired in 2004 and 2005, helping to end this jobless recovery.

"The next President will have to restart the economy and improve our security; this Job Creation Plan will help do both," Clark said.

Clark's plan is a key component of the era of New American Patriotism that he will usher in as President.

"I'm promoting a New American Patriotism -- because it is vital to the life and health of this country that we criticize our leaders fairly, but freely. Some ask: 'How can you criticize the President at a time of war'? I answer: 'How can you not?'" Clark said.

The deficit-neutral plan will be paid for by rolling back parts of the Bush tax cuts that have benefited the wealthy, while protecting families with annual incomes of less than $200,000 from new tax burdens.