Manchester, NH - Yesterday, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for New Hampshire announced that the personal bankruptcy rate is up 8.4 percent this year. In keeping with the national trend, most bankruptcies in New Hampshire affect lower- and middle-income families who have been hit by an unforeseen event such as serious illness, job loss or divorce. They are forced to rely upon credit cards and sink into insurmountable debt.

"Right now, the sad fact is that too many Americans are working harder and harder and earning less and less," General Wesley Clark said. "Under George W. Bush, the typical working family has seen its income fall by nearly $1,500. Compare that to the eight years under President Clinton, when the typical family saw its income rise by $7,200. The Republicans are always talking about family values. It's time in America that we started valuing families."

Wes Clark is committed to putting America's families first. No family should be forced into bankruptcy because of illness. Wes Clark has a plan to insure all children through the age of 22 and offer refundable tax credits to families of four making up to $90,000 to pay for health insurance. And his Families First Tax Reform Plan will eliminate all income tax for families of four making under $50,000. Under his plan, 132,600 New Hampshire families will receive a tax cut, and the typical family's tax cut will be $1,440. An additional 14,300 New Hampshire families will pay no income taxes at all--12 percent of all taxpaying families removed from the rolls.

"I know how hard all this can be," Wes Clark said. "My father died when I was about four years old, leaving behind $450 in savings. My mom had to raise me all alone. She got a job as a secretary in a bank and worked hard every day just to provide the basic necessities. We never had much, but we somehow made ends meet. When you work so hard - in the wealthiest country in the world -- you shouldn't be struggling to get by. I'll put families first so that they can get the help they need before they reach the bankruptcy court."