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Bush Speech to Challenge Iraq Critics, Call for Energy Independence Ronald Kessler In his State of the Union address, President Bush will propose a wide range of initiatives for reducing America's dependence on foreign countries for oil. The U.S. currently imports 60 percent of its oil, and Bush will point out that this leaves the country at the mercy of dictators from the Middle East to Venezuela. Bush will outline ways to make cars more fuel efficient. He will cite a number of technological advances, such as improved ways to make cellulosic ethanol, as ways to lessen dependence on foreign oil over the next 10 years. Cellulosic ethanol is a type of ethanol that is produced from waste from urban, agricultural, and forestry sources.
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In the 40-minute speech, Bush will also unveil new initiatives for making health insurance available to those who are currently uninsured. Bush will propose a tax deduction of $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families regardless of whether they buy their own health insurance or receive medical coverage at work. Health care insurance would be considered taxable income, and people with more generous policies could face tax increases unless they change plans. The idea is to create a financial incentive for the estimated 46 million to 48 million Americans who lack health insurance to buy it. The plan would rein in the soaring cost of health insurance by encouraging workers in high-priced plans to seek more modest coverage. Bush will also describe what will be called Affordable Choice, a way to provide health insurance to those who cannot afford it. Pioneered by Mitt Romney when he was governor of Massachusetts, this approach cobbles together existing funds paid to hospitals to cover care for the uninsured. As Romney has, Bush will tout the plan as a way to use market forces to cover the uninsured efficiently without government intrusion. About half the speech will be devoted to the need to win in Iraq. Bush will challenge congressional critics of his plan to increase troops in Iraq to come up with their own path to victory. Bush will also touch on the need to curtail congressional earmarks for pet projects and the need to extend the No Child Left Behind At to help kids learn to read. In three speeches to be given next week, Bush will outline details of his budget plan aimed at balancing the budget without raising taxes in five years.
Ronald Kessler is chief Washington correspondent of NewsMax.com. View his previous reports and get his dispatches sent to you FREE via e-mail. Go Here Now.
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