Letter: Bush’s numbers are inaccurate

Friday, May 16, 2003 | 10:07 a.m.

On April 24, speaking in Canton, Ohio, President Bush said: "This nation has a deficit because we have been through a war."

He also said: "The minute I got sworn in we were in a recession and this is why I went to Congress for a tax package."

Both statements are inaccurate, misleading and border on deception. The projected 2003 deficit of $349 billion is made up of $205 billion in his tax cuts, war costs -- including the war on terrorism -- are $90 billion and all other budget increases account for $54 billion.

Secondly, his own economic team recognized that the recession began in March 2001, two months after he was sworn in.

The projected deficit for 2004 is $385 billion, of which his tax cuts account for $305 billion, war costs at $70 billon, and all other is $10 billion.

I certainly hope the Democrats set the record straight in Congress.

JAMES J. POUPARD

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