With combat in Iraq winding down, White House political strategist Karl Rove pushed President Bush's domestic plans in a Houston speech Thursday night, giving special emphasis to a proposed tax cut that is meeting resistance in Washington.
Rove, speaking at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner sponsored by the Harris County Republican Party, is beginning a national campaign to make the case that the tax cuts will boost an unstable economy.
And if Rove's speech is an indication of the president's intentions, Bush also will resume his push for changes in Social Security and Medicare and for national testing of students.
"He will not leave the challenges of today to the president of tomorrow," Rove told the crowd of about 700.
Earlier in the week, Bush reduced his tax cut request from $726 billion to $550 billion amid evidence his original proposal was dead. At least one key Republican, U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, has indicated the Senate will not allow more than $350 billion in cuts.
Thursday, Rove said the Bush tax proposals, including reduction or elimination of taxes on dividends and estates, are needed to boost an economy that he said started to sag at the end of President Clinton's administration. More money in people's pockets will stimulate growth, he said.
Houston Chronicle