Democrats In States Attack Bush On Puerto Rico For Puerto Rican Vote

National Democratic campaigns launched attacks this past week against President Bush's record on Puerto Rico issues. The attacks came in the form of radio advertisements intended to help Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and other Democrats win the vote of people of Puerto Rican origin in three of the top battleground States in this year's presidential election. The spots represent the first-ever effort to win a national election based on policies regarding the territory. The development could lead to greater attention to the Commonwealth's issues in the White House and the Congress. In fact, Bush's lack of attention to Puerto Rico matters is one of the issues addressed in the Democratic ads. Another is his proposal to discontinue refunds of Social Security and Medicare taxes to workers with children in Puerto Rico while continuing the refunds in the States. A third is his not proposing a replacement for the federal tax incentives for companies based in the States to manufacture in the territory that date to 1921 and expire next year. A final issue addressed by the ads is Bush not proposing measures to treat the Commonwealth more equally with the States in health programs. [more ]