Dean is only one who has balanced a budget

According to Charles Lewis at the Center For Public Integrity, “During Howard Dean’s 11 years as governor, Vermont pulled back from the verge of fiscal disaster and went on to achieve the highest credit ratings in New England.” Lewis says Dean did this by stressing “spending cuts over tax increases” and that during the 1990s, “Dean pushed for and got income tax cuts.”

For Dean, fiscal responsibility is a core value. Most candidates are in favor of a balanced budget, but Dean is the only one who has ever balanced one. In fact, he delivered one year after year, through six consecutive terms as governor of Vermont.

The allegiance of the various candidates can be judged by looking at who is funding their campaigns. Since 89 percent of Dean’s funding has come from small contributions by hundreds of thousands of Americans, it is to this vast community of Americans, rather than to well-financed special interest groups, that Gov. Dean will owe his allegiance. In balancing a federal budget, Dean (unlike George W. Bush) would be free to put the interests of the community ahead of the interests of millionaire campaign contributors.

For voters concerned about the financial stability of our government, there is one clear choice today (as well as in November), and that is Gov. Howard Dean. You can look up your precinct caucus location online at www.wa-democrats.org.

Freeland