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George W. Bush confers with a supporter on the campaign trail last fall |
Compiled by GayToday
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Analysis
Washington, D.C.—During his first 100 days in office, George W. Bush
has largely ignored issues directly relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender community and has launched attack after attack on workers,
women and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
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According a recent analysis in the Washington Post, Bush's appointments while
in office have positioned him as the most conservative president in modern
U.S. history. "The most conservative administration in modern times, surpassing
even Ronald Reagan in the ideological commitment of his appointees," said
the Washington Post.
"George W. Bush's first 100 days in office have offered a startling
contradiction between benign photo ops and harsh policy and between moderate
rhetoric and stark reality," said NGLTF Political Director Tim McFeeley.
"In light of the fact that Republicans control both chambers of Congress
and the White House for the first time in nearly 50 years, the course he has
embarked on during his first 100 days poses great risks to many of our allies
in the progressive movement."
In his first 100 days, Bush has:
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Sent mixed messages on AIDS policy. Bush became the first-ever Republican
president to appoint an openly gay man to a White House job when he named
Scott Evertz as the director of the Office of National AIDS Policy. But Bush
has at the same time flip-flopped badly on AIDS policy. His chief of staff
first announced it was closing the Office on National AIDS Policy, but
White House aides later said the office would remain open and would be
restructured. Furthermore, Bush's proposed budget proposes little or no
funding increases for domestic AIDS prevention and treatment programs -
despite increased caseloads.
Opposed choice. Bush imposed a ban on federal funds for overseas groups
that perform or advocate access to abortion. The move will threaten access
to about $425 million in funding used by organizations in developing countries
to promote family planning, nutrition and counseling. Bush also signed an
order stating that women receiving Medicaid benefits may not use the funds
to pay for the RU-486 abortion drug, except in cases of rape, incest or
when the mother's life is at stake.
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Related Sites:
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
NGLTF: GW Bush Watch
GayToday does not endorse related sites.
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Shut women's office. Bush closed the White House Office on Women's Issues,
a move that was described by the National Organization for Women's
Patricia Ireland as "really foolish and high-handed."
Reversed workers' rights. Bush signed a bill repealing pending federal
regulations that would have helped workers with repetitive motion injuries.
Under the guidelines, which were advanced under former President Clinton
but never took effect, employers would have had to inform workers of the
risk of repetitive motion injuries and would have had to assist workers with
medical costs resulting from such injuries. The regulations were aimed at
helping cashiers, assembly-line workers, meat cutters, fork lift operators,
secretaries and computer operators, among others. In addition, Bush attempted
to block rules to make it easier for sick coal miners to receive help if they
suffered from Black Lung disease.
Pushed for tax cuts for the wealthy. Bush proposed a tax plan that he
claimed would result in the "average American" receiving $1,600. But an
analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found that the
plan would give back $46,000 for the richest 1 percent, and just
$42 for the lowest 20 percent.
Proposed tax support for religious institutions. Bush proposed a plan
to channel tax dollars to religious and other private schools and also
announced his intention to pursue proposals that would give tax money to
religious institutions to provide social services, in clear violation of the
constitutional mandate separating church and state.
"If there is hope for the nation and for the progressive movement, it rests
in the closely divided Senate," McFeeley concluded.
"During the next two years we must remind our moderate Republican Senators
and moderate and progressive Democrat Senators that Bush did not receive a
mandate from the voting public to govern so sharply from the right."
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