Dean Is Ultra-Liberal on Civil UnionsGovernor Dean "Supported and Signed" a law requiring the state of Vermont to formally recognize same-sex civil unions. If elected president, Dean would honor civil unions as a matter of national policy. "As president of the United States, I will recognize civil unions, which will then allow full equality under the law as far as the federal government is concerned" Dean said in a speech to the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association convention in Philadelphia.Health Care and TaxesThe centerpiece of Governor Dean's presidential platform is budget-busting universal health care. Dean said he would repeal most of President Bush's tax cuts in order to fund his national health insurance program. "Dean not only advocates universal health insurance but also tells audiences that Vermont already has moved in that direction.... How to pay for this? Simple, says Dean. Roll back virtually all of President Bush's tax cut of 2001. (The Washington Post, July 12, 2002)During eleven years as governor of Vermont, Dean enacted only one limited tax reduction and opposed cutting taxes when the state was running a large surplus.Dean also supported repealing tax cuts that benefit working-class Americans. When asked whether he would repeal tax relief even for low and moderate income taxpayers, Dean Responded, "[s]ure, because no middle class and working class people that I know noticed they got a tax cut." (CNN's "Capital Gang" October 5, 2002)Budget PolicyDean reduced the General Fund's required contribution to the Education Fund by $9.3 million. He shifted $9.2 million from the tobacco settlement fund, $6.4 million from the Transportation Fund and $2.1 million from elsewhere to claim a year-end surplus projection of $80,000. He drastically reduced payments to doctors, hospitals, and other caregivers to make up the shortfall in the state's Medicaid bills, increasing health care costs to non-Medicaid patients. He also forced an increased local share property tax by reducing the state contribution to the Education Fund. (Rutland Herald, December 18, 2002)EducationGovernor Dean routinely attacks President Bush's Bipartisan Education Reform. To avoid the accountability requirements of the new law, Dean threatened to refuse Federal Title I money for the poorest of Vermont's schoolchildren. "The Bush education plan is a bad plan . . . . [W]hat we are looking at in Vermont is not accepting the money . . . ." (The Associated Press, August 16, 2002)AbortionDean is ultra-liberal on abortion. As governor, Dean "Impressed feminists by opposing occasional legislative efforts at restricting abortion." (The New Republic, July 1, 2002) Dean supports abortion on demand, which he believes is "none of the government's business." (NBC's "Meet the Press," July 21, 2002)
