Contents:

  1  Debate Wrap-up
     ~ Setting Gore's Debate Rhetoric Straight
        * Texas Health Care
        * Texas Environment
     ~ What They're Saying...
  2  Americans For Bush-Cheney 
  3  How To Get Involved

  ** Read Governor Bush's statement regarding the current events
     in the Middle East **
     http://www.georgewbush.com/News.asp?FormMode=NR&ID=1712
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1
                            DEBATE WRAP-UP
 
                              ~~~~~~~~~~
               Setting Gore's Debate Rhetoric Straight

  * HEALTH CARE IN TEXAS

  In an effort to shift focus away from his eight years of squandered
  opportunities on health care, Al Gore is attempting to attack Governor
  Bush's record of achievement in Texas.  Under Governor Bush, Texans
  enacted some of the strongest patient protections in the country, and
  Texas children have increased access to health coverage.

  GORE RHETORIC:  Texas ranks 49th out of the 50 states in health care.

  FACTS:
 
  -  The percentage of Texans without health insurance has gone down under
     Governor Bush while the percentage of Americans without insurance has
     gone up under Clinton-Gore.

  -  Every year, Texas provides more than $4.7 billion in
     health care to the uninsured.

  -  Governor Bush supported and signed legislation which
     provided insurance for more than 423,000 children in
     Texas.
 
  -  Medicaid spending in Texas increased from $9.1 billion in 1995
     to $12.2 billion by 2001.

  -  Governor Bush signed legislation to increase Health Care spending
     by $1.8 billion to address the long-term health-care issue of needy
     Texans, including:
       * $100 million for improving children's health
       * $50 million to fund long-term health care needs for children
       * $30.5 million for new psychotropic drugs
       * $1 billion for use by institutions of higher education for
         medical research, health education and treatment

  -  Texas also created endowments for public health initiatives:
       * $100 million for emergency medical services and trauma care
       * $50 million for rural health facility improvements
       * $25 million for community hospital improvements

  -  Texas spent $2 billion on Medicaid services for more than
     1.5 million children in 1998. Next year, an estimated 120,000
     additional children will be covered
 
  -  Governor Bush helped 4.8 million Texans save approximately
     $330 when he signed legislation requiring HMOs to cover
     immunizations for children. 

  -  The percentage of fully immunized children has risen from 40% to 75%
     since 1993.

  -  Governor Bush signed five separate bills that:

       * Expanded patient freedom of choice
       * Implemented portability of health insurance
       * Prohibited "gag clauses"
       * Ensured specialty care
       * Provided direct access and extended care for women
       * Removed financial incentives for limiting services
       * Required coverage and payment of emergency services
       * Required HMO report cards
       * Allow patients to appeal HMO treatment decisions in court

  Read what the former Democratic Chairman of the Texas House Public Health
  Committee, Hugo Berlanga said Thursday about Gov. Bush's record in Texas:
  http://www.georgewbush.com/News.asp?FormMode=NR&ID=1723
  AOL Users: <a href=http://www.georgewbush.com/News.asp?FormMode=NR&ID=1723>Texas Record Details</a>

  * ENVIRONMENT IN TEXAS

  Running out of options and grasping at straws, the Gore-Lieberman campaign
  ratcheted up the negative distortions and misrepresentations of Governor
  Bush's record on the environment.

  GORE RHETORIC: Texas ranks 1st in pollution.

  FACTS:
  -  Governor Bush signed two laws that will reduce air pollution
     in Texas by an estimated 250,000 tons a year - equal to 
     removing 5.5 million cars from the road.

  -  Since 1994, industrial air emissions are down 11%.

  -  Under Governor Bush, Texas became the 3rd state in the nation to
     require pollution reductions and permits from grandfathered utilities.
  
  -  Governor Bush has submitted to the EPA plans to reduce industrial
     pollution in Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth by nearly 90%, and
     throughout the eastern half of the state by 50%.

  -  Texas rivers, streams, and lakes are cleaner than most states:
      
       River and streams rated as fully supporting
       fishing, swimming, and drinking:
       * 69% Texas
       * 55% U. S. average  
    
       Lakes rated as fully supporting
       fishing, swimming, and drinking:
       * 78% Texas
       * 50% U. S. average

  -  The EPA ranked Texas #1 in reducing the release and
     disposal of toxic pollution. 

  -  Texas has cleaned up over 450 brownfields.  More than 500
     additional sites are being cleaned up right now.

  The full details of Governor Bush's Texas Record on the environment:
  http://www.georgewbush.com/issues.asp?FormMode=FullText&ID=6
 

                      ~~~~~~~~~~

                  What They're Saying...

 "Bush seemed more self-assured and comfortable with policy details,
 particularly on domestic issues..."
       - USA Today, Editorial, 10/12/00

 "Whether it was on the Middle East or the Balkans, Russia or Somalia,
 Bush looked comfortable and sounded confident about his worldview... 
 [Bush kept] Gore under pressure as a defender of big government."
        - Washington Post's Dan Balz, 10/12/00

 "There's no longer any stature gap... Bush looked more presidential.... 
 As [Bush] said, the presidency is not just the president; it's a team, and
 I was very impressed by how well Governor Bush's team has prepared him on
 foreign policy, how well he absorbed it and how skillfully he used it.'"
 according to University of Wisconsin professor emeritus of political
 science Charles Jones.
         -  New York Times' R.W. Apple Jr., 10/12/00

 "Bush...navigated a 41-minute discussion of foreign policy issues, from
 the Middle East to Yugoslavia, with fluency and ease, and appeared
 sure-footed on domestic issues as well."
         - Los Angeles Times' Doyle McManus, 10/12/00

 Also, read Bill Bennett's "It's Time To Hold Al Gore Accountable":
 http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=65000405
 
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2
                 AMERICANS FOR BUSH-CHENEY
 
  Support for Governor Bush crosses party lines and includes
  Democrats, Independents and Republicans.
 
  Members of Americans for Bush/Cheney believe Governor Bush will
  unite our country around goals larger than politics and set a new,
  civil, and positive tone in Washington.

  Members include:
  Lee Iacocca - Automotive Executive, formerly of Chrysler Corporation
  Hugh McColl - Chairman and CEO, Bank of America
  Charles Schwab - Founder and CEO, The Charles Schwab Corporation
  Roger Staubach - Chairman of the Board and CEO, The Staubach Company
  Al Zapanta - President and CEO, USA-Mexico Chamber of Commerce
  Arnold Schwarzenegger - Actor
  Hank Williams, Jr.- Country & Western Musician
  Nancy Brinker - Founder, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
  Dale Earnhardt - NASCAR Champion
  Tommy Lasorda - Baseball Manager
  Bo Schembechler - Former Head Football Coach, University of Michigan
  Dick Vermeil - Head Coach of Super Bowl Champions, St. Louis Rams
  Joe Paterno - Head Coach, Penn State University football team
 
  For more information:
  http://www.americansforbushcheney.com
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3
               HOW TO GET INVOLVED

  Make a difference!  Get involved and help elect George W. Bush
  our next President of the United States!  Whether forwarding
  Bush News to your e-mail network, signing up to volunteer or
  downloading this week's action item - every effort helps. 
  What will you do today?

Volunteer! GO TO => www.MDforBush.org/Volunteer.htm
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  Campaign materials, wearables and more
  http://www.georgewbushstore.com

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