In Minn., Bush Takes a Cue From Clinton
Bite-Size Proposals on Internet Access, Fuel Cells and Medical Records Highlighted
By Dana Milbank
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 27, 2004; Page A05
MINNEAPOLIS, April 26 -- President Bush on Monday borrowed a technique popularized by predecessor Bill Clinton: the bite-size presidential initiative.
Bush has campaigned and governed, for the most part, by emphasizing big issues such as tax cuts and national security. His aides were critical of the Clinton administration's style of injecting the presidency into every manner of demonstration project and pilot program.
But with a federal budget deficit limiting his options and a campaign-year Congress unlikely to pass major initiatives, Bush is highlighting some of the same small-bore issues that enthralled his predecessor. Monday, he tackled three Clinton favorites: electronic medical records, hydrogen fuel cells and broadband Internet access. All three technology initiatives have the virtue of being high-concept but low-cost.
At a speech to the American Association of Community Colleges, Bush proposed an initiative to rid the nation of paper medical records by making sure all Americans have electronic health files within 10 years. He announced that recipients had been chosen for $350 million in grants to develop hydrogen fuel cells for cars. And he urged tax incentives to encourage the spread of broadband technology so all Americans can get high-speed Internet access....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44653-2004Apr26.html