Who's better for veterinary medicine?
A proven advocate of the veterinary medical profession, President George W. Bush has demonstrated his support personally and politically. Through his keen understanding of the human-animal bond, his leadership in the war on terror and his continued interest in protecting the small businesses of our country, President Bush remains the best candidate to promote our interests as veterinary medical professionals.
Veterinarians retain ally with Bush
A proven advocate of the veterinary medical profession, President George W. Bush has demonstrated his support personally and politically. Through his keen understanding of the human-animal bond, his leadership in the war on terror and his continued interest in protecting the small businesses of our country, President Bush remains the best candidate to promote our interests as veterinary medical professionals.
The president and the first family have demonstrated a strong bond with their animal companions. The world has witnessed the importance of these animals in the lives of the Bush family through a series of articles, books, interviews and visuals on television. The Bush family understands the importance of quality healthcare for the animal members of their family.
President Bush has supported organized medicine through his legislative policies as well. His signing the legislation that restored the title of general to the head of the Veterinary Military Corp is one example of the importance he places on our profession.
More than any previous administration, the current administration has been faced with the protection of the country's livestock and food-animal industry in the face of bioterrorism. President Bush's secretary of agriculture stated that veterinarians, the first responders in the case of a bioterrorist attack, are the individuals who serve on the front lines to protect the livestock and food industry of American and international consumers. It also was acknowledged that veterinarians play the key role in the prevention of the spread of any serious infectious diseases. The Bush administration fully recognizes that a widespread outbreak of disease would devastate our livestock industry and economy, and veterinarians figure centrally in the war on terrorism. Great strides have been made in the development of diagnostic labs and equipment through President Bush's legislative support. We have a president who will continue this type of understanding and support.
The backbone of our animal health delivery system is the animal health facilities across our country. Most are classified as small businesses. President Bush has a strong record of being friendly to small business and is a great proponent of small-business interests. In 2004, 25 million small-business owners will receive tax relief totaling about $75 billion. His Jobs and Growth Act reduced marginal income tax rates across the board, including the creation of a new 10-percent tax bracket and the reduction of the top rate to 35 percent. These rate reductions benefit the more than 90 percent of small businesses that pay taxes at their individual income rate, not the corporate rates. He has worked to make healthcare more affordable for all employees of our businesses. He is on record of pushing for tort reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits that affect all of the costs of doing business, especially small businesses. Also, the president is urging regulatory relief to ensure that federal regulations do not unduly handicap America's entrepreneurs by streamlining regulations and reducing paperwork. Since the president took office, the administration has slowed the growth of burdensome new rules by 75 percent while still moving forward with crucial safeguards for homeland security, human and animal health and environmental protection. America's small businesses saved $6 billion last year and more than $30 billion since 2001 due to the president's regulatory reforms. The Jobs and Growth Act also raised the amount that small businesses can expense for new capital investments from $25,000 to $100,000, reducing their cost of purchasing new equipment, such as computers, automobiles, trucks or other qualified investments. These are just the highlights of the president's accomplishments and demonstrated interests in helping small businesses that are the driving force in the economy of our profession.
It is essential that we, as veterinary medical professionals, recognize the great ally we have in President Bush. Truly, he is a man of great character and integrity whose promise of support to our profession is guaranteed and unwavering in his second term. Our endorsement of the president affirms our own commitment to the positive development of veterinary medicine.
