Wednesday, October 13, 2004
A few questions for tonight's debate
For Pres. Bush:
- Recent reports indicate the possibility of accounting irregularities that could threaten Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and their ability to provide secondary markets in home mortgages. What plans would your next administration have for these two quasi-governmental agencies?
- Which would be more important to you in tax policy, if you could only have one -- making the capital gains and dividend tax cuts to a 15% marginal tax rate permanent, or making the estate tax reduction to a 35% top rate permanent? Why?
- We've heard some of what you and President Bush think about appointing Supreme Court justices, but nothing about the myriad regulatory agencies that influence our everyday lives, such as the FCC or FDA. What are the criteria by which you would choose directors of regulatory agencies like these?
- Followup: We've had remarkable stability in the chairmanship of the Federal Reserve? If and when Alan Greenspan retires, or when his term expires, what would you look for in his replacement?
- What is your plan for keeping Medicare and Social Security solvent?