Cato Institute to Release Annual Summary of President's New Policy Initiatives in State of the Union Address

1/29/2002

From: Jerry Brito of the Cato Institute, 202-218-4621

News Advisory:

Each year, the Cato Institute counts the number of new government initiatives proposed by presidents in their State of the Union addresses. After President Bush's speech tonight, the Cato Institute will release its fourth annual analysis of the State of the Union and the number of proposed new or expanded government initiatives. The tally will also be available on Cato's Web site (http://www.cato.org) immediately following the address.

Last year, President Bush proposed 38 new or expanded policy initiatives, down from the 104 new initiatives proposed by President Clinton in his 2000 State of the Union address.

Because the president plans to modify the substance of this year's State of the Union address to focus on war-related policy, presidential speeches in the weeks following may contain new domestic initiatives. An amendment to Cato's initial list may be released in February.

Policy Experts Available for Comment before and after the President's Address

-- War on terrorism & defense spending: Ivan Eland, director of defense policy studies, 202-218-4630 (office) or 202-628-2050 (home) -- Homeland security: Timothy Lynch, director of the Project on Criminal Justice, 202-789-5239 (office) or 703-481-1128 (home) -- Economy & budget, Chris Edwards, director of fiscal policy studies, 202-789-5252 (office) or 703-531-0980 (home) -- Other: Contact Cato's media relations department at 202-271-2050 (evening)

For inquires about the Cato Institute summary or to schedule an interview with Cato policy experts, please call Jerry Brito, manager of media relations, at 202-218-4621.

------ The Cato Institute is a nonpartisan public policy research foundation dedicated to broadening policy debate consistent with the traditional American principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.