Rudy/McCain on catastrophic insurance
Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1:31 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC/NJ's Matthew Berger
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Giuliani continued to emphasize permanent relief for the American economy, and continued to draw contrasts with McCain. But he made clear he was not going to attack the national front-runner, even as his surrogates do just that.
As bad economic news hit the nation Tuesday, Giuliani continued to call for permanent relief. “Congress and the president should do a stimulus package that is heavy on permanent measures,” he said. “There has to be some temporary measures as well, because of a balanced approach.”
Giuliani said the cuts needed to be coupled with spending reductions. “The president should announce cutbacks in agencies,” he said. “Or that each agency is gonna be looking for ways to save money -- five percent, 10 percent cutbacks.”
Giuliani also said his simplified one-page tax form would stimulate the economy by increasing compliance and cutting down on filing costs. He continued to draw contrasts with McCain on taxes and the need for a catastrophic fund -- which Giuliani has been advocating heavily in Florida and McCain has opposed. But he would not reiterate the message of his Florida state chairman, Bill McCollum, who said Monday that McCain was out of touch on the issue.
“I agree with the assessment that I gave,” Giuliani said. “I’m the one that supports it and I think people have a right to evaluate it that way and have a right to evaluate all these different positions.”
Asked why he wasn’t being more aggressive against his primary opponents, he reverted back to Ronald Reagan’s “11th Commandment.” “We’re contrasting,” he said. “I don’t believe Republicans that should be attacking each other. I think we should be pointing out our policy differences.”
Giuliani also refused to echo comments from Huckabee surrogates that McCain was too old to run for president. “I think that John McCain is carrying out a very vigorous campaign,” he said. “I don’t see that as an issue.”
Giuliani held took questions from reporters at three different times during his visit to Toojay’s Original Gourmet Deli. He took some questions before entering the deli and giving formal remarks. Then, trying to speak to reporters outside afterward, he was drowned out by anti-abortion protesters and Ron Paul supporters. After taking a couple of questions, he chose to return inside the deli, where he finished the press conference.
