in his acceptance speech outlined "relatively modest" proposals to expand access to health care and address other domestic issues over the next four years, the New York Times reports (Nagourney/Stevenson, New York Times, 9/3).

In his "often eloquent and at times visionary speech," Bush focused on "long-term changes" that would help build "a society that empower[s] more Americans to provide for their own retirement and health care," but he offered "relatively few new specifics" on his agenda, the Los Angles Times reports (Brownstein, Los Angeles Times, 9/3).

Second-Term Agenda

According to the Wall Street Journal, Bush, who sought "to portray himself as more than a wartime leader," introduced an "ambitious second-term agenda" that is "heavily laden with promises to tackle a host of domestic challenges," such as a proposal to allow small businesses to establish association health plans and health savings accounts for employees (Hitt/Calmes, Wall Street Journal, 9/3).

Bush said that more than half of uninsured U.S. residents are "small-business employees and their families," adding, "In an ownership society, more people will own their health care plans." Bush said that HSAs would "give workers the security of insurance against major illness ... and the freedom of knowing you can take your account with you whenever you change jobs" (Bush speech text, New York Times, 9/3).

Bush also that said he would seek to expand health coverage for low-income U.S. residents (Page, USA Today, 9/3).

He promised to ensure that "every poor county in America has a community or rural health center" and to lead an "aggressive effort to enroll millions of poor children who are eligible but not signed up" in SCHIP.

"We will not allow a lack of attention or information to stand between these children and the health care they need," Bush said. He also said that the "explosion of frivolous lawsuits" in the United States has led to increased medical malpractice insurance premiums, which have forced "too many good doctors, especially OB/GYNs," to leave their practices.

"To make health care more affordable and accessible, we must pass medical liability reform now," Bush said. He added that "in all we do to improve health care in America, we will make sure that health decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C." (Bush speech text, New York Times, 9/3).

First-Term Record

In addition, Bush "recited his accomplishments" over the past four years, such as the enactment of the new Medicare law, and criticized Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) for his opposition to the law and HSAs, USA Today reports (Keen, USA Today, 9/3).

Bush said that the Medicare law offers beneficiaries "immediate help buying medicine" and will provide a new prescription drug benefit in 2006 to help fulfill a "moral responsibility to honor America's seniors" (Bush speech text, New York Times, 9/3).

Analysis

According to the Los Angeles Times, Bush offered "the most new specifics on the least controversial" proposals, such as his plans for more community health centers and increased SCHIP enrollment.

Such proposals are "unlikely to play prominent roles in Bush's campaign -- or to blunt Democratic charges that he has offered inadequate solutions" to improve access to health care, the Los Angeles Times reports (Los Angeles Times, 9/3).

According to the New York Times, Bush left the details of larger proposals, such as comprehensive Medicare reform, "almost entirely unaddressed" (Purdum, New York Times, 9/3).