Democrats decry ‘bad management’

Democrats said last night President Bush’s administration has been full of “poor choices and bad management” and that they can do better.

Newly inaugurated Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who delivered the Democrats’ response to the State of the Union, said his party is succeeding at the state level because it is looking past politics toward good management practices.

On issues ranging from spending to immigration to the war on terror to rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, he said, “There’s a better way.”

He said that the Bush administration, which took the federal budget from large surpluses to record deficits, could learn from Democrats’ experience in Virginia. When Mr. Kaine was lieutenant governor, he said, he and Democratic Gov. Mark Warner joined with Republicans in the General Assembly to raise taxes to close a budget gap and win the ranking of the best-managed state in the country.

Mr. Kaine didn’t mention the tax increases, but said, “By focusing on results, we were able to keep the budget balanced, preserve Virginia’s strong credit rating and protect the essential services families rely on: education, health care and law enforcement.”

Rep. Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican, said Mr. Kaine’s first budget he submitted also raises taxes.

“National Democrats truly picked one of their own to deliver their response,” he said.

The president’s calls for new spending, such as investing in science and technology research and education, won praise from members of both parties.

Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland Democrat, said she is ready to work with Mr. Bush and Republicans on the issue.

“A country that doesn’t innovate, stagnates,” she said.

But overall, Democrats said, Mr. Bush didn’t offer much.

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid said the speech was “lofty yet recycled rhetoric.” He said that unlike last year, when Mr. Bush called for action on Social Security, this year the president “reached for too little.”

“I think the president did a good job of presenting an America that 95 percent of the people I represent don’t live in,” said Rep. Melvin Watt of North Carolina and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Democrats said Mr. Bush got it wrong when he said Americans are addicted to oil.

“There is nothing wrong with Americans. There’s something wrong with America’s leaders who are addicted to oil money,” said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Democrat and chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He said Republicans don’t have credibility on the issue since they have taken so much money from energy companies.

But Republicans said Mr. Bush hit the right notes.

Conservatives in the House like Rep. Mike Pence, Indiana Republican, said Mr. Bush issued a “clear call for budget discipline.”