President Bush took office on the cusp of a national recession, and the economy's stumbling performance ever since has become a major political issue. Massive stock market declines and joblessness were compounded by a series of big-business bankruptcies and scandals. To boost growth, Bush pushed through two large tax cuts, which economists credit for sustaining consumer spending. Amid evidence of an accelerating recovery, Bush's stewardship of the economy remains an issue, especially the merits of his tax cuts, his approach toward big business, and the ballooning federal deficit.

Carol Moseley Braun
Braun wants to build on Bill Clinton's economic record by promoting fairness for women and disadvantaged workers. A strong supporter of affirmative action, she supports equal pay for work of equal value and a living wage. Though she calls herself a "budget hawk" - she voted for the balanced-budget amendment - she says government can play a constructive role to serve the public interest. She also calls herself a "free-trader," but desires stronger trade protections. She'd repeal Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and increase funding for schools and job training.

George W. Bush
The centerpiece of Bush's plan to improve the stumbling economy was a double dose of massive tax cuts. He claims that these cuts - in concert with his Jobs and Growth Act of 2003, which cut capital gains and dividends taxes and gave $20 billion in state aid - have propelled recent economic growth and job creation. In addition, he proposes a six-point plan, including a comprehensive national energy plan and aggressive trade agreements, to build this momentum.

Wesley Clark
Clark has put forward an ambitious tax-reform package, which he claims will lower tax payments for all families with children and an income of less than $100,000 a year. Specifically, he proposes that a family of four making up to $50,000 pay no federal income taxes. He'd pay for the tax cuts by closing corporate loopholes and by raising tax rates by 5 percentage points on income over $1 million per year. Clark also has a 10-year plan to save $2.35 trillion in government spending, and a 2-year, $100 billion plan to create jobs, including billions in state aid. He calls for deficit reduction, tougher trade compliance from other countries, especially China, and would work to keep companies from shifting jobs overseas.

Howard Dean
Dean wants to repeal the Bush tax cuts and use the money saved to fund his healthcare plan. He urges fiscal discipline and touts his record of achieving balanced budgets as governor of Vermont. He wants fairer trade and would renegotiate NAFTA with Mexico. Dean proposes a simpler tax system that puts money where he claims it's needed most.

John Edwards
Edwards wants to eliminate Bush's tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. He'd give a 10 percent tax credit for companies that keep jobs in the US. He would create a venture-capital fund to bring jobs to economically depressed areas. He proposes a matching tax credit of up to $5,000 to help people buy their first home and tax credits to help save for retirement, or a child's education. He would also cut capital-gains taxes for 95 percent of all Americans. He calls for trade agreements that include labor and environmental standards.

Dick Gephardt
Gephardt asserts that the surest economic stimulus would come from his healthcare reform package that guarantees health insurance for all Americans. He'd repeal all of Bush's tax cuts. He calls for an international minimum wage and an increased American minimum wage. He'd end corporate welfare, which he says costs the US as much as $175 billion each year. Gephardt touts his record of support for union workers and the Clinton economic plans he credits for massive job creation in the 1990s.

John Kerry
Kerry has proposed creating jobs through a new manufacturing jobs credit, by investing in new energy industries, and by stopping layoffs in education. He would roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and use those funds to invest in education and healthcare. His plan aims to cut the federal budget deficit in half in four years. He'd give $50 billion over two years to help states deal with their deficits. Kerry also pledges to end corporate loopholes and reduce the size of government.

Dennis Kucinich
Kucinich strongly opposes the Bush tax cuts and proposes a progressive tax reform that helps workers and families, while adding $107 billion in government revenue. He wants zero unemployment and proposes a New Deal-style federal program to employ the jobless to rebuild US infrastructure. He'd also offer state and local governments $50 billion in zero-interest loans every year for ten years. He'd lower the age for Social Security eligibility from 67 to 65 and would also repeal NAFTA.

Joe Lieberman
Lieberman would rewrite the tax code to offer savings to low-income families, while compelling wealthy individuals and corporations to pay more. He claims his plan would send a new cash tax rebate to the 34 million taxpayers who didn't get one in 2001. He'd create a zero capital-gains rate for direct, long-term investments in new stock offerings, and he'd offer an investment tax credit of 20 percent for purchase of information technology to help jumpstart the technology sector. A key Lieberman trade priority is preventing foreign piracy of US intellectual property.

Al Sharpton
Sharpton would repeal all of Bush's tax cuts and use the money saved for job-creating programs such as education, healthcare, and housing. He would use tax dollars to improve US infrastructure and schools before sending money overseas to Iraq or Afghanistan. Sharpton proposes a five-year, $250-billion-a-year infrastructure redevelopment plan to create jobs.