National News
Steven Carroll
Issue date: 5/3/06 Section: News
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BUSH APPROVAL RATING HITS NEW LOW
President Bush's approval rating has declined to a record low, according to the most recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll. The poll, conducted April 21 through April 23, shows only 32% of Americans supporting the president. It also shows 60% in disapproval, and 8% unsure.
This mark is four points lower than the March 10-12 poll, which was then at a record low of 36%, also significantly lower than a poll taken slightly more than one year ago (April 1-2, 2005) which said 48% of Americans approved of President Bush. The polls also show significant declines in the number of people who believe that Bush is "a strong and decisive leader," "honest and trustworthy," and "competent."
BACKGROUND CHECKS TO BE CONDUCTED ON PORT WORKERS
The Bush administration has announced that approximately 400,000 port workers will be subjected to background checks in an effort to make sure that they do not pose a terrorist threat.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has said that the names of workers will be matched against US Government terrorist watch lists. Their criminal backgrounds will not be examined, however, at least for now. The checks will be conducted by the Transportation Security Administration.
"We're going to focus on those who could potentially be the greatest risk to our security," said Chertoff, at a news conference in Washington.
Attention had recently been called to the issue of port security after a Dubai-owned company's purchase of the rights to six American ports. The company, however, agreed to sell the rights of the US ports to an American firm, which they acquired in purchasing a British firm.
BUSH ANNOUNCES PLAN TO LOWER GASOLINE PRICES
The president has announced that this summer's deposits of oil into the national reserve will be postponed, in order to lower the upcoming season's gas prices. "Every little bit helps," said Mr. Bush, at a speech at the Renewable Fuels Association in Washington.
President Bush's approval rating has declined to a record low, according to the most recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll. The poll, conducted April 21 through April 23, shows only 32% of Americans supporting the president. It also shows 60% in disapproval, and 8% unsure.
This mark is four points lower than the March 10-12 poll, which was then at a record low of 36%, also significantly lower than a poll taken slightly more than one year ago (April 1-2, 2005) which said 48% of Americans approved of President Bush. The polls also show significant declines in the number of people who believe that Bush is "a strong and decisive leader," "honest and trustworthy," and "competent."
BACKGROUND CHECKS TO BE CONDUCTED ON PORT WORKERS
The Bush administration has announced that approximately 400,000 port workers will be subjected to background checks in an effort to make sure that they do not pose a terrorist threat.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has said that the names of workers will be matched against US Government terrorist watch lists. Their criminal backgrounds will not be examined, however, at least for now. The checks will be conducted by the Transportation Security Administration.
"We're going to focus on those who could potentially be the greatest risk to our security," said Chertoff, at a news conference in Washington.
Attention had recently been called to the issue of port security after a Dubai-owned company's purchase of the rights to six American ports. The company, however, agreed to sell the rights of the US ports to an American firm, which they acquired in purchasing a British firm.
BUSH ANNOUNCES PLAN TO LOWER GASOLINE PRICES
The president has announced that this summer's deposits of oil into the national reserve will be postponed, in order to lower the upcoming season's gas prices. "Every little bit helps," said Mr. Bush, at a speech at the Renewable Fuels Association in Washington.