Clinton Offers Tax Breaks To Rural Areas

US president Bill Clinton is today offering immediate tax credits and guaranteed loans to disadvantaged rural and urban areas who are not benefitting from the strong US economy. John Howard reports.

Bill Clinton started a two-day tour of disadvantaged America Thursday, hoping to promote more public and private investment in rural and urban areas not reaping benefits.

Clinton was at Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark where he addressed students, local officials, business executives and entrepreneurs in this city of 300,000 residents which suffers a poverty rate of 30 percent. It also has 9.9 percent unemployed, twice the national average.

"Now is the time to say the rest of America must be part of our prosperity," Clinton said to the cheers of his young audience including civil rights leader Jesse Jackson who was at his side.

Outside from where he was speaking stood buildings covered with posters demanding economic justice.

Clinton said the United States is experiencing an unprecedented economic growth but not everyone is reaping the benefits. "I will not allow that to continue," he said.

"This time we are focusing not only on where to find potential but how to turn that potential in our rural and urban areas into long-term economic partnerships. We can wait no longer," Clinton said.

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