As President Bush clears the traditional 100-day mark, Americans are viewing the President with increasingly high ratings. According to a recent Gallup poll, President Bushıs overall approval rating is 62%. Compare this to Bill Clintonıs rating of 55% at his 100-day mark. Pundits on both sides of the aisle agree that the presidentıs impressively high approval ratings can be directly attributed to his compassionate conservative agenda.

In the first 100 days, the president has focused much of his attention on the 1.6 trillion dollar tax cut and the much needed education reform. The presidentıs tax cut is necessary to re-start our failing economy. Every taxpayer in America will receive a reduction in income taxes. This will put more money in the pockets of consumers, so that their spending will help to revitalize the economy. Many in Washington wanted to use the vast surplus to fund wasteful government programs. President Bush, however, has led the charge to return the surplus to the people who have over-paid in taxes.

The president has worked very closely with both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill to pass a comprehensive education reform package. The presidentıs proposed increase in education spending is the largest spending increase contained within his budget. Its priorities include fixing failing schools, teaching children to read by the third grade, improving the infrastructure of our nationıs school buildings, hiring more teachers and increasing testing for children to ensure they are learning before sending them to the next grade level.

The president has been working very hard to change the tone in Washington. More than 300 members of Congress from both parties have been to the White House to discuss issues. His education reform package and a significant portion of his tax cut are expected to clear the Congress with strong bi-partisan support early this summer. With both parties working so well together, some members of the liberal-left have been desperate to drive a wedge between the president and Congressional Democrats and have begun harping on Bushıs environmental record.

The main focus of the liberal attack has been the level of arsenic in Americaıs drinking water. The fact is, the current regulation of 50 parts per billion has been in place through the entire eight year Clinton presidency. President Bush has declared his intention to lower the standard this year by 60%. To further help the environment, the President has allocated five billion in additional funding to help preserve our national parks, one billion to provide for greater enforcement of current environmental regulation, and 550 million additional dollars to improve waste water treatment in rural areas to help produce cleaner water.

From taxes, education and the environment to the standoff in China, where the president successfully negotiated to bring our 24 service men and women home, George W. Bush has presided over an amazing 100 days. As Americans, we should all hope the president can continue to succeed on behalf of the American people for the duration of his eight-year administration.