Dear Editor

President Bush is a strong leader who is doing what he said he would do.

The President's plain-spoken and straightforward leadership is helping replace a culture of gridlock and cynicism in Washington with a constructive spirit of bipartisan respect and results. In his first 100 days the President has been principled and inclusive, measured and decisive, focused and optimistic.

The President said in his Inaugural Address, "Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment. It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism." The President promised to bring a new way of thinking to Washington, and he is keeping his word.

President Bush has led with a steady and measured hand while addressing many of America's most pressing problems - from education to energy, from the economy to foreign affairs, from confronting poverty to racial profiling, from airline strikes to Medicare reform.

Since taking office, the President has focused on his compassionate conservative agenda of improving schools, cutting taxes, empowering faith and community-based organizations, laying the foundation for Medicare and Social Security reform, and rebuilding our military.

From his very first day in office President Bush let it be known that bipartisan education reform will be the cornerstone of his Administration. The President wants to ensure that no child is left behind by holding schools more accountable and insisting on results. The President and Congress are near an agreement on a comprehensive, bipartisan education reform bill, proof that when the debate is focused on shared values, respect and results, a lot can get accomplished for the good of the American people.

On the issue of tax relief, the President has shifted the focus from a rancorous, partisan debate over if there will be tax relief, to a bipartisan discussion of how much tax relief Americans will have. The American people are simply overtaxed. In fact, Americans today pay more in taxes than they pay in food, clothing and shelter combined. President Bush knows it doesn't have to be this way. And his work to help build bipartisan consensus for tax relief will help give our economy a much-needed jump-start and put money back in the pockets of the American people.

Earlier this year the President submitted his budget to Congress that cuts taxes, funds important priorities and pays down historic levels of debt. The President's budget has already passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support. His budget was passed earlier than usual with the support of no less than fifteen Senate Democrats - tangible proof that the President's emphasis on teamwork is yielding bipartisan results.

In the first 100 days of the new Administration Congress has also passed -- with bipartisan support -- other key components of the President's agenda, including marginal tax rate reductions, repeal of the death tax, marriage penalty tax relief, and an expansion of the child tax credit.

And the President's plan to rally America's community and faith-based armies of compassion to help our most needy is also moving forward in both chambers of Congress with bipartisan support.

President Bush promised to change the tone in Washington and work to heal the bitter wounds of political partisanship. The President kept his word and put bipartisanship into action, meeting personally with more members of the opposing party in the opening days of his Administration than any other modern President.

The President has also taken his fair and responsible agenda directly to the people by visiting 26 states, appearing with leaders from all across the political spectrum. The President's Cabinet has also traveled to 39 states to discuss the President's agenda and budget.

Finally, on foreign policy, the President has been decisive, measured and realistic. He operates with a clear understanding of American interests and a commitment to work with our friends and allies to advance our common security in the world. During his first 100 days, the President traveled to Mexico and worked to strengthen alliances in our hemisphere at the Summit of the Americas in Canada, guided diplomacy that brought home our crew after an accident in China, and personally met with more than 20 world leaders to build relationships and discuss common interests and concerns.

The President's first 100 days have been productive, positive and focused. His emphasis on bipartisan respect and results has begun to change the way Washington does business. The President is proving just how much can be accomplished when both political parties focus on results instead of focusing on who gets the credit.