Quicken -- Economy Will Be Big Issue In US Elections - Gephardt

The faltering economy will be the dominant issue in next month's elections and could be a catalyst for ending the Republicans' eight-year hold on the House, Democratic leader Dick Gephardt said Tuesday.

"I think most Americans are concerned primarily about their economic situations," the Missouri Democrat said at a news conference.

Jobs, wages, pension plans and savings for education "are the issues that people live with every day and worry about every day," he said. "It's obvious the Republican plan is an absolute failure and has let everyone down in this country."

Gephardt said that if Republicans win control of Congress, "the American people can expect more tax cuts for special interests like Enron." He noted that Tuesday was the first anniversary of the GOP-led House voting for a corporate tax repeal that would have returned billions of dollars to corporations, including $254 million to Enron. That legislation ultimately failed.

If Democrats win the House, Gephardt said, they will try to revitalize the economy with short-term investments in school construction and other vital needs, one-time rebates and tax cuts for families and for company investment, a long-term plan to balance the federal budget, protections for people's pensions and an increase in the minimum wage.