Bush plans economic 'forum' — not summit
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush plans a forum next month with a variety of American business interests — from workers to corporate executives — to help advance his agenda for boosting the lagging economy.
Invited to participate in the forum, to be held Aug. 13 in Waco, Texas, while Bush is vacationing at his ranch in nearby Crawford, will be investors, small business owners, ethics experts, workers, economists, corporate executives and others who will "discuss the fundamentals in the American economy" with the president and top administration members, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said Friday.
With a questionable economic recovery and a wave of corporate scandals helping to create jittery stock markets, Bush has sought to stave off potential political damage by speaking often on signs that the nation's economy is fundamentally sound and poised for growth.
The White House also has been defensive about his plans to take a nearly monthlong vacation in August. Bush advisers have highlighted his plans to work and to take several trips from there to raise money for Republican candidates and promote his policies.
Fleischer repeatedly referred to the gathering as a "forum," telling reporters the administration did not view it as a "summit." Congressional Democrats have been urging Bush for some time to convene an "economic summit."
The date is a day before corporate executives must vouch for their company's bookkeeping in a filing with the SEC. The deadline is expected to touch off a new wave of downward adjustments to corporate earnings projections.
Fleischer denied that the timing was an attempt by the administration to get out in front of news that could again rock the stock market.
The forum has been in the works for weeks, said deputy White House communications director Jim Wilkinson.
It will feature several workshops, on economic recovery, corporate responsibility, retirement security, regulatory relief for small businesses, education, trade and technology, Wilkinson said.
It was still being worked out exactly how the president would participate in the various sessions, but several Cabinet members would also be in attendance.
Fleischer ticked off a number of Bush's legislative priorities which are pending in Congress despite action this week on trade promotion authority for the president, corporate accountability legislation and reform of bankruptcy procedures. These remaining items, including bills to address terrorism insurance and pension protections for workers, could give the economy "a stronger boost than it is currently receiving," Fleischer said.
No lawmakers will be invited. But Fleischer said Bush meets with congressional leaders often, in meetings where the economy is a topic, and will continue to do so.
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
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