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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (198433)	11/1/2001 1:34:57 AM
From: calgal	Respond to of 769670

Bush: 'We Will Plant that Flag of Freedom' (CNSNews.com) - "My call to Congress is, 'Get to work. And get something done.'" President Bush made it very clear on Wednesday that he expects Congress to hurry up and pass an economic stimulus package, among other legislative items. At a White House press briefing, he also plugged tax relief and offered a pep talk on the war effort and American's ability to overcome adversity. The president said he knows many people are having tough times; people are losing their jobs; and consumer confidence is down. "It's time for our government to act in a positive and constructive way," he said. "The Congress needs to pass a stimulus package and get it to my desk before the end of November." Bush said he and congressional leaders have agreed they need to work together to get the bill passed, and he said that means putting aside political differences for the sake of people who are suffering. He said he's worried any time an American loses his job, "but in the long term, I'm optimistic about the economy." He hailed America's thriving entrepreneurial spirit and other attributes (patience, resolve, unity) that will help Americans triumph over adversity. "This is a fabulous nation," he enthused. "We will plant that flag of freedom forever by winning the war on terrorism, by rallying our economy, and by keeping strong and adhering to the values we hold so dear - starting with freedom." The president also insisted that Congress pass an energy plan that emphasizes conservation and makes Americans less dependent on foreign sources of energy. And he strongly urged Congress to give him "fast-track" trade promotion authority. "I need to be able to negotiate trade agreements with nations who want to trade with America. The Congress can vote the trade agreement down, if they don't like it. But we need to be aggressive when it comes to opening up markets." Free trade is a good way to spread America's values, he said. Response to terror attacks President Bush also defended his administration's response to terrorist attacks. "In quick order, both Republicans and Democrats decided to spend a considerable sum of money to address the country's needs." We've allocated $55 billion dollars, he said, and a big chunk of that will go to defending our country. He urged Congress to send him an airport security bill as quickly as possible, and he backed the idea of spending money on workers who lost their jobs after Sept. 11. "I believe we need to expand the unemployment benefits to those workers," he said. And he said it's a good idea to give governors the latitude to apply federal money to workers' with special needs, including those who can't afford to pay their health care premiums. "We've never been attacked like this before. We're still being attacked," the president said. But he urged Congress to be confident in the future of the country as it tackles big issues. Bush also cautioned Congress not to overspend. "The temptation is to fund everybody's good idea, and my attitude is that the money ought to be focused and effective." Appeal for tax relief President Bush said any spending package should be offset by tax relief, and that includes rebates for "non-taxpayers who file," most of them low-income people. Accelerating tax cuts that now exist would also bolster consumer demand, he said. And while you're at it, reform the alternative minimum tax on corporate America, Bush said, to encourage investment. War effort "I'm patient. And I'm focused. And I will not yield. We must win. We have no other choice for our children and our grandchildren," he said of the war effort. "And the United States will prevail." townhall.com