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CNN Live Event/Special
Bush Delivers Remarks at White House Meeting With Economists
Aired January 30, 2004 - 11:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: This is live coming in to us. President Bush -- pool tape, if I may correct myself -- talking about the economy and Iraq here. As you know, he's just met with a team of economists. Let's go ahead and listen in on that for just a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... make sure that the economy continues to grow.
Today we received news that indicates that the economy is strong and getting stronger. Fourth-quarter growth in 2003 was at 4 percent.
We also discussed ways for Congress to make sure we sustain growth. We need to make sure the tax cuts are permanent. If Congress doesn't make the tax cuts permanent, they will have raised taxes on the working people of this country at the exact wrong time.
Need to make sure we continue to be a nation which trades freely. We need to make sure that we have less regulation. Need to do things that are wise to control the costs of medicine without nationalizing health care.
We had a really good discussion. I want to thank you all for coming.
These economists are optimistic about our future, and so am I. And the American people can know that we'll continue to work hard to make sure this economy is vibrant and robust and strong so our fellow citizens can find good jobs.
I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions.
Scott, have you got one today, perhaps?
QUESTION: Yes, sir, I do. Thanks, Mr. President.
Senator McCain, David Kay, among many others, say it's time for an independent investigation into weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and intelligence. Why resist this kind of inquiry now that your own weapons inspector says it's needed?
BUSH: I want the American people to know that I, too, want to know the facts. I want to be able to compare what the Iraq Survey Group has found with what we thought prior to going into Iraq.
One thing is for certain -- one thing we do know from Mr. Kay's testimony, as well as from the years of intelligence that we had gathered, is that Saddam Hussein was a danger. He was a growing danger.
And given the circumstances of September the 11th, this country went to the United Nations and said, "Saddam Hussein's a danger, let us work together to get him to disarm." He was defiant, he ignored the request of the international community and this country led a coalition to remove him.
We dealt with the danger. And as a result, the world is a better place and a more peaceful place and the Iraqi people are free.
And a free Iraq is in this nation's national interest. A free Iraq will bring, you know, a much-needed change in a part of the world that has fostered terror.
QUESTION: Are you deadset against it.
BUSH: I want to know the facts.
QUESTION: Are you against the idea of...
BUSH: Is this a follow-up to Scott's question?
QUESTION: Yes.
BUSH: Let me repeat, I just -- let me repeat what I just said. I want to know the facts. And I want to know exactly -- I want to compare what the ISG finds with what we thought going in.
QUESTION: Mr. President, are you concerned at all that the new ballooned cost of Medicare bill will get you in trouble -- political trouble with members of your own party who voted for it only on the assurance that it wouldn't go above $400 billion?
BUSH: Well, I two weeks ago received an estimate about Medicare. I asked two questions to the estimators: one, does the Medicare reform do what we want it to do still, which to provide modern medicine for our seniors and introduce competition which will eventually hold down costs of Medicare; and secondly, did the new estimate of Medicare cost fulfill my promise to reduce the deficit in half over a five-year period of time?
And the budget we'll submit on Monday does fulfill that promise that will reduce the deficit in half. Now, it's going to require Congress to be wise with the taxpayers' money. The Medicare reform we did is a good reform, it fulfills a longstanding promise to our seniors.
Congress is now going have to work with us to make sure that we set priorities and are fiscally wise with the taxpayers' money. I'm confident they can do that, if they're willing to make tough choices.
And so, the budget we submit will show that we can cut the deficit in half over a five-year period.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: You hear President Bush there talking about both the economy and Iraq. Addressing sustaining growth and making tax cuts permanent, as well as his Medicare reform.
And also saying as far as Iraq goes, that the country is a better place and a safer place.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Economists>
Aired January 30, 2004 - 11:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: This is live coming in to us. President Bush -- pool tape, if I may correct myself -- talking about the economy and Iraq here. As you know, he's just met with a team of economists. Let's go ahead and listen in on that for just a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... make sure that the economy continues to grow.
Today we received news that indicates that the economy is strong and getting stronger. Fourth-quarter growth in 2003 was at 4 percent.
We also discussed ways for Congress to make sure we sustain growth. We need to make sure the tax cuts are permanent. If Congress doesn't make the tax cuts permanent, they will have raised taxes on the working people of this country at the exact wrong time.
Need to make sure we continue to be a nation which trades freely. We need to make sure that we have less regulation. Need to do things that are wise to control the costs of medicine without nationalizing health care.
We had a really good discussion. I want to thank you all for coming.
These economists are optimistic about our future, and so am I. And the American people can know that we'll continue to work hard to make sure this economy is vibrant and robust and strong so our fellow citizens can find good jobs.
I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions.
Scott, have you got one today, perhaps?
QUESTION: Yes, sir, I do. Thanks, Mr. President.
Senator McCain, David Kay, among many others, say it's time for an independent investigation into weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and intelligence. Why resist this kind of inquiry now that your own weapons inspector says it's needed?
BUSH: I want the American people to know that I, too, want to know the facts. I want to be able to compare what the Iraq Survey Group has found with what we thought prior to going into Iraq.
One thing is for certain -- one thing we do know from Mr. Kay's testimony, as well as from the years of intelligence that we had gathered, is that Saddam Hussein was a danger. He was a growing danger.
And given the circumstances of September the 11th, this country went to the United Nations and said, "Saddam Hussein's a danger, let us work together to get him to disarm." He was defiant, he ignored the request of the international community and this country led a coalition to remove him.
We dealt with the danger. And as a result, the world is a better place and a more peaceful place and the Iraqi people are free.
And a free Iraq is in this nation's national interest. A free Iraq will bring, you know, a much-needed change in a part of the world that has fostered terror.
QUESTION: Are you deadset against it.
BUSH: I want to know the facts.
QUESTION: Are you against the idea of...
BUSH: Is this a follow-up to Scott's question?
QUESTION: Yes.
BUSH: Let me repeat, I just -- let me repeat what I just said. I want to know the facts. And I want to know exactly -- I want to compare what the ISG finds with what we thought going in.
QUESTION: Mr. President, are you concerned at all that the new ballooned cost of Medicare bill will get you in trouble -- political trouble with members of your own party who voted for it only on the assurance that it wouldn't go above $400 billion?
BUSH: Well, I two weeks ago received an estimate about Medicare. I asked two questions to the estimators: one, does the Medicare reform do what we want it to do still, which to provide modern medicine for our seniors and introduce competition which will eventually hold down costs of Medicare; and secondly, did the new estimate of Medicare cost fulfill my promise to reduce the deficit in half over a five-year period of time?
And the budget we'll submit on Monday does fulfill that promise that will reduce the deficit in half. Now, it's going to require Congress to be wise with the taxpayers' money. The Medicare reform we did is a good reform, it fulfills a longstanding promise to our seniors.
Congress is now going have to work with us to make sure that we set priorities and are fiscally wise with the taxpayers' money. I'm confident they can do that, if they're willing to make tough choices.
And so, the budget we submit will show that we can cut the deficit in half over a five-year period.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: You hear President Bush there talking about both the economy and Iraq. Addressing sustaining growth and making tax cuts permanent, as well as his Medicare reform.
And also saying as far as Iraq goes, that the country is a better place and a safer place.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Economists>
