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CNN Live Event/Special

Pres. Bush Talks Tax Cuts

Aired May 06, 2003 - 10:34   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go ahead and listen to a little of President Bush talking about tax cuts.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thanks for coming. I heard you were in the neighborhood.

(LAUGHTER)

So I decided to drop by and say hello.

Thanks for your interest in your country. Thanks for your concern about the future. Thanks for worrying about somebody who is wondering whether he or she is going to be able to put food on the table, to find work, and that's what we're here to talk about.

The Tax Relief Coalition is a broad group, united by the commitment to the spirit of risk taking. You understand that free enterprise makes this economy go. You understand the role of government's not to create wealth, but an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish.

(APPLAUSE)

You understand that our duty here in Washington is to set pro- growth policies in place that reward and respect Americans who work hard and take risk. That's what you understand.

(APPLAUSE)

I appreciate your understanding, and I'm glad you're here, because you're here at just the right time. You see, Congress is now considering what to do. Congress is debating the package. They're trying to figure out what course to take. And I'm glad you're bringing your voices to the halls of Congress, and it can be a loud voice, as both the secretary and I understand, and that's going to be important in the halls of Congress.

Last Friday we received some troubling economic news. The unemployment rate is now at 6 percent. The news ought to serve as a clear signal to members of the United States Congress that we need a bold economic recovery plan.

(APPLAUSE)

Congress will hear from me.

BUSH: Congress will hear from the secretary. Congress needs to hear from you. We need tax relief that creates the greatest number of jobs.

(APPLAUSE)

The goal is to create 1 million new jobs by the end of next year. I've submitted a good, strong plan that will help meet that goal. The United States Congress must not only listen to your voice, but listen to the voice of somebody looking for work. We need aggressive action out of the United States Congress now.

(APPLAUSE)

I want to thank our Secretary of Treasury, John Snow. He's experienced. He's capable. He's able.

He could have easily look me in the eye and said, No, I don't want to serve my country. I think I'm kind of happy where I am in the private sector. But no, he said, Mr. President, I want to serve the country. And our country's better off because John Snow said yes.

Mr. Secretary, thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

I want to thank my friend, Dirk VanDogen (ph), who's been a tireless advocate for policies that help people looking for work. He's the president of the Tax Relief Coalition.

I want to thank all the members of the Tax Relief Coalition who are here, who've joined us, who realized that democracy can work if you work at it. And I appreciate your coming.

(APPLAUSE)

I want to thank Tom Donahue, who is the president and CEO of the Chamber, for lending this fantastic hall and this beautiful building for lending us this for the purposes of making a statement to the country about our mutual desire to help people find a job.

I want to thank all the entrepreneurs who are with us today, the risk-takers, the really truly -- the engine of growth for the American economy.

We got the Brinley (ph) boys here from Vienna, Virginia. I'm going to say something about them a little later on. They started what they called JAMA Java (ph).

(LAUGHTER)

The good is JAMA Java (ph) is succeeding.

I had a chance to visit with them before we came in, as I did with the (inaudible) as well, who've got their own business. I'm going to say something about them a little later on.

The reason I point them is out, there are people in this audience who own their business, who are part of the Ownership Society in America who are creating new jobs. And so for all the entrepreneurs who are here with us and all across America, thank you. Thank you for working hard to realize your dream.

(APPLAUSE)

America is a strong and confident nation, and those qualities are seeing us through some challenging times.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: America is a strong and confident nation, and those qualities are seeing us through some challenging times. Nearly 20 months we have waged a relentless campaign against global terror. For 20 months, we have done what the American people expect, and that is to hunt down the killers one at a time so that America is more secure. We are winning the war on terror.

(APPLAUSE)

And as a part of the war against terror, we removed Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq.

(APPLAUSE)

Thanks to the skill and courage of our military and other coalition forces, America is more secure. The world is more peaceful, and the Iraqi people are now free.

(APPLAUSE)

We will continue to meet our responsibilities to secure America. We will continue to dismantle the Al Qaida network. We will continue to promote the peace. We will continue to promote freedom, because we know a free society is one that is more likely to be a peaceful society. We assume those responsibilities. We will follow through on our responsibilities. And here at home we have responsibilities. As we press forward on national security, we must promote job security here in America.

(APPLAUSE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired May 6, 2003 - 10:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go ahead and listen to a little of President Bush talking about tax cuts.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thanks for coming. I heard you were in the neighborhood.

(LAUGHTER)

So I decided to drop by and say hello.

Thanks for your interest in your country. Thanks for your concern about the future. Thanks for worrying about somebody who is wondering whether he or she is going to be able to put food on the table, to find work, and that's what we're here to talk about.

The Tax Relief Coalition is a broad group, united by the commitment to the spirit of risk taking. You understand that free enterprise makes this economy go. You understand the role of government's not to create wealth, but an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish.

(APPLAUSE)

You understand that our duty here in Washington is to set pro- growth policies in place that reward and respect Americans who work hard and take risk. That's what you understand.

(APPLAUSE)

I appreciate your understanding, and I'm glad you're here, because you're here at just the right time. You see, Congress is now considering what to do. Congress is debating the package. They're trying to figure out what course to take. And I'm glad you're bringing your voices to the halls of Congress, and it can be a loud voice, as both the secretary and I understand, and that's going to be important in the halls of Congress.

Last Friday we received some troubling economic news. The unemployment rate is now at 6 percent. The news ought to serve as a clear signal to members of the United States Congress that we need a bold economic recovery plan.

(APPLAUSE)

Congress will hear from me.

BUSH: Congress will hear from the secretary. Congress needs to hear from you. We need tax relief that creates the greatest number of jobs.

(APPLAUSE)

The goal is to create 1 million new jobs by the end of next year. I've submitted a good, strong plan that will help meet that goal. The United States Congress must not only listen to your voice, but listen to the voice of somebody looking for work. We need aggressive action out of the United States Congress now.

(APPLAUSE)

I want to thank our Secretary of Treasury, John Snow. He's experienced. He's capable. He's able.

He could have easily look me in the eye and said, No, I don't want to serve my country. I think I'm kind of happy where I am in the private sector. But no, he said, Mr. President, I want to serve the country. And our country's better off because John Snow said yes.

Mr. Secretary, thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

I want to thank my friend, Dirk VanDogen (ph), who's been a tireless advocate for policies that help people looking for work. He's the president of the Tax Relief Coalition.

I want to thank all the members of the Tax Relief Coalition who are here, who've joined us, who realized that democracy can work if you work at it. And I appreciate your coming.

(APPLAUSE)

I want to thank Tom Donahue, who is the president and CEO of the Chamber, for lending this fantastic hall and this beautiful building for lending us this for the purposes of making a statement to the country about our mutual desire to help people find a job.

I want to thank all the entrepreneurs who are with us today, the risk-takers, the really truly -- the engine of growth for the American economy.

We got the Brinley (ph) boys here from Vienna, Virginia. I'm going to say something about them a little later on. They started what they called JAMA Java (ph).

(LAUGHTER)

The good is JAMA Java (ph) is succeeding.

I had a chance to visit with them before we came in, as I did with the (inaudible) as well, who've got their own business. I'm going to say something about them a little later on.

The reason I point them is out, there are people in this audience who own their business, who are part of the Ownership Society in America who are creating new jobs. And so for all the entrepreneurs who are here with us and all across America, thank you. Thank you for working hard to realize your dream.

(APPLAUSE)

America is a strong and confident nation, and those qualities are seeing us through some challenging times.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: America is a strong and confident nation, and those qualities are seeing us through some challenging times. Nearly 20 months we have waged a relentless campaign against global terror. For 20 months, we have done what the American people expect, and that is to hunt down the killers one at a time so that America is more secure. We are winning the war on terror.

(APPLAUSE)

And as a part of the war against terror, we removed Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq.

(APPLAUSE)

Thanks to the skill and courage of our military and other coalition forces, America is more secure. The world is more peaceful, and the Iraqi people are now free.

(APPLAUSE)

We will continue to meet our responsibilities to secure America. We will continue to dismantle the Al Qaida network. We will continue to promote the peace. We will continue to promote freedom, because we know a free society is one that is more likely to be a peaceful society. We assume those responsibilities. We will follow through on our responsibilities. And here at home we have responsibilities. As we press forward on national security, we must promote job security here in America.

(APPLAUSE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com