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America Votes 2002: The Bush Agenda

Aired November 07, 2002 - 13:07   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.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Turning to the Bush agenda, after the presidential mandate to the GOP not to gloat about winning Congress, we'll see what the president does and says today in his first news conference since the elections.
Suzanne Malveaux joins us live from the White House, where I presume It's no-gloat zone right now, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's a little gloating going on, I think, Martin. We're expecting to hear from him at 2:00 Eastern Time at Presidential Hall. The last time he had a formal conference was July 4th. That was four months ago. But administration officials tell us that he will make an opening statement, he will congratulate Republicans on their victory, he would also urge Republicans and Democrats to work together to get things done. And he's going to highlight some items of his legislative agenda that he considers a top priority. The first one, the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. This was passed in the House, but stalled in the Senate. The president's version would really give management more flexibility, but would limit labor protections of its employees.

Also the terrorism insurance bill, the president says, it's aimed at reviving construction projects, creating jobs. He wants action on stalled judicial nominees. This has been very frustrating for the president, not being able to get those nominees past the Senate approval process. An energy bill, also the White House saying that this would make the United States less dependent on foreign oil, but at the same time, would allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

And finally, but certainly not the least important, is this economic package that the president would like to see that 10-year, $1.3 trillion tax cut to be made permanent.

And, Martin, we should also not that this lame duck session, Congress coming back next week. They have to deal with a slew of appropriations bills just to make sure that the government is funded for the next fiscal year. The White House knows that it has the support of Republicans, both in the House and Senate, but they do know as well, they recognize they need those moderate Democrats to get that legislation pushed through. The president offering an invitation to Dick Gephardt and Tom Daschle for a make-nice breakfast meeting tomorrow. He'll meet with the two to discuss all of this.

The president, we'll be hearing from him very shortly in the next hour to outline his concerns and legislative agenda, and also to take some questions.

SAVIDGE: Suzanne, a lot of domestic issues there. Any indication the president may talk about Iraq, with the U.N. taking up the resolution, possibly tomorrow?

MALVEAUX: Well, we asked that exact question, whether or not he might bring that up. They say, stay tuned. Really, this is going to be a broad brush stroke on a number of issues, domestic as well as foreign, that the president certainly has been talking a lot about that, and this White House really very optimistic in what they see as might be a breakthrough. They are really looking at this. They want a vote on this resolution tomorrow. Asked whether or not they might extend that, the Secretary of State Colin Powell canceled his trip to Asia over the weekend to make some important calls, to do that diplomacy, that much needed diplomacy. Whether or not they would allow a couple more days for some negotiations. They say they're really sticking to Friday. They want to see that vote. And they're optimistic, cautiously optimistic, that they'll get it.

SAVIDGE: All right, Suzanne Malveaux, we'll wait for that news conference. Thank you very much, live from the White House.

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 November 7, 2002 - 13:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Turning to the Bush agenda, after the presidential mandate to the GOP not to gloat about winning Congress, we'll see what the president does and says today in his first news conference since the elections.
Suzanne Malveaux joins us live from the White House, where I presume It's no-gloat zone right now, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's a little gloating going on, I think, Martin. We're expecting to hear from him at 2:00 Eastern Time at Presidential Hall. The last time he had a formal conference was July 4th. That was four months ago. But administration officials tell us that he will make an opening statement, he will congratulate Republicans on their victory, he would also urge Republicans and Democrats to work together to get things done. And he's going to highlight some items of his legislative agenda that he considers a top priority. The first one, the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. This was passed in the House, but stalled in the Senate. The president's version would really give management more flexibility, but would limit labor protections of its employees.

Also the terrorism insurance bill, the president says, it's aimed at reviving construction projects, creating jobs. He wants action on stalled judicial nominees. This has been very frustrating for the president, not being able to get those nominees past the Senate approval process. An energy bill, also the White House saying that this would make the United States less dependent on foreign oil, but at the same time, would allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

And finally, but certainly not the least important, is this economic package that the president would like to see that 10-year, $1.3 trillion tax cut to be made permanent.

And, Martin, we should also not that this lame duck session, Congress coming back next week. They have to deal with a slew of appropriations bills just to make sure that the government is funded for the next fiscal year. The White House knows that it has the support of Republicans, both in the House and Senate, but they do know as well, they recognize they need those moderate Democrats to get that legislation pushed through. The president offering an invitation to Dick Gephardt and Tom Daschle for a make-nice breakfast meeting tomorrow. He'll meet with the two to discuss all of this.

The president, we'll be hearing from him very shortly in the next hour to outline his concerns and legislative agenda, and also to take some questions.

SAVIDGE: Suzanne, a lot of domestic issues there. Any indication the president may talk about Iraq, with the U.N. taking up the resolution, possibly tomorrow?

MALVEAUX: Well, we asked that exact question, whether or not he might bring that up. They say, stay tuned. Really, this is going to be a broad brush stroke on a number of issues, domestic as well as foreign, that the president certainly has been talking a lot about that, and this White House really very optimistic in what they see as might be a breakthrough. They are really looking at this. They want a vote on this resolution tomorrow. Asked whether or not they might extend that, the Secretary of State Colin Powell canceled his trip to Asia over the weekend to make some important calls, to do that diplomacy, that much needed diplomacy. Whether or not they would allow a couple more days for some negotiations. They say they're really sticking to Friday. They want to see that vote. And they're optimistic, cautiously optimistic, that they'll get it.

SAVIDGE: All right, Suzanne Malveaux, we'll wait for that news conference. Thank you very much, live from the White House.

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