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Bush Speaks to Reporters on Medicare
Aired September 25, 2003 - 15:28 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush at the White House meeting with congressional leaders on his Medicare bill.
Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... discussion about the need to work together to get a Medicare bill that modernizes the system, and fulfills the promises to America's seniors, that uses the latest technology to improve the health care for our elderly.
And my judgment, the sentiment was optimistic. I believe people know it's possible to get it done.
And there's a lot of work to get done. But fortunately, we're surrounded here by conferees that are plenty capable, plenty smart and care deeply about the future of the country. And so, I want to thank them for coming on.
Thank you for your commitment to our seniors. And I look forward to working with you to get a good bill out of the -- out of both bodies and to my desk and before you go home this fall.
I'd like to take a couple of questions.
QUESTION: Mr. President, with huge federal budget deficits, do you have any qualms about spending $400 billion on Medicare prescription drugs?
BUSH: First of all, no, I don't. I think it's the right thing to do. We have an obligation to our seniors.
Secondly, we've proposed a plan that reduces the deficit in half by five years -- within five years. No, I actually believe we're doing the right thing.
QUESTION: After the discovery of traces of weapons grade...
BUSH: Say what now?
QUESTION: What did you think of the discovery of weapons grade -- traces of weapons-grade uranium in Iran and will this be on your agenda with President Putin this weekend?
BUSH: It was on my agenda. It will be on my agenda with President Putin this weekend. It was on my agenda with many of the world leaders I met with in New York.
It is very important for the world to come together to make it very clear to Iran that there will be universal condemnation if they continue with a nuclear weapons program.
And I will tell you, the response was very positive. People understand the danger of the Iranians having a nuclear weapons program. But, you bet, I'll talk to President Putin about it this weekend.
QUESTION: Sir, in February of 2001, the secretary of state said sanctions against Iraq have...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: The president of the United States meeting with Congressional leaders there at the White House today talking about the Medicare bill.
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 September 25, 2003 - 15:28 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush at the White House meeting with congressional leaders on his Medicare bill.
Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... discussion about the need to work together to get a Medicare bill that modernizes the system, and fulfills the promises to America's seniors, that uses the latest technology to improve the health care for our elderly.
And my judgment, the sentiment was optimistic. I believe people know it's possible to get it done.
And there's a lot of work to get done. But fortunately, we're surrounded here by conferees that are plenty capable, plenty smart and care deeply about the future of the country. And so, I want to thank them for coming on.
Thank you for your commitment to our seniors. And I look forward to working with you to get a good bill out of the -- out of both bodies and to my desk and before you go home this fall.
I'd like to take a couple of questions.
QUESTION: Mr. President, with huge federal budget deficits, do you have any qualms about spending $400 billion on Medicare prescription drugs?
BUSH: First of all, no, I don't. I think it's the right thing to do. We have an obligation to our seniors.
Secondly, we've proposed a plan that reduces the deficit in half by five years -- within five years. No, I actually believe we're doing the right thing.
QUESTION: After the discovery of traces of weapons grade...
BUSH: Say what now?
QUESTION: What did you think of the discovery of weapons grade -- traces of weapons-grade uranium in Iran and will this be on your agenda with President Putin this weekend?
BUSH: It was on my agenda. It will be on my agenda with President Putin this weekend. It was on my agenda with many of the world leaders I met with in New York.
It is very important for the world to come together to make it very clear to Iran that there will be universal condemnation if they continue with a nuclear weapons program.
And I will tell you, the response was very positive. People understand the danger of the Iranians having a nuclear weapons program. But, you bet, I'll talk to President Putin about it this weekend.
QUESTION: Sir, in February of 2001, the secretary of state said sanctions against Iraq have...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: The president of the United States meeting with Congressional leaders there at the White House today talking about the Medicare bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
