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American Morning

Bush Will Court Labor With Energy Jobs, Discuss Federal Money Going to Gun Safety Accessories

Aired May 14, 2001 - 09:31   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: President Bush's plan for dealing with the nation's energy crunch will be released later this week.

Our senior White House correspondent John King joins us with a preview of what we can expect to hear from the president.

John, good morning.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

In the run-up to you release of the administration's energy plan, there's been a lot of talk about supply and demand, and a lot of talk about those rolling blackouts in California and the prices at the gas pump that Americans are paying this spring.

Today, the focus will be more on jobs, the administration bringing in leaders of some labor unions. These are traditionally Democrat groups. The leader of the Teamsters Union, Jimmy Hoffa, will be here at the White House today, as well as leaders from the Carpenters Union, the Laborers Union, some maritime unions, and some building trades unions. They will meet with Vice President Cheney and the Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, the administration telling them that if the president's plan is approved by the Congress, it will mean jobs for union workers across the United States, jobs exploring for new oil, jobs building new pipelines and new transmission lines, jobs building new power plants and refineries.

This is an attempt by the administration to get some unusual allies, if you will -- some labor unions -- traditionally Democratic groups -- on board behind the president's plan, which is quite controversial. And it's an effort to split the traditionally Democratic coalition. Many environmentalists, even though all of the details aren't out yet, are already out publicly condemning the administration's plan. This is an attempt by this president and this White House to get some Democratic groups behind it -- Daryn.

KAGAN: John, meanwhile, the president hits the road today. He's going to Philadelphia to talk guns.

KING: He is going to talk guns. Remember that during the presidential campaign, there was a great debate between then-Vice President Al Gore and then-Governor Bush over how to deal with gun issues. This president will announce today new federal money to enforce existing gun laws. That, he said, was the best way to reduce the gun violence: have more prosecutors, and have more task forces in at the school level. The president will announce today that his budget includes new federal money for new prosecutors.

He'll also highlight some money in the Justice Department budget that goes to matching funds for kits with child safety locks, trigger locks, and things like that. These are efforts, again, to get local law enforcement to work directly with schools and parents to reduce the gun violence -- Daryn.

KAGAN: John King, at White House. John, thank you.

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