Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

California Governor Calls for More Federal Help in Energy Crisis

Aired May 29, 2001 - 11:32   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: We're going to go back to California, actually, where President Bush is visiting Camp Pendleton. He will deliver a speech on the state's energy crisis in just about 45 minutes. CNN's senior White House correspondent John King is at Camp Pendleton now and joins us with a bit of a preview.

Hi, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra. Well, the president here at Camp Pendleton to highlight an executive order the administration issued a little ways back. You'll remember the president saying in an effort to help California, he wanted all federal facilities in the state, especially military installations, to cut back on their electricity usage. So, the president highlighting that initiative here today.

He will also announce some modest new help for California in the short-term, $150 million from the low-income heating assistance program. That money will go to low-income Californians this summer. Remember, this summer, they are expecting more rolling blackouts, very high electricity prices, as the state continues to deal with its power crunch. The president promising some federal assistance to help low- income Californians pay those high bills -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: What about Governor Gray Davis, John? What has he said? What exactly does he want?

KING: Well, the governor says this is not enough. The governor and the president will meet tonight, a very high stakes meeting there. These two leaders meeting not only to discuss policy, but obviously, political ramifications as well, given the importance of California in national politics.

Governor Gray Davis says low-income assistance welcome, conservation is welcome, but what he says the state needs is temporary price caps on wholesale electricity costs, what Governor Davis says is that wholesale is from outside of the state of California, and he likes to mention those in Texas, the president's home state.

Governor Davis says they're gouging the state right now, taking advantage its crisis. He says the federal government can do a lot more. But we're told by administration officials the president will make clear once again, this time face-to-face with Governor Davis, that he opposes any price caps -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, John King live at Camp Pendleton.

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