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American Morning

Target: Terrorism - President Bush's Agenda

Aired October 04, 2001 - 09:17   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: As we have reported, CNN has learned President Bush today is expected to announce a $320 million humanitarian I aid package for the people of Afghanistan. We just heard the streets are calm there, but there is grave concern in Afghanistan about some sort of impending attack.

For more on Mr. Bush's agenda today, we are joined by CNN's Senior White House Correspondent, John King in Washington. John?

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Miles. That aid package just one of a number of developments here in Washington this morning as the president and the Congress respond to events of September 11th on several fronts. A sense of urgency and some sense of progress on key issues like an economic stimulus package, and like a package of new anti-terrorism steps -- the Justice Department has requested, Some stalling -- even partisan debating over another key item being debated here in Washington -- new airline and airport security measures.

Let us begin this hour with the economy. The Bush administration and the Congress in a general consensus that a new economic stimulus package should be in the range of 65 to 70 billion dollars -- the details still to be debated. But the Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill saying earlier today on CNN, "this package is critical". Note the treasury secretary did not use the word "recession" but he made clear an economy that was already slowing before these terrorist strikes is in much deeper trouble now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL O'NEILL, TREASURY SECRETARY: Before September 11, our economy was continuing to grow -- albeit at a very low rate -- but we were on the path to something like the growth rates we have had in the last few years. And there is no doubt when you shut down the U.S. airways for five days, and hotels don't have any business, and restaurants don't have any business, there is almost no way that an economy like ours can escape negative growth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

King: Most believe it will take perhaps as long as two weeks to agree -- the administration and Congress -- agree on the particulars of an economic stimulus plan, so the president also planning to take some emergency steps in the short term. For more let's bring in Kelly Wallace over at the White House.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And John, for more sign of just the impact the September 11th attacks were having on the economy, we learned earlier today that new claims for unemployment benefits last week, jumped to the highest level in nine years. And so President Bush, today for the first time, is going to unveil his proposals to help the tens of thousands of workers forced out of their jobs because of the attacks.

CNN has learned the president will propose extending the 26-week period for unemployment benefits by additional an 13 weeks. John, he's also expected to propose block grants to go to states to help provide health care coverage and the costs for retraining -- again to help workers out of a job. Likely to be, obviously, some debate here with Democrats. As you know, John -- Democrats pushing for a 26 week extension for unemployment benefits and are likely to have federal government play a larger role in health care coverage and job retraining. John?

KING: And Kelly, as Miles noted at beginning of the segment, the president also dramatically increasing the amount of money the administration says it will commit to the Afghan humanitarian crisis.

WALLACE: Absolutely, $320 million the president will announce. This is including 25 million, which White House announced last week. John, this is a sign -- the administration continuing to make the case that this is a campaign against terrorists and those who harbor them and not against the people of Afghanistan. The administration, though, very concerned about what could be a humanitarian crisis as tens of thousands of people flee Afghanistan and head into neighboring Pakistan. But, it is interesting, John, the White House is definitely pointing the finger at the Afghanistan-ruling Taliban regime, blaming the regime's -- quote -- "repressive policies and its harassment of aid workers as contributing to this crisis." John?

KING: Kelly Wallace at the White House, thank you.

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