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American Morning

Bush In Ohio To Sign Education Reform Bill

Aired January 08, 2002 - 09:32   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Victory lap for the president this morning. Mr. Bush is evidently so pleased about getting his education bill passed and fulfilling a campaign promise in the process, especially a domestic one, that he has taken the show on the road. He's on a three-state tour that begins in Ohio.

He's already on the ground there, and that is where we find CNN's John King, who is traveling with the president. He joins us now from Hamilton, this morning. Good morning, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, to you, Paula. The president a role model this morning for American schoolchildren. He is early for school here in Hamilton. He will sign the education reform bill here in Ohio.

This is the home district of John Boehner, the chairman of the House Education Committee. Then he will go on to New Hampshire. Senator Judd Gregg, the ranking Republican, that is his state. And then to Massachusetts. The liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, the Education Committee Chairman in the Senate. The president making this trip, one, to focus attention on what is in this bill: record spending for education, new requirements, by year 2005, that all schools test students in grades 3 through 8 for math and reading, other new strict accountability measures as well.

But look for the president over and over again today to talk about the bipartisan spirit that led to this bill. It was months in negotiations last year, the president didn't get everything he wants, but he is very happy with the final outcome, and he hopes in talking about the bipartisan spirit that was used to strike this compromise, to reenergize negotiations with the Congress on other issues, especially the economic stimulus package -- a great deal of partisanship in the last few day over that issue. The economy, the Democrats blame the Bush tax cut for the recession, and the president says, "no, that tax cut was necessary." That it is the war that is complicating things and putting federal government back into deficit spending.

But, the president will celebrate today and hope a little bit of his talk of the bipartisanship he enjoyed with the Congress last year rubs off, as he begins the new year and negotiations yet again, focusing on the economy. Paula.

ZAHN: All right. Thanks so much, John. I know you'll stand by, as we will be to cover the live signing of the education bill at 9:45. We will come back to you, then. CNN, of course, will be taking full ceremony, live.

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