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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Governors Bob Taft, Jim Douglas

Aired February 22, 2004 - 09:07   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The issue of jobs is usually a part of every presidential election. This year is no different. The electoral battleground state of Ohio has a labor force of almost six million, and about six percent of them are unemployed, according to recent reports. About four percent of Vermont's labor force is unemployed. And nationwide, almost six percent of the labor force is now without a job.
Meanwhile, the number of job losses are also high. More than 150,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Ohio since January 2001. Vermont has lost more than 8,000 jobs as well.

Of course, jobs and the economy are important matters to the individual states. And here to talk about those issues are two Republican governors of states with upcoming Democratic primaries.

Bob Taft is the governor of Ohio.

Good morning to you, Mr. Governor.

GOV. BOB TAFT (R), OHIO: Good morning, Heidi.

COLLINS: And Governor Jim Douglas is from Vermont.

Good morning to you, sir, as well.

They are both joining us live from Washington, where they're attending the National Governors Association meeting.

Let me just begin with you, if I could, Governor Taft. Your state will be a battleground in the general election. How are you going to convince voters, especially after some of the numbers that we've just given on job losses here, to keep President Bush in office?

TAFT: Well, President Bush inherited a recession. We've had two wars, we've had 9/11, the corporate accounting scandals. But notwithstanding that, the president has a clear plan that is beginning to turn the Ohio economy around and the national economy around.

Consumer confidence is up. The stock market is up. Interest rates are down and low. Inflation is low. And jobs are starting to come back across the country -- 365,000 New jobs in the last five months across the nation.

So we expect that Ohio has -- although we've gone through a tough transition from a manufacturing-based economy -- manufacturing is still strong, but we expect that our employers are going to grow New jobs with the impact of the president's tax cuts, especially on our working-class families, the marriage penalty reduction, the child care credit, the help for small businesses that are going to create a lot of the New jobs in the state of Ohio. So we're very hopeful that we're going to see a significant rebound in the number of jobs in the state of Ohio in the coming year because of the president's leadership on the economy and because of the tax cuts that he has proposed.

COLLINS: All right.

Governor Douglas, let me ask you as well. What is the outlook for jobs in your state of Vermont?

GOV. JIM DOUGLAS (R), VERMONT: Well, there's no question there's been a loss of manufacturing jobs because of global and economic forces. So we're positioning ourselves to compete in other sectors of the economy.

Our high-tech sector is growing; financial services, health care, higher education. We need the resources necessary to train the workforce for the 21st century economy. And if we do, if we combat the competitive disadvantages that we're facing, we can, I think, be successful in creating jobs.

COLLINS: There may be quite a few people out there, Governor Douglas, who don't realize that you've played quite a role as state treasurer in balancing Vermont's government. Howard Dean, of course, has taken credit for some of that. But there are many states out there that are having a great deal of troubled balancing their budgets. How has President Bush helped the states through this particular crisis, if you will?

DOUGLAS: Well, of course, states have to assume responsibility for themselves. And as you've indicated, we've done quite well in Vermont in recent years. We understand the need for sustainable spending tracks.

I've made a commitment that state spending in Vermont won't grow any more than the rate of inflation plus population growth. And if states exercise restraint, are fiscally responsible, if they ratchet down their long-term debt, establish priorities, tighten their belts, I think states can be successful.

COLLINS: Governor Taft, what is it that the issues -- the main issues that will be for Ohio voters? I mean, of course there's jobs, the economy, Medicaid. What is it that the people of your state are really going to be focusing on, do you think?

TAFT: Well, I think, number one, we want a president who's going to be strong in the war against terrorism, like President Bush has. You know, one of those planes on 9/11 actually crossed into Ohio airspace. So we're concerned about that, and we think the president has provided strong leadership, taking that battle overseas and making America safe.

COLLINS: Sir, is that what your constituents say to you? They say their number one concern is keeping America safe?

TAFT: No, but I think the economy is the number one concern. But I think everybody wants a president who, first and foremost, is going to be focused on the security and the safety of the American people. And that's where President Bush has provided very strong leadership.

Second, the economy is the number one issue on people's minds today. But President Bush has been to our state four out of the last five times focusing on the economy. He announced his manufacturing initiative; Secretary Evans was there. He's focused on a level playing field in the international arena with China and other countries. And he's helping small business -- through the tax cuts, create New jobs.

So I believe the president's plan is going to be working in Ohio, that we're turning the corner on job growth in our state. And the president's tax cuts have played a major role.

COLLINS: Governor Douglas, do you think we're turning the corner as far as your state is concerned?

DOUGLAS: Well, as you noted in your introduction, we've had traditionally a lower unemployment rate than most of the rest of the country. The manufacturing job losses have been troubling, especially to the families who have been involved. But if states position themselves well to compete in the New economy, provide the resources and skills necessary for employees to be competitive, I think we're going to see real economic success in the year ahead.

COLLINS: Let me ask you both before we let you go quickly, if you would tell me, Governor Taft, what is it that you hope to accomplish in Washington this weekend?

TAFT: Well, we certainly want to have a dialogue with our federal officials around the economy, around health care, around the Medicaid budget. Certainly we're advocating for strong federal highway funding for our state, to get back more of our federal gas tax dollars so we can repair all our roads and bridges and also grow our economy at the same time.

COLLINS: All right.

And Governor Douglas, the same to you.

DOUGLAS: Well, Governor Kempthorne of Idaho, our chairman of the National Governors Association, is doing a great job bringing all of the nation's governors together to work as partners with the federal government. There's no question that both the national government and our states are facing fiscal stress. But if we work together, if we get flexibility from the federal government and the use of federal funds, I think we can work together as partners and do the best for our people.

COLLINS: To the both of you governors, we appreciate your time this morning. TAFT: Thank you.

COLLINS: Governor Bob Taft coming to us from Ohio, and Governor Jim Douglas, of course from Vermont. Once again, thank you.

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 February 22, 2004 - 09:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The issue of jobs is usually a part of every presidential election. This year is no different. The electoral battleground state of Ohio has a labor force of almost six million, and about six percent of them are unemployed, according to recent reports. About four percent of Vermont's labor force is unemployed. And nationwide, almost six percent of the labor force is now without a job.
Meanwhile, the number of job losses are also high. More than 150,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Ohio since January 2001. Vermont has lost more than 8,000 jobs as well.

Of course, jobs and the economy are important matters to the individual states. And here to talk about those issues are two Republican governors of states with upcoming Democratic primaries.

Bob Taft is the governor of Ohio.

Good morning to you, Mr. Governor.

GOV. BOB TAFT (R), OHIO: Good morning, Heidi.

COLLINS: And Governor Jim Douglas is from Vermont.

Good morning to you, sir, as well.

They are both joining us live from Washington, where they're attending the National Governors Association meeting.

Let me just begin with you, if I could, Governor Taft. Your state will be a battleground in the general election. How are you going to convince voters, especially after some of the numbers that we've just given on job losses here, to keep President Bush in office?

TAFT: Well, President Bush inherited a recession. We've had two wars, we've had 9/11, the corporate accounting scandals. But notwithstanding that, the president has a clear plan that is beginning to turn the Ohio economy around and the national economy around.

Consumer confidence is up. The stock market is up. Interest rates are down and low. Inflation is low. And jobs are starting to come back across the country -- 365,000 New jobs in the last five months across the nation.

So we expect that Ohio has -- although we've gone through a tough transition from a manufacturing-based economy -- manufacturing is still strong, but we expect that our employers are going to grow New jobs with the impact of the president's tax cuts, especially on our working-class families, the marriage penalty reduction, the child care credit, the help for small businesses that are going to create a lot of the New jobs in the state of Ohio. So we're very hopeful that we're going to see a significant rebound in the number of jobs in the state of Ohio in the coming year because of the president's leadership on the economy and because of the tax cuts that he has proposed.

COLLINS: All right.

Governor Douglas, let me ask you as well. What is the outlook for jobs in your state of Vermont?

GOV. JIM DOUGLAS (R), VERMONT: Well, there's no question there's been a loss of manufacturing jobs because of global and economic forces. So we're positioning ourselves to compete in other sectors of the economy.

Our high-tech sector is growing; financial services, health care, higher education. We need the resources necessary to train the workforce for the 21st century economy. And if we do, if we combat the competitive disadvantages that we're facing, we can, I think, be successful in creating jobs.

COLLINS: There may be quite a few people out there, Governor Douglas, who don't realize that you've played quite a role as state treasurer in balancing Vermont's government. Howard Dean, of course, has taken credit for some of that. But there are many states out there that are having a great deal of troubled balancing their budgets. How has President Bush helped the states through this particular crisis, if you will?

DOUGLAS: Well, of course, states have to assume responsibility for themselves. And as you've indicated, we've done quite well in Vermont in recent years. We understand the need for sustainable spending tracks.

I've made a commitment that state spending in Vermont won't grow any more than the rate of inflation plus population growth. And if states exercise restraint, are fiscally responsible, if they ratchet down their long-term debt, establish priorities, tighten their belts, I think states can be successful.

COLLINS: Governor Taft, what is it that the issues -- the main issues that will be for Ohio voters? I mean, of course there's jobs, the economy, Medicaid. What is it that the people of your state are really going to be focusing on, do you think?

TAFT: Well, I think, number one, we want a president who's going to be strong in the war against terrorism, like President Bush has. You know, one of those planes on 9/11 actually crossed into Ohio airspace. So we're concerned about that, and we think the president has provided strong leadership, taking that battle overseas and making America safe.

COLLINS: Sir, is that what your constituents say to you? They say their number one concern is keeping America safe?

TAFT: No, but I think the economy is the number one concern. But I think everybody wants a president who, first and foremost, is going to be focused on the security and the safety of the American people. And that's where President Bush has provided very strong leadership.

Second, the economy is the number one issue on people's minds today. But President Bush has been to our state four out of the last five times focusing on the economy. He announced his manufacturing initiative; Secretary Evans was there. He's focused on a level playing field in the international arena with China and other countries. And he's helping small business -- through the tax cuts, create New jobs.

So I believe the president's plan is going to be working in Ohio, that we're turning the corner on job growth in our state. And the president's tax cuts have played a major role.

COLLINS: Governor Douglas, do you think we're turning the corner as far as your state is concerned?

DOUGLAS: Well, as you noted in your introduction, we've had traditionally a lower unemployment rate than most of the rest of the country. The manufacturing job losses have been troubling, especially to the families who have been involved. But if states position themselves well to compete in the New economy, provide the resources and skills necessary for employees to be competitive, I think we're going to see real economic success in the year ahead.

COLLINS: Let me ask you both before we let you go quickly, if you would tell me, Governor Taft, what is it that you hope to accomplish in Washington this weekend?

TAFT: Well, we certainly want to have a dialogue with our federal officials around the economy, around health care, around the Medicaid budget. Certainly we're advocating for strong federal highway funding for our state, to get back more of our federal gas tax dollars so we can repair all our roads and bridges and also grow our economy at the same time.

COLLINS: All right.

And Governor Douglas, the same to you.

DOUGLAS: Well, Governor Kempthorne of Idaho, our chairman of the National Governors Association, is doing a great job bringing all of the nation's governors together to work as partners with the federal government. There's no question that both the national government and our states are facing fiscal stress. But if we work together, if we get flexibility from the federal government and the use of federal funds, I think we can work together as partners and do the best for our people.

COLLINS: To the both of you governors, we appreciate your time this morning. TAFT: Thank you.

COLLINS: Governor Bob Taft coming to us from Ohio, and Governor Jim Douglas, of course from Vermont. Once again, thank you.

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