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CNN Saturday Morning News

Bush Expected to Highlight Domestic Agenda This Week

Aired November 24, 2001 - 07:21   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is monitoring international developments in Israel and Afghanistan from the presidential retreat in Camp David this Thanksgiving weekend. And when he returns to Washington, Mr. Bush is expected to put the spotlight on his domestic agenda.

Here's CNN's Kelly Wallace with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush, out of sight since arriving at Camp David Wednesday afternoon, will try to step up the pressure on Congress next week to stimulate the economy. That's welcome news to Republican leaders, who believe the administration needs to spell out what's acceptable and what's not.

SEN. TRENT LOTT (R-MS), MINORITY LEADER: I have encouraged the White House officials this past Friday to get more aggressive in that area. I believe they will.

WALLACE: Congressional Republicans are pressing the president not to give in to Democrats who want more federal spending and fewer tax breaks for businesses. Republicans saying Mr. Bush should start using the clout that comes with an approval rating of 87 percent, according to the most recent Gallup poll.

STUART ROTHENBERG, "ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT": Conservatives are certainly whining about the president's behavior, and I think they're trying to convey to the White House that they think that he should be more aggressive in pursuing a conservative agenda.

WALLACE: Conservatives don't want to see a repeat of the airline security debate. Some believe the president's chief of staff, Andrew Card, undermined House Republicans when he said the president, if necessary, would sign the Senate measure, even though it calls for a complete federal takeover of airport baggage and passenger screeners, which he opposed.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Obviously the chief of staff spoke accurately for the president when he said that. The president just signed it.

WALLACE: That bill, viewed as a victory for Democrats, requires that airport screeners become federal employees for at least three years.

In the weeks ahead, the president will also push Congress on education, his faith-based agenda, and a plan to boost domestic oil production.

(on camera): The delicate balancing act he faces, how much negotiating and how much demanding to do. Mr. Bush knows he needs to keep conservatives happy, but he also knows if he appears too partisan, his sky-high approval ratings stemming from the war against terrorism will begin to fade.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, Hagerstown, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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