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Latest Headlines
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Apr 29, 2008 11:02:00 AM MST
Bush accuses Congress of foot dragging on economy, energy issues
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WASHINGTON _ President George W. Bush accused the Democratic-led Congress on Tuesday of blocking his proposals to deal with rising fuel prices and of dragging its feet on measures to address the sagging U.S. economy.
The president also said he was "open to any ideas," including a proposal backed by presidential contenders John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton to suspend gasoline and diesel taxes this summer
But Bush quickly said that he favours longer-term fixes, such as encouraging new oil production in the United States, including allowing drilling in Alaskan wildlife preserves, and building new refineries at home.
"If there was a magic wand to wave, I´d be waving it, of course," he told reporters at a Rose Garden news conference called on short notice. "But there is no magic wand to wave right now. It took us a while to get to this fix."
The president´s hour-long question-and-answer session under sunny skies came on the eve of a government report on the state of the economy in the first three months of the year.
"It´s a tough time for our economy," Bush said.
Many business analysts believe the economy already has slipped into recession, but the president _ as in the past _ declined to use that term.
"You know, the words on how to define the economy don´t reflect the anxiety the American people feel," the president said. "You know, the average person doesn´t really care what we call it."
Asked if he thought the statistics due out Wednesday on U.S. gross domestic product for January through March would show the country was indeed in a recession, Bush said: "I think they´ll show we´re in a very slow economy."
Two straight quarterly contractions in the GDP _ which measures business growth _ is the common definition of a recession. But the official determination _ made by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research _ takes longer and is based on a more complicated formula.
Bush was asked about a proposal to suspend fuel taxes for the summer travel season, first made by Republican McCain and later endorsed by Democrat Clinton but not by her rival, Barack Obama.
The tax is 18.4 cents a U.S. gallon (3.78 litres) on gasoline and 24.4 cents on diesel fuel. The average price of a U.S. gallon of gas has reached $3.60, or just over 95 cents a litre, in the United States.
"I´m open to any ideas and we´ll analyze anything that comes up," he said. But Bush also said he didn´t want to inject himself into the ongoing presidential race and favoured longer term alternatives.
Bush renewed his objection to calls that the government discontinue keeping up the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve while oil prices are so high.
Bush said it was important to keep filling the reserve, in underground salt domes in Texas and Louisiana, in case there is a terror attack on U.S. oil supplies.
He also once again called for Congress to permit drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a proposal he has made repeatedly since he first took office in 2001, and to pave the way for the building of new refineries.
The president revived an earlier proposal that shuttered military bases be used as sites for new refineries. In the past, oil and energy experts have expressed little interest in that, saying military bases often aren´t situated near oil pipelines.
He sidestepped a question on whether there should be a second stimulus package. Rebates started to go out this week as part of a $168-billion stimulus package enacted in February. The rebates range up $600 for an individual, $1,200 for a couple and an additional $300 for each eligible dependent child.
Bush also called on Congress to act more quickly on legislation he supports to address the housing and credit crunch by making student loans more available and to help homeowners facing foreclosure.
The president´s biggest target was Congress.
"These are difficult times. And the American people know it and they want to know whether or not Congress knows it," Bush said.
Bush raised the anti-Congress theme repeatedly. "I believe that they´re letting the American people down, is what I believe," he said. "It´s either a lack of leadership or a lack of understanding of the issue. And either way, it´s not good for the country."
On other subjects, Bush:
_ Declined to openly criticize former president Jimmy Carter for his meetings last week with representatives of Hamas, the Palestinian group the State Department considers a terrorist organization. "Anybody can talk to whomever they want, but I want people to understand the problem is Hamas," said Bush.
_ Said he remained optimistic despite lack of much visible progress toward an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. "I´m still hopeful we´ll get an agreement by the end of my presidency," said Bush, who is scheduled to visit the Middle East next month.
_ Said a campaign of violence and intimidation being waged by the government of President Robert Mugabe following disputed March 29 elections in Zimbabwe is "simply unacceptable." Bush gently criticized neighbouring African countries, such as South Africa, for not acting enough to resolve the crisis, urging them to "step up and lead."
_ Said he would not accept an Iraqi war spending bill that is more expensive than his $108-billion request. Democrats may try to add extended unemployment benefits and new education funding for veterans, a move that would expand the measure by nearly $13 billion.
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