Bush focuses on economy in Florida
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Bush discusses the economy Monday during an appearance at a company in Tampa, Florida.
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TAMPA, Florida (AP) -- President Bush courted voters Monday in the state that decided the 2000 election, arguing his tax cuts are helping the economy and suggesting Democrats would endanger America's fiscal health by raising taxes.
Spending the President's Day holiday in Florida, the second day of his 19th visit to the state as president, Bush said the country is recovering from its economic downturn. He blamed the recession, corporate scandals, and the 2001 terrorist attacks for the problem, but said his policies turned the economy around.
"Those were a lot of obstacles and hurdles for our nation to handle and yet our economy is strong. I will argue vociferously that one of the reasons it is strong is because the Congress wisely heeded my call and let people keep more of their own money," Bush told employees gathered in a warehouse of NuAir Manufacturing, a small but thriving window and door manufacturer.
"The tax relief plan you hear some people maligning around our country helped small business growth."
On the other side of the state the day before, Bush opened the Daytona 500 and watched most of stock car racing's ultimate prize. The appearance included an Air Force One flyover of the track, a partial lap around the oval for Bush's motorcade and nationally televised shots of him happily mingling with fans and drivers. Lee Greenwood's patriotic singing providing a gauzy backdrop. (Bush courts NASCAR fans)
It allowed Bush enormous exposure to the millions of NASCAR fans who have become one of this election year's most prized voter profiles. (CNN.com's interactive Election Calendar)
With more than 8 million Americans out of work, jobs are a sensitive issue for Bush as he seeks re-election in November. While the U.S. economy is on the upswing, job growth has been slow, allowing Democrats to repeatedly highlight the 2.2 million jobs lost during Bush's presidency. (Democrats criticize job losses)
"A look at his record shows that (Bush's) policies have actually exacerbated the effects of the recession for thousands of Floridians all while he and his brother (Florida Gov. Jeb Bush) have insisted on more tax cuts for the wealthy," said David Sirota of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank.
Bush has labored to defend his economic record and show he has a plan to keep things going in the right direction. In the last three weeks, he has devoted four speeches to the economy, in other politically important states such as Pennsylvania and in key primary states like New Hampshire.
The administration also is dispatching Treasury Secretary John Snow, Commerce Secretary Don Evans, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Small Business Administrator Hector Barreto to the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday and Wednesday to promote Bush's economic policies.
Before his remarks at NuAir, Bush walked an assembly line staffed with workers busily wiping windows newly attached to frames. The president, wearing goggles, picked up a tool briefly and then mingled with employees. One, whom he hugged, told him "I love you" in Spanish.
But just after Bush left to take the stage for a "conversation" with NuAir executives, employees and local business leaders, the line was deserted.
The president's chief economic proposal is to ensure the tax cuts passed under his watch do not expire as planned, and that was the focus of his appearance here.
"You hear people in Washington saying, 'Oh, let's not make the tax cuts permanent.' When you hear somebody say that, they're saying, 'We're gonna tax you. We're gonna raise your taxes,"' Bush said. "From an economic perspective, I'm telling you, now is not the time to raise the taxes on the American people."
Bush did not name who might be ready to raise taxes, nor even mention Democrats. But with the election year in full swing, his meaning was clear.
"It's a fundamental debate going on in this country," he said. "It's pretty clear where I stand. I stand with the people in this debate. I want them to have more of their own money."
Copyright 2004 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
