AudioPosted on 07/13/2002 9:20:32 AM PDT by Salvation
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 13, 2002
Radio Address by the President to the Nation
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Congress came back to Washington this week and they have a lot of work ahead of them before the August vacation. I urge the Congress to join me in acting to achieve three big goals: We need to win the war, we need to protect our homeland, and we must strengthen our economy.
Winning the war and protecting the homeland require a sustained national commitment. More than 100 days ago, I asked Congress to pass emergency funding to equip our armed forces and strengthen security at our airports. The Department of Defense and the new Transportation Security Administration are still waiting for the money. Without prompt congressional action, our military will need to start cannibalizing spare parts to keep equipment running. The Transportation Security Administration will have to suspend the purchase and installation of up to 1,100 bomb detection systems, and the FAA may have to furlough up to 35,000 air traffic employees.
Congress must fund our troops while they're fighting a war. And Congress must provide funds to continue improving security at our airports. Congress also must pass the Defense appropriations for next year's budget. The House has acted, the Senate must act. Our nation is at war, and our budget priorities and actions need to reflect that reality. Congress should send the Defense bill to my desk by the end of this month.
These bills are critical, yet quick action on them does not and should not preclude simultaneous progress on other legislation. Creating more jobs and strengthening our economy are an urgent part of our agenda.
Congress can act to create jobs by giving me trade promotion authority, which will allow me to open up foreign markets to American goods and create better American jobs. For the sake of long-term growth and job creation, I ask Congress to make last year's tax reductions permanent and I ask Congress to work with me to pass a terrorism insurance bill, to give companies the security they need to expand and create jobs through new building projects.
Perhaps the greatest need for our economy at this moment is restoring confidence in the integrity of the American business leaders. Nearly every week brings news of greater productivity or strong consumer spending, but also a discovery of fraud and scandal, problems long in the making and now coming to light.
This week, I announced new steps my administration is taking to crack down on corporate fraud. I proposed doubling jail time for financial fraud. I am creating a new task force at the Justice Department to aggressively investigate corporate crime. I'm requesting an additional $100 million to give the SEC the manpower and the technology it needs to better enforce the law.
This year, the SEC has acted to bar 71 officers and directors from ever again serving as a director of a public company. All of these measures are in addition to the comprehensive plans I announced and the House passed to protect worker pensions and to make CEOs more accountable.
As part of this crackdown, I support the creation of a strong, independent board that will provide effective oversight of the accounting profession. This board would have the ability to monitor, investigate and enforce high ethical principles by punishing individual offenders. My administration is working with congressional leaders in both parties to pass legislation that will protect workers and shareholders and investors.
I am pleased that the Senate approved several of my new proposals this week. The Senate, the House and my administration will not stop working until a final bill is passed.
Strengthening the economy and protecting the homeland and fighting the war on terror are critical issues that demand prompt attention. I urge the Congress to act on all these issues before they adjourn for their August recess.
Thank you for listening.
END
Your comments welcomed!
By the way, the stock market would be helped if the Senate would pass the Energy Bill, the Terrorism Insurance, Trade Promotional Authority, permanent tax cuts, etc.
I think we need to start blaming the Senate for the stock market.
And telling them so. Good idea!
His staff is not responsive and I am talking to the wall when I call them, but at least they pass on that I called, since from time to time I get a form letter back.
I like to think that I at least use up some of his office expense money and annoy his staff.
You mean the purpose of Congress is not to provide a therapeutic forum in which the clinically self-impressed can preen and bloviate and thus find fleeting relief for their condition? Congress is actually supposed to do constructive things for America?
I dunno. Sounds kinda radical to me. If the President tries to get serious about this, McCain and Daschle and my own unforgettable Senator Fritz "Foghorn Leghorn" Hollings might take him to court under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
My position is that whoever gets the Republican nomination will get my vote, even if they are a RINO, because they will at least vote for Republican for Speaker, and we will continue to have control of the committees.
I myself would write a long letter to the guy getting him to at least consider the funding issue from another perspective.
However, if this guy is running for the state legislature, you would need to look at how the majority will stack up if he loses. If you already have a Republican legislature with a large majority, you might be safe in not voting for him. Do NOT vote for the Rat candidate, however.
Just my thoughts...as I am not sure what state you are in or what the exact situation is.
You really want to drive the dimocrats crazy, don't you.
My opinion?
Down with Dysfunctional Daschle Democrats!
and now - if you dislike the ICC running world courts, you will wonder about this:
Therefore how 'independent' will Bush actually make accounting overview when he says:
Bump!
g
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