For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 31, 2006
President Meets with South Florida Entrepreneurs in Miami
Versailles Restaurant and Bakery
Miami, Florida
8:47 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: It's an honor to be here at one of Miami's most
famous restaurants. Brother Jeb suggested we come here and have some
coffee with some of South Florida's leading entrepreneurs. We've got
people who have started their own business, people who are carrying on
family traditions -- all of whom share with me their optimism, but also
share with me some of the problems they face.
One of the key problems that many of the businesses face here is
labor. The unemployment rate is unbelievably low right now, and
therefore businesses who are planning for the future are wondering
whether or not they're going to be able to find people to help their
businesses expand. I assured them that the administration is still
working toward a comprehensive immigration policy that will be rational,
that will be able to, one, enforce rule of law, and on the other hand,
be compassionate about how this country treats people.
I assured them, as well, that we will continue to work to keep
taxes low. It's very interesting, you know, when an entrepreneur gets
their business started they want to keep more of their own money so they
can expand. And one way to do that is to make sure that taxes stay low,
and that's what we will do.
We talked about health care, we talked about energy, we talked
about Cuba. So I want to thank you all very much for being here.
Thanks for giving me a chance to come.
And, by the way, we also talked about the situation in the Middle East,
and I assured the people here that we will work toward a plan in the
United Nations Security Council that addresses the root causes of the
problem, so that whatever comes out of the Security Council will be able
to last and that the people in both Lebanon and Israel will be able to
grow -- be able to remain in peace. That's what we want. We want there
to be a long-lasting peace, one that's sustainable. And I'll speak to
Condi Rice when she gets back tonight, and talk about what she saw and
what she heard in the Middle East. And, of course, there will be a way
forward in the Security Council later on this week.
Thank you.
END 8:50 A.M. EDT
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