For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 28, 2001
Remarks by the President During Tour of Control Concepts
Control Concepts Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Q Chairman Greenspan
this morning said that the slowdown doesn't look like it's run its
course yet, and I'm wondering if you can comment on that.
THE PRESIDENT: All the more reason
to accelerate the tax cut. And I think our nation needs to
be wary of the economic times, and Congress needs to know
that. Congress needs to work with me to accelerate a
meaningful tax reduction package as quickly as possible.
Q With the votes the
way they are in the Senate, sir, can you get your package through in
time and make a difference?
THE PRESIDENT: I am confident we're
going to get a significant tax relief package through. It's
going to have enough umph to it to help the economy. And
that's one reason I'm traveling around the country, to make the case.
Q Does that suggest,
sir --
THE PRESIDENT: -- Roberts, on the
other hand.
Q Does that suggest,
sir, that it may not be the package that you want?
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, we're going to
get the package out.
Q Sir, how do you feel
it went last night, Mr. President?
THE PRESIDENT: You need to ask
other people. I felt -- well, I've passed the initial
review. My wife thought I did all right. That was
--
Q Were you nervous?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I wasn't nervous
at all. I was pleased with the reception and I was excited
to be there. I had something to say, and I was
prepared. I spent enough time on the speech to be
comfortable with what I was going to say.
I was struck by how cozy the confines were in
the hall. I've never really, obviously, been there in that
position. It was actually the first State of the Union type
of speech I'd ever seen. In this case, I actually got to --
I couldn't say I exactly watched it -- participated in it.
Q How hard will be --
THE PRESIDENT: You know, it's never
easy for the President to get exactly what he wants. We're
going to get a -- I believe it's going to be $1.6
trillion. And people begin to realize the logic in the plan,
and that we can meet priorities, including debt repayment, and have a
contingency fund, and that we need to pass a substantial portion of the
money back to the people, in order to help them help themselves, as
well as provide stimulus to make sure our economy grows.
And I'm really looking forward to continuing
to make the case. Last night was the
kickoff. Today, tomorrow, and then the following week, and
we'll take a grand tour of the country together. I'm
speaking to people that are going to make a difference, and those are
the citizens. Those are the people that will actually be
writing their congressmen and senators, encouraging them to hopefully
join with me in passing money back.
Q Mr. President, now
that you've taken off the glasses, sir, would you care to comment on
Mr. Greenspan's testimony this morning?
THE PRESIDENT: Say it
again? What did you say?
Q Mr. Greenspan offered
a sober assessment of the current state of the economy through the
sharp downturn that's been evident in the last few
months. It seems to be far from running its course.
THE PRESIDENT: I am concerned about
the state of the economy. I recognize the economy is slowing
down. And that's all the more reason for Congress to work to
pass money back to the people and form the meaningful tax relief, and
to do it as quickly as possible.
Q And if you put the
vote in the Senate, sir, as they are, do you believe you can get your
tax package through the way you want it?
THE PRESIDENT: I think we will get
the tax package through. I believe a lot of people are going
to take a hard look at reality and look at the facts, and realize we've
got ample money to meet needs and pay down debt, and that we've got to
stimulate the economy through tax relief, as well as give people more
cash so that they can manage their own accounts.
There's a lot of talk in Washington about
national debt, and that's a legitimate discussion. But I
also want people to understand, there's a lot of people who have got
consumer debt. And tax relief will help people manage their
own balance sheets.
See you in Nebraska. By the way, I
made you famous by calling you Stretch.
Q My parents said that
I've been called a lot worse.
THE PRESIDENT: Particularly by
them.
END
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