http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/thepreside_2272.mp3
President Bush spoke about jobs and the economy in Springfield today, the same day he issued his annual economic report to lawmakers. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE CAME TO AN AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING PLANT TO LISTEN TO MR. BUSH AND FIVE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS AND WORKERS TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PRESIDENT'S TAX CUTS. DURING THE DISCUSSION, THE PRESIDENT REPEATEDLY URGED CONGRESS TO BOOST THE ECONOMY BY MAKING THE TAX CUTS PERMANENT. "Money available in the private sector and particularly in the small business coffers is money that's going to be put to good use. Money that's going to make it easier for somebody to find a job. And I'm telling you Congress should not be raise the taxes on the people that are creating jobs." DEMOCRATS HAVE CRITICIZED THE PRESIDENT'S TAX CUT PLAN...THEY SAY IT BENEFITS THE WEALTHY. MISSOURI'S DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR RESPONDED TO THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT BY CRITICIZING MR. BUSH'S RECOMMENDATION TO CUT OVERTIME PAY FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. MISSOURI'S DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BOB HOLDEN RESPONDED TO THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT BY CRITICIZING MR. BUSH'S RECOMMENDATION TO CUT OVERTIME PAY FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. THE WHITE HOUSE HAD DESCRIBED THE PRESIDENT'S APPEARANCE IN SPRINGFIELD AS A "CONVERSATION ON THE ECONOMY." BUT THE PANELISTS ONLY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TALK ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS EXPERIENCES. AFTER EACH PERSON SPOKE, THE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT HOW HIS TAX CUT PACKAGE HAD BENEFITED THAT PERSON...MR. BUSH HAD THIS TO SAY AFTER SPRINGFIELD BUSINESSMAN MIKE STADLER OF CUSTOM MANUFACTURING AND POLISHING SPOKE ABOUT HOW HE TOOK ADVATANGE OF THE TAX CUTS. BUT IF YOU ASK DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BOB HOLDEN, HE SAYS THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THE PRESIDENT'S TAX CUTS HAS BEEN NEGATIVE...HE SAYS THOUGH INDIVIDUAL MISSOURIANS MAY HAVE BENEFITED, THAT BENEFIT HAS COME AT A COST. THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO MISSOURI COMES LESS THAN ONE WEEK AFTER THE STATE'S DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY. MANY SEE MISSOURI AS A SWING STATE SINCE MR. BUSH *NARROWLY* WON HERE IN THE 2000 ELECTION. I'M MISSY SHELTON FOR KSMU NEWS.