President Bush has defended his economic policies amidst the growing allegations from the democrats that his economic policies have benefited the rich more than the middle class. George Bush sought to relax the nation’s fears about globalization, arguing that a free trade agenda benefits U.S. workers and domestic business.
President Bush was speaking to an audience at Caterpillar Inc.’s manufacturing plant in East Peoria. He assured that the economy has been growing along with U.S. exports and lauded his tax and trade policies. He also referred health-care and energy proposals from his State of the Union address and made the case for brokering further free-trade agreements.
The U.S. president is trying to garner public support to advance his free trade initiatives and to mount pressure on Democrats to make his tax cuts permanent. On the other hand, democrats have already indicated that unless their demand for tougher labor and environmental standards from US trading partners are not met, they will not consider renewing his fast track authority to negotiate trade deals.
However, Democrats, who now control of Congress are arguing that Bush’s economic policies are giving not much benefit to the middle class, and they seems to belligerent to not to give without fight. However, these appearances and speeches by the president are setting a stage for a battle between Bush and Congressional Democrats over the economy in general and trade in particular.
