Bush makes scant mention of energy plan in speech
Date: 31-Jan-02
Country: USA
Author: Chris Baltimore
In his annual address to U.S. lawmakers, Bush made his call midway through his remarks and linked it to a broader theme of job creation to bolster an ailing U.S. economy.
"Good jobs ... depend on reliable and affordable energy," Bush said. "This Congress must act to encourage conservation, promote technology, build infrastructure, and it must act to increase energy production at home so America is less dependent on foreign oil."
The mention of domestic production of crude oil and natural gas was a nod toward Republicans' plan to allow drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - an idea fiercely resisted by most Democrats.
In coming weeks Republicans will try to amend the existing Democratic-sponsored energy bill to allow drilling in the refuge.
The Democratic bill as it stands would protect the refuge from exploration, but the Bush administration insists that the north Alaska region's oil is needed to secure domestic energy supplies.
Bush also used the address to urge the Senate to pass trade promotion authority, linking it to broader job-creation efforts.
"Selling into new markets creates new jobs, so I ask Congress to finally approve Trade Promotion Authority," Bush said in prepared remarks.
Late last year, the House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill giving the president expanded powers to negotiate trade agreements with other countries. The Senate is expected to debate its own version of a bill in coming weeks.
There are differences between Democrats and Republicans over the details. If enacted, the trade bill, also known as "fast-track," likely would expedite negotiations between the United States and Chile on a bilateral free-trade agreement.
