|
|
George Bush Sr. on JobsPresident of the U.S., 1989-1993; Former Republican Rep. (TX) |
BUSH: The thing that saved us in this global economic slowdown has been our exports, and what I'm trying to do is increase our exports. If, indeed, all the jobs were going to move south because of lower wages, there are lower wages now, and they haven't done that. I have just negotiated with the President of Mexico the North American free trade agreement, and the Prime Minister of Canada, I might add. I want to have more of these free trade agreements because export jobs are increasing far faster than any jobs that may have moved overseas. That's a scare tactic, because it's not that many. We want to have more jobs here, and the way to do that is to increase our exports.
PEROT: Step 1: Clean up the small business problem. Second, you've got your big companies that are in trouble, including the defense industries. Have a third task force on new industries of the future.
CLINTON: This country desperately needs a jobs program. And my first priority would be to pass a jobs program, to introduce it on the first day I was inaugurated.
BUSH: Well, we've got a plan announced for what we can do for small business. I've already put forward things that will get this country working fast, some of which have been echoed here tonight: investment tax allowance, capital gains reduction, more on research and development, a tax credit for first-time homebuyers. As Ross said, we've got plans all over Washington. And I have put ours together in something called the Agenda for American Renewal. And it makes sense. It's sensible. It creates jobs. It gets to the base of the kind of jobs we need.
Now, let's do more. My budget again includes tax-free family savings accounts; penalty-free withdrawals from IRA's for first-time home buyers; and to increase jobs and growth, a reduced tax for long-term capital gains.
We've prepared a detailed series of proposals that include: a budget that promotes investment in America's future--in children, education, infrastructure, space, & high technology; and a permanent tax credit to strengthen private R&D and to create jobs.
The budget also includes a plan of action right here at home to put more power and opportunity in the hands of the individual. And that means new incentives to create jobs in our inner cities by encouraging investment through enterprise zones.