Remarks in West Allis, Wisconsin

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Sept 6, 2004

That means we must have an energy policy in this country. I submitted a plan to the Congress 2 years ago that encouraged conservation, encouraged the development of renewable sources of energy, encouraged clean coal technology, encouraged using our resources at home more wisely. In order to keep jobs in America, we must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy.

We open up our markets from goods and services from overseas. They need to open up their markets. The best trade policy is to create a level playing field, because we can compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere, as long as the rules are fair.

To keep jobs here, we must reduce the regulations on our small businesses. We must get rid of these frivolous and junk lawsuits that are making it hard on employers. We must be wise about how we spend your money, and we must keep your taxes low. We have a difference in this campaign. My opponent already has promised $2 trillion of new spending.

Audience members. Boo-o-o!

The President, Yes. And we've still got the rest of September and October to go. [Laughter] So they said, "How are you going to pay for it? How are you going to pay for all these promises?" He said, "Oh, don't worry, I'll just tax the rich." You've heard that before, haven't you? You know how that works. The rich dodge, and you get stuck with the bill. But we're not going to let him tax you because we're going to win in November.

One of the systems that needs to be changed is our Tax Code. It is a complicated mess. It is full of special interest loopholes. We spend about 6 billion hours to try to fill out forms. In a second term, I will call together Republicans and Democrats to reform and simplify the Federal Tax Code.

Our worker training programs need to be updated and modernized. Listen, there are new jobs being created, but oftentimes, workers don't have the skills to meet those jobs. There's a skills gap. We will close that gap by making sure the worker training programs work, by expanding access to community colleges, by giving our workers a chance to be able to fill the jobs of the 21st century.

In order to make sure that people realize their dreams here in America, we got to make sure our education system works well. Listen, most new jobs are filled by people with at least 2 years of college. Yet, in this country, only one in four students gets there. We can do a better job than that. We'll fund early intervention programs in high schools to make sure children don't get discouraged and fall behind. We'll place a new focus on math and science. We'll require a rigorous exam before graduation. What I'm telling you is, by raising performance in our high schools and by expanding Pell grants for low-and middle-income families, we will help more Americans start their careers with a college diploma.

In a time of change, we must do more to make sure quality health care is available and affordable. More than one-half of the uninsured in America are small-business employees. Many small businesses are having trouble affording health care. In a new term, we must allow small firms to join together to purchase insurance at the discounts big companies get.