Bush reviews policy agenda with Congress leaders

CRAWFORD, TEXAS - Seeking to portray the U.S. presidential election as a done deal, Republican George W. Bush invited his party's leaders in Congress to his central Texas ranch today to review his domestic policy agenda.

Bush welcomed Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi and House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois to "Prairie Chapel," his 1,600-acre (648-hectare) property near the tiny town of Crawford and allowed cameras and reporters to record their arrival.

Opening the meeting, which was held in front of a roaring fire in the living room of Bush's modest ranch house, the Texas governor said he wanted to focus on his $1.3 trillion tax cut plan "particularly given the fact that there's some warning signs on the horizon about our economy."

"There are some indications of a potential slowdown," he said, citing the automobile industry and high energy prices.

"I look forward to this discussion. It's going to be the beginning of a lot of discussions about doing what is right for the country," he added.

Bush appeared relaxed and jovial as he promised to cook his guests "a good hamburger" and quipped that his vice presidential running mate Dick Cheney, who suffered a very mild heart attack last month, had been "doing jumping jacks all morning." As if to underscore Bush's remark, Cheney bounced several times on his toes.

During his 18-month bid for the White House the Texas governor ran as a Washington outsider, distancing himself from the battles in the Republican-led Congress and relentlessly criticizing the combative, divisive tone of politics in the nation's capital.

The Texas meeting was held while the dispute over the November 7 election continued in Tallahassee, Florida, where attorneys for Bush and Democrat Al Gore faced off over 14,000 disputed ballots that could hold the key to a final decision.

While Bush kept the Republican leadership at a respectful arms length during the campaign, he will need them to push through his domestic initiatives if he survives Gore's court challenges to become the next U.S. president.

"I'm soon to be the insider," Bush told reporters with a chuckle. "I'm soon to be the president."

Recognizing he will need support from both parties in Congress to pass legislation, Bush also said he looked forward to working with Democrats, particularly in the Senate, which will be split evenly for the first time since 1881 when the parties were tied 37-37 with two independents.

He said he telephoned Democratic Sen. John Breaux on Friday and praised the Louisiana moderate as a "forward thinking senator" who had tried to bring lawmakers together on a number of issues.

During the campaign Bush often lauded Breaux for his bipartisan work on Medicare reforms, and Breaux's name has been floated for a possible Cabinet post in a Bush White House.

Bush, Hastert, Lott and Cheney discussed plans to reform the Social Security retirement system and overhaul the Medicare health insurance program for the elderly, as well as Bush's signature issue of education reform.

"It's time to start to get things done. You just don't do them on the turn of a nickel," Hastert said.

Lott said he had spoken to Cheney about the "delicate situation" in the Senate, where Republicans would keep control with Cheney's tiebreaking vote if he becomes vice president.

When Cheney asked him how Republicans were going to deal with the split, Lott said he replied "very gingerly and with your vote."

Twice this week, Bush has used the visits of high-profile Republicans to reinforce the impression among Americans that he won the November 7 election and is moving ahead on a transition, preparing to take the reins of government on January 20.

On Thursday he talked foreign policy and national security for five hours with retired General Colin Powell, bolstering the possibility that Powell would become secretary of state for Bush if he emerges as president-elect from the blizzard of legal challenges to the vote in Florida.

Bush was certified the winner of the state's 25 Electoral College votes - and thus the 270 necessary to win the presidency -- but the matter is tied up in Florida's courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

While he already has declared victory and named Cheney to head his transition, Bush so far has not named any potential Cabinet nominees and was not expected to as the Florida court battle rages on.

Bush defended his decision to go ahead with planning for a transition and an administration.

"Dick and I felt like we won the election three times," Bush said. "We're confident when all is said and done we will be honoured to president and vice president and that's why we're having these meetings."

- REUTERS

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