David Thomas: “It was a remarkable speech because it was interrupted by a number of standing applauses for the statements that the…”

“It was a remarkable speech because it was interrupted by a number of standing applauses for the statements that the President made. One of those that I listened carefully to was one that elicited a significant amount of response. It was when he talked about his economic recovery program. He said, ``I can explain it in one word: jobs.'' When we talk about economic recovery, we have got to talk about the job-creating machines in this country called business. What we have in front of us today, Mr. Speaker, is an economic security and worker assistance act. Because frankly, during this recession, with the complications added by September 11, the fact is that we do not have enough jobs and we have people without jobs. I think one of the things that we have to focus on is the fact that the President indicated, given his program, there will be a year or two in which the budget is not in balance; but in following his program, we will return to surpluses.”