New Orleans — President Bush aired new fears Tuesday about unemployment, which last month hit a six-year high, and touted free trade as a cure. He accused the Democratic-controlled Senate of stalling trade and energy legislation.
"I'm worried about jobs and I believe if you trade more, there are more jobs available for hard-working Americans," Bush said at the Port of New Orleans, the final stop for many export-bound U.S. goods.
"This isn't a Republican issue, this isn't a Democratic issue," Bush said, his voice rising. "Trade is a jobs issue, and the United States Senate needs to hear the voices of the working people and get me a bill I can sign!"
Bush seeks authority to negotiate "fast-track" trade agreements, which Congress could reject but not amend. The Senate is to vote on the issue early this year.
Many Democrats and labor and conservation groups oppose fast-track because they fear it would threaten American jobs and make it easier for polluters to challenge environmental-protection laws.
But Bush said fast-track would allow the United States to send more goods abroad, and insisted the legislation was vital to economic recovery.
Bush's appearance here closed out a two-day trek to Illinois, Missouri and Louisiana to highlight and the route down the Mississippi River that American agricultural products commonly take en route to international markets.
Bush said those who play politics with the issue seek to shut down trade because they lack confidence in American workers and products.
"I'm just the opposite," Bush said. "I know we got the best workers in the world, I know we can make the best products in the world, and therefore we ought to have free and fair trade around the world."
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