Bush, Economic Team Gather at Texas Ranch
By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
CRAWFORD, Texas -- President Bush, upbeat about reports showing steady economic growth, is mapping out a fall agenda that includes reviving the debate over Social Security and pushing to overhaul the nation's tax code.
Bush and his economic advisers have good news to discuss Tuesday at the president's Texas ranch, including last Friday's report that the economy created 207,000 jobs in July -- the best showing in three months. That followed reports that the economy expanded at a solid 3.4 percent rate in the April-June quarter.
Public opinion regarding Bush's handling of the economy is not as positive. An Associated Press-Ipsos poll conducted earlier this month showed his economic approval rating at 41 percent -- his lowest rating yet on that poll.
"More Americans are working today than ever before in our nation's history," the president said. "Workers are ... taking home more of what they earn. Inflation is low. Mortgage rates are low. Home ownership in America is at an all-time high. In other words, this economy is moving."
There is concern, though, that the economic growth could be derailed by rising energy prices. Crude oil prices jumped to a new high Monday, near $64 a barrel, reflecting the market's persistent uneasiness about high demand, tight supplies and threats to production around the world....
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_top14aug09,0,5822687.story