U.S. President George Bush Wednesday visited Los Angeles to tour the world's biggest manufacturer of civilian helicopters as part of his efforts to push for an economic stimulus package and free-trade agreements pending in Congress.
"There's some uncertainty in the economy, but in the long run you've got to be confident about your economy," Bush told workers and invited guests at Robinson Helicopter Co..
"We've been through problems before. As a matter of fact, we've been through problems since before I was your president," he said." We've had a recession, corporate scandals, an attack on the United States of America. We've had major national disasters, and every time we've come through strong and that's what's going to happen this time too."
Bush toured the facility accompanied by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He congratulated the Robinson family, noting that the company was started in the family kitchen.
Bush was also scheduled to take part in a Republican Party fund-raiser in southern California before leaving for northern California. But while in Los Angeles, he prodded Congress to pass an economic stimulus package that would give tax rebates to most Americans in hopes of increasing consumer spending.
"The whole purpose of the stimulus package is to have something robust enough to make a difference, temporary enough that ... we can balance our budget over time, and simple enough to be effective, " Bush said.
Bush urged Congress in his State of the Union address Monday night to approve trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea -- deals that he said would reduce or eliminate tariffs on American-made goods. He echoed those sentiments while touring the helicopter manufacturer.
Robinson Helicopter, which employs some 1,200 people at its Los Angeles plant, set a record in 2007 by manufacturing the most civilian helicopters ever produced by a single company in a year. The company exports to 55 countries, including Colombia, Panama and South Korea.
Thanks largely to its exports, the company says it had a record year in 2007, with more than 300 million dollars in revenue.
President Bush's visit to Los Angeles came on the same day that Republicans hoping to succeed him gather at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, about 60 kilometers northeast of downtown Los Angeles, for a debate. The Democratic candidates' presidential debate will be held Thursday in Hollywood.
Source: Xinhua
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