WASHINGTON – A politically weakened President Bush implored a skeptical Congress on Tuesday night to embrace his unpopular plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq, saying it represents the best hope in a war America must not lose. “Give it a chance to work,” he said.
Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, the first woman to lead the House, sat over Bush’s shoulder, next to Vice President Dick Cheney. Reaching out to the Democrats, Bush opened with a tribute to Pelosi and paused to shake her hand. He also asked for prayers for Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson, hospitalized for more than a month after suffering a brain hemorrhage, and Republican Georgia Rep. Charlie Norwood, suffering from cancer.
Pelosi set the tone for Democrats. She sat silently and did not applaud as Bush warned of high stakes in Iraq and said American forces must not step back before Baghdad is secure.
With Congress poised to deliver a stinging rebuke on his troop increase, he made a personal plea to lawmakers.
“I have spoken with many of you in person. I respect you and the arguments you made,” Bush said. “We went into this largely united, in our assumptions and in our convictions. And whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure.”
“Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq, and I ask you to give it a chance to work,” Bush said. “And I ask you to support our troops in the field and those on their way.”
“Ladies and gentlemen: On this day, at this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this battle,” the president said. “Let us find our resolve and turn events toward victory.”
On domestic matters, he pressed Congress to help find ways to overhaul entitlements such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid before they impose huge problems for future generations.
“Somehow we have not found it in ourselves to act,” he said. “So let us work together and do it now.”
On immigration, too, the president made a plea to lawmakers that he has made before, seeking comprehensive changes including a guest worker program, that go beyond tougher border controls. Members of his own party were the main obstacle to success in that area – a fact Bush acknowledged even as he pressed for a better result now than Capitol Hill is run by Democrats more amenable to his ideas.
“Convictions run deep in this Capitol when it comes to immigration,” he said. “Let us have a serious, civil and conclusive debate.”
Bush said his energy proposals would cut American imports by the equivalent of 75 percent of the oil coming from the Middle East. His prescription, as always, relied primarily on market incentives and technological advances – not government mandates.
“America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less dependent on oil,” he said. “These technologies will help us become better stewards of the environment – and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change.”
Bush called for changing the tax code to encourage more people not covered by medical insurance to buy a plan, and to discourage others from keeping the most costly health care plans.
Under Bush’s proposal, employer-financed health care benefits would be considered taxable income after a deduction of $15,000 for families and $7,500 for individuals. Those buying their own plan would get the same deductions on their taxes.
The White House said 80 percent of workers with health insurance through their jobs would see a tax cut as a result of the change. But about 20 percent would see a tax increase – those workers whose health insurance cost more than the standard deduction.
“With this reform, more than 100 million men, women and children who are now covered by employer-provided insurance will benefit from lower tax bills,” Bush said. “At the same time, this reform will level the playing field for those who do not get health insurance through their job.”
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