Bush to gather advisers in Texas to focus on economy

[private_ryan]

CRAWFORD, Texas (CNN) -- The president will gather top advisers at his ranch Wednesday to highlight an issue Democrats think is his Achilles' heel: the sagging economy.

Three members of President Bush's Cabinet and a host of other top officials charged with economic policy will participate in a morning meeting and a working lunch to look at the state of the economy, the effect of the president's tax cuts and other means of stimulus beyond those cuts.

While a senior administration official said no new policy proposals will be introduced, participants will spotlight Bush's push for energy reform, legal reform and expanding trade initiatives.

A poll from the Pew Research Center released late last week showed nearly six in 10 Americans, 57 percent, say the economy -- not terrorism -- is the most important presidential priority, up from 39 percent this time last year.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/13/bush.economy/index.html