Bush plans to speak about economy in central Illinois

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By Mike Riopell | Saturday, January 27, 2007 1:06 AM CST | () comments

SPRINGFIELD — President Bush is set bring his message about the global economy to central Illinois Tuesday, planning to speak to Caterpillar Inc. employees in East Peoria.

Caterpillar’s world headquarters are based Peoria, and White House spokesman Alex Conant said Bush will use the giant manufacturer of land-movers as a backdrop to preface a major speech on the economy he’ll give Wednesday in New York.

Conant said Caterpillar is a good example of a successful effort to create local jobs while competing in the global marketplace.

“We’re very pleased President Bush has chosen Caterpillar as a company that reflects the strength of the U.S. economy,” said Anne Leanos, a company spokeswoman. She wouldn’t say if work would stop Tuesday for the president’s address.

Initial plans have Bush making just one stop in Illinois on Tuesday. The visit comes as Bush faces criticism from new congressional leadership over the situation in Iraq.

“You can’t settle everything militarily,” said U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-Rock Island. “You can settle things diplomatically. It can be done.”

But U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, a Republican who calls Peoria home, said the trip should be a positive focus on the economy.

“The war’s the topic du jour,” LaHood said. “If the economy was lousy, it’d probably get a lot more attention.”

Bush’s State of the Union address this week caught the attention of some automobile manufacturers when he called for an increase in fuel economy standards for cars and trucks.

Caterpillar CEO Jim Owens joined other corporate executives before the speech in calling for a plan to reduce emissions and therefore address global climate change.

“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions can — and should — provide more economic opportunities than risks for industry and the economy,” Owens said at the time.

Leanos said that position and Bush’s visit shouldn’t necessarily be linked.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or (217) 789-0865.