Bush talks energy at Southpointe
Jeb Bush, former Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate, shakes hands Tuesday with Rice Energy employee David Argueta before he speaks about his energy plan at the company’s headquarters in Southpointe.
Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush speaks Tuesday about his energy plan at Rice Energy.
Former Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush speaks Tuesday about his energy plan at Rice Energy.
Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush brought a lot of energy to Southpointe – and the foundations of his energy plan.
“We’ve created the possibility of being energy secure with American resources within five years,” he said Tuesday afternoon during a rainy campaign stop at Rice Energy headquarters.
Bush, one of about a dozen GOP White House hopefuls, addressed a crowd of about 400 that included invited supporters, Rice employees and media members. They were shielded from the elements by a massive tent situated between the company’s current headquarters and future headquarters on Woodcliff Drive. The oil and natural gas developer plans to move into the Zenith Ridge III building, still under construction, in February.
Bush is pushing his energy initiatives as a key element of his goal to create 4 percent growth in the U.S. economy, as opposed to what he called “the new normal” target of 2 percent growth some political leaders espouse.
During his 38 minutes with a mic, Bush said, en route to achieving that 4 percent objective, the nation should lift its longtime ban on crude oil exports, “fix” restrictions on natural gas exports, “create the infrastructure to get gas to market” and “remake its tax code.” He would like to reduce taxes by more than $3 trillion over the next 10 years.
More jobs and more disposable income would be two byproducts, he explained.
“Why not aspire to 4 percent growth?” asked Bush, former governor of Florida and brother and son of two ex-presidents – George W. and George H.W. “Four percent growth means more people have jobs. Four percent growth means we’re strong and optimistic. Four percent growth means we lead the world.”
Bush scoffed at the continued existence of the crude oil ban enacted in the mid-1970s. He said that would reduce energy costs and enhance manufacturing and the economy.
“We should lead the world as a 21st century manufacturing center.”
He wants to increase natural gas exports, especially to European nations, many of which get gas from Russia. “Why not send our natural gas,” he said. “Ours is cleaner, and it’s productive to help our NATO allies.
“The gas is under where we are, and it’s ready to be exported. We do not have a gas problem, do we? We have a demand problem thanks to President Obama.”
Bush is a supporter of the Keystone XL Pipeline expansion, a longtime thorny issue. “It makes sense and creates jobs.”
Enhancing the workforce is one of his objectives, and Bush said if his plans are implemented, “I believe we can create a million more jobs. I believe we can outcompete every nation in the world, including China.”
Some may consider his 4 percent plan for economic growth to be a little ambitious, but Bush said it is viable.
“It has happened in the past. We have the highest tax rates in the world. We’re losing economic vitality. If we’re fixing our tax code, our regulatory system, our broken immigration system, we can grow economically faster than you think.”
Bush, simply, would like America to be what he believes it hasn’t been but should be.
“We’re the greatest country in the world,” he said in closing. “If we begin acting like it, we will be.”