Election 2004

Bush gets tariff complaints as he raises money in steel country

PITTSBURGH - President Bush traveled to this steelmaking city Tuesday to raise money for his re-election campaign, raising $850,000 during the 21/2-hour visit.

But in a bit of awkward timing, the president attended the fundraiser the same week his aides acknowledged they have reconsidered their March 2002 decision to impose tariffs for three years on most steel imported from Europe, Asia and South America. The tariffs, a marked departure from Bush's free-trade principles, were intended largely to help Rust Belt states such as Pennsylvania by insulating U.S. steel manufacturers long enough to help them gain economic stability. Spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush has not made a decision, but would announce one "in due course."

Arriving at the fundraiser, Bush was buttonholed by Thomas Usher, who helped organize the event, but, as chairman and CEO of industry leader U.S. Steel Corp., is a strong advocate of the tariffs.

Usher urged Bush to "keep his commitment to the steel industry" and keep the tariffs in place, John Armstrong of U.S. Steel said.

DES MOINES, Iowa - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards wants to stop the "revolving door" between government and lobbying, including an end to campaign contributions from federally registered lobbyists.

Among other things, Edwards would ban lobbyists from taking senior government jobs with responsibility for the areas in which they advocated, and senior administration officials would have to wait five years before lobbying.

WASHINGTON - The Democratic presidential nominee-to-be who emerges from the primaries will benefit from bundles of checks at least two groups are collecting for the winner weeks before the first votes are even cast.

The Council for a Livable World said it plans to take advantage of the Federal Election Commission's recent decision to let the Democratic women's group WE LEAD accumulate contributions for the presumptive nominee.

The council has started a Web site, www.AnyoneButGeorgeWBush.org to collect money.

The FEC in October approved WE LEAD's plan to gather at least $100,000 for the presumptive Democratic nominee.

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