By Drake Baer

Staff Writer

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Flanked by a pair of bulldozers, President George W. Bush spoke to a hand-picked group of workers, whose diversity showed in the spattering of suits among hard hats and safety glasses. Some stood on top of various pieces of heavy equipment in order to get a better view of the president.

On Tuesday, and on the eve of his State of the Economy address in New York City, President Bush chose to speak to Caterpillar Inc. in East Peoria. He said the company exemplifies the American pioneering spirit, able to expand worldwide while keeping jobs back home.

Bush said he was “impressed by a culture of excellence and accomplishment that is the spirit of Caterpillar.”

Prior to his speech, the president toured the facility and drove a bulldozer. Jim Owens, CEO of Caterpillar, said he commended the president for bringing the country into its greatest period of economic growth since World War II.

“I wanted to get out of Washington and sit down with folks that are the backbone of this country. And I want to come to one of America’s great companies, and that’s Caterpillar,” Bush said.

Bush, standing under a banner that read, “Working for America,” said he was glad to be in America’s heartland at a company that reflects the American enterprising spirit.

The American economy is strong because inflation, interest rates and national unemployment are down, while wages are on the increase, Bush said.

“The question facing the country is, ‘what are we going to do to make sure it’s strong tomorrow?'” Bush said.

The president reiterated a point he made during his Jan. 23 State of the Union address, stating that what America needs is “not more government, but more enterprise.”

“Our job in government is not to get in your way,” Bush said, “Our job in government is to put pro-growth economic policies in place that (allow) companies like Caterpillar that do the right thing to succeed.”

Roy Prokesh, quality inspector at Caterpillar, said that he is pleased with Cat’s initiative in global development.

“Caterpillar takes care of us,” said Prokesh. The tractor business is bound to boom, he added, due to the need of developing nations for building equipment, such as the bulldozers and tractors Caterpillar manufactures.

Bush said promoting free trade agreements is key to generating further revenue in America. The more a country exports, more workers are needed to build products, creating more jobs, he added.

America holds five percent of the world population, and so we ought to market to the other 95 percent of the world, Bush said.

He said that America has pursued bilateral, regional and world trade agreements, adding that he wants to ensure a level playing field.

“On a level playing field, nobody can compete with us,” he added.

“It’s a once in a lifetime experience; it’s not every day that you get to see the president of the United States,” said Ronald Gamble, Caterpillar team member for over ten years.