    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [October 6, 2008]
    [Pages 1271-1272]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the White House Press Pool in San Antonio, Texas
    October 6, 2008

        It's nice to be here in San Antonio. I've just had a very
    illuminating conversation with small-business owners here. We have a car
    dealer, a automobile repair shop, a restauranteurs--two restauranteurs.
    And it's clear that these small-business owners are dealing with the
    effects of a credit crunch. And by that I mean that they're having
    trouble getting money to be able to continue to either expand their
    business or to be able to--money to help their consumers be able to buy
    their products. And it's--and I told them one of the reasons why, you
    know, I was so strongly for this rescue package was, inherent in the
    strategy of the rescue package is to free up credit, is to get money
    moving.
        And it's going to take a while. I signed the bill on--last week, but
    it's going to take a while to get in place a program that, one, is
    effective; two, that doesn't waste taxpayers' money. We don't want to
    rush into this situation and not have the program be effective. It's
    going to take a while to restore confidence in the financial system. But
    one thing people can be certain of is that the bill I signed is a big
    step toward solving this problem.
        A lot of people here in Texas and around the country are not pleased
    with the Government having to take the steps they took. Their question
    is, ``I pay my bills, I pay my mortgage, why are you helping Wall
    Street?'' And the answer is because had we not done anything, people
    like the folks behind me would be a lot worse off. We will make sure, as
    time goes on, this doesn't happen again. In the meantime, we got to
    solve the problem. And that's why people sent me to Washington, DC. When
    you see a problem, put a team together and solve it.
        And I want to thank you all for your time. I'm glad to be back here
    in Texas. I miss my friends in Texas. I am--you know, people say, ``Are
    you looking forward to coming home?'' Yes, I'm looking forward to living
    here, but in the meantime, it looks

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    like I'm going to have a lot of work to do between today and when the
    new President takes office. But Laura and I are
    glad to be with our friends, and thank you for your time. Thank you all
    very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:44 a.m. at Olmos Pharmacy. In his
    remarks, he referred to Betty Garza, owner, Olmos Pharmacy.