Bush's business support wavering

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/19/BUGMDD9B511.DTL

President Bush, working to gain support for his ambitious domestic agenda, is encountering increasing resistance from an unlikely place: American business, a usually reliable ally.

Many of these pro-Republican interests see little potential benefit for them in helping Bush win his two fights with the highest stakes: shoring up Social Security and reshaping the tax code.

Business interests still enthusiastically support a number of items on Bush's wish list, including a new energy policy, expanded trade and legal reforms meant to curb costly lawsuits and court settlements.

But "there is a much tougher row to hoe to keep the business community specifically supportive and united on the tax bill, on Social Security and other parts of the agenda," said Jade West, top lobbyist for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.