CHARLESTON, W.Va. - President Bush said Tuesday that he is outraged that Enron workers did not know the extent of the energy firm's financial problems and disclosed that his mother-in-law had invested in the company. <br>
<br>
"What I'm outraged about is that employees didn't know all the facts about Enron. My own mother-in-law bought stock last summer and it's not worth anything now," Bush said. <br>
<br>
Bush did not say how much stock his mother-in-law, Jenna Welch, purchased, but said "she did not know all the facts" about Enron's financial situation. "A lot of the stockholders didn't know all of the facts. And that's wrong," he said. <br>
<br>
Bush said again he had no intention of releasing details of Enron contacts with White House aides who developed his energy plan, saying if "somebody has an accusation of wrongdoing, let me know." <br>
<br>
Thousands of Enron employees who bought company stock for their retirement accounts saw their savings evaporate as Enron tumbled toward bankruptcy. Shareholders suffered heavy losses as Enron stock, valued at nearly $90 a share in the fall of 2000, fell below $1. <br>
<br>
Bush noted that Congress is investigating the Enron debacle, "but Congress also needs to stay focused on the American people. We're in a war. We've got to make sure our homeland is secure and we've got to make sure that people can find work." <br>
<br>
Bush said that he did not think the emerging Enron investigation will distract from his agenda. "All the facts will come out on Enron," Bush said, noting the administration has launched a criminal investigation and is reviewing pension policies in the wake of the company's bankruptcy. <br>
<br>
"Our administration has done exactly the right thing," he said. "There have been a couple of contacts and my Cabinet said no help here." <br>
<br>
<br>
http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/1/199836
© Copyright 2015 AccessNorthGa.com
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.