Bush speaks of '08 priorities

WASHINGTON, Conn., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Renewal of the No Child Left Behind act and ensuring Congress doesn't "run up" taxes are on U.S. President George Bush's agenda for next year, he said Thursday.

"There's a lot of things we can do together," Bush said of the Republican White House working with the Democratic Party-controlled Congress.

Reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind program, Bush's signature education policy, for the nation's schools is a key topic.

"If they try to weaken it, I will veto," Bush said during a news conference. "But I believe we can strengthen" the measure.

He also said he wanted to ensure congress didn't "run up taxes on people" to provide government services.

Bush said he wants Congress to take up quickly renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which outlines when the government must get permission from a secret court to eavesdrop. The bill expires Feb. 1.

Bush said wants the renewal to include a liability waiver for telecommunications companies helping the government tap into their customers' conversations, which generated controversy in Congress.