White House adviser says Bush GDP growth goal beyond reach

Reuters
Republican 2016 U.S. presidential candidate and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush heads to the stage for the start of the first official Republican presidential candidates debate of the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign in Cleveland, Ohio, August 6, 2015. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Florida Governor Jeb Bush's goal of 4 percent annual U.S. economic growth is not something "any serious economist" thinks is achievable, a top White House adviser said on Friday. "I haven't seen any serious economist say that that is within the realm of possibility," White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Jason Furman told CNBC. "The debate we should be having is not targets no economist thinks we can hit but are we doing everything we possibly can to strengthen our economy." (Reporting by Timothy Ahmann; Editing by Bill Trott)