The Dec. 15-16 forum, to be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, is not designed to be a policy-making project. Instead, it is being sponsored by the White House to promote Bush's economic proposals: overhauling Social Security and the tax code, making recently passed tax cuts permanent, restraining federal spending, helping educate and train workers in a changing economy.

Of roughly half a dozen panels scheduled, Bush was to participate in one each day. The White House said one on will be "The high cost of lawsuit abuse," the other "Financial challenges for today and tomorrow."

Bush also was to speak to the conference Thursday, the final day, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

Vice President Dick Cheney, Cabinet members and outside business leaders also are to participate.

"This is an opportunity to sit down with people from across the business sector and other people to talk about ways that we can continue to strengthen our economy," McClellan said.

The White House did nothing to discourage the notion that only people who support the president's ideas will participate.

"I think that generally speaking there are going to be people there who are supportive of ways we continue to move forward on these policies together to keep the economy growing stronger," McClellan said.

Bush often talks about his desire to limit jury awards in medical malpractice lawsuits as a solution to spiraling health costs. He also wants to talk about frivolous lawsuits with broader changes in civil law involving damage lawsuits, which is very popular with the Republican rank and file.

Other economic proposals include creation of "opportunity zones" to spur investment in poor communities through tax benefits, making permanent the tax ban on Internet access, freer international trade, reducing the regulatory burden on businesses and a comprehensive energy plan.