Ever since former President George W. Bush left office in 2008, he’s kept a pretty low profile. But on Tuesday, he made a rare public appearance to talk about taxes — specifically, how his tax cuts for the rich shouldn’t be allowed to expire.

Speaking at the New York Historical Society for the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s conference on “Tax Policies for 4 Percent Growth” — aimed at finding ways to achieve sustainable, annual economic growth of four percent, mainly by focusing on taxes — Bush maintains that keeping taxes low on the wealthiest Americans is the best way to grow the private sector, create jobs and boost the economy.

The tax cuts given to the rich during his administration — widely called the “Bush tax cuts” — were extended in 2010 and are set to expire at the end of 2012. Many economists argue that if they’re allowed to remain in place, they’ll have a negative impact on the economy and cause the national deficit to grow.

In arguing to keep them in place, Bush said, “I wish they weren’t called the ‘Bush tax cuts,’” adding that if they were called something else, perhaps opponents wouldn’t be so eager to jettison them.

Watch some of his remarks below.

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