Bailout bill best chance to ease credit crisis: Bush

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Thursday said the $700 billion financial bailout legislation before the House of Representatives was the best chance for easing the current credit crisis.

The House was expected to vote this week on the bill after rejecting it on Monday. The Senate approved the legislation late on Wednesday after some modifications including a higher limit on federally insured bank deposits.

"The bill that's before the House of Representatives tomorrow is a bill that has got the best chance of providing liquidity, providing credit, providing money so small businesses and medium-sized businesses can function," he said after meeting with business executives.

Bush said he was speaking to people who come from the American "heartland" and that they understand the House needs to pass this legislation.

"This thing, this issue has gone way beyond New York and Wall Street. This is an issue that's affecting hard-working people," Bush said, adding:

"The House of Representatives must listen to these voices."

(Reporting by Tabassum Zakaria and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by James Dalgleish)