WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Michael H. Michaud Thursday called on President Bush’s chief economic advisor to resign over remarks he made earlier this week appearing to support the exportation of U.S. jobs overseas.

Michaud took exception to remarks by Dr. Gregory Mankiw when he introduced the Council of Economic Advisers report on the state of the economy.

Mankiw reportedly said shipping some jobs overseas is good for the U.S. economy over the long run, and that outsourcing health-care jobs could control rising health-care costs.

Michaud urged his colleagues to join him in a letter to Bush demanding Mankiw’s immediate resignation and an apology.

“Tell that to the 750 laid off workers from Lincoln Pulp & Paper and Eastern Fine Paper. Or to the 23,000 Mainers who lost their manufacturing jobs in the last eight years,” Michaud said in a statement, in reference to Mankiw’s words. “These statements underscore the flaws behind the administration’s economic plan – there is a belief that it is helpful and beneficial for jobs to go overseas.

“Having spent 30 years of my life working at a paper mill – one that went bankrupt last year in the face of increased foreign competition – I find the idea of shipping our jobs overseas to be absolutely outrageous,” said Michaud, a Democrat. “Clearly, Mr. Mankiw owes an apology to the millions of American workers waiting on an unemployment line or struggling to pay the bills at the end of the month, and he should resign immediately.”

Maine’s other U.S. representative, Democrat Tom Allen, also expressed concern with Mankiw’s remarks.

“Tom was equally concerned that the administration has this strange concept that sending American jobs overseas is a good thing,” said spokesman Mark Sullivan. “That’s not what people who are losing their jobs want to hear.”

The White House is reportedly standing by the statements issued in the Council of Economic Advisers report. Supporters have said moving low-paying jobs overseas is good for the economy over the long run, is a more efficient allocation of resources and will be matched by the creation of well-paying high-tech jobs in the United States.

– Staff and wire reports