Radio Address by the President to the Nation, 06-16-07

WhiteHouse.gov ^ | 06-16-07 | George W. Bush

[Salvation]

For Immediate Release
June 16, 2007

President's Radio Address

  President's Radio Address
  Audio
  En Español

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, Congress began to debate its annual spending bills. The American people expect us to spend their tax dollars wisely, or not at all, and to pursue pro-growth economic policies that will allow us to reduce the deficit while keeping our economy strong.

Since my Administration's tax relief was implemented four years ago, our economy has added more than eight million new jobs, and we've experienced 45 months of uninterrupted job growth. With more Americans working and more businesses thriving, our economy has produced record tax revenues. The Treasury Department recently reported that this year's Federal revenues are up eight percent over last year. As a result, our Nation's budget deficit is about one-third lower than it was at this time last year.

In addition to pursuing pro-growth tax relief, my Administration is working to reduce the Federal deficit through strict fiscal discipline. Over the past three years, we have met the urgent needs of our Nation while holding the growth of annual domestic spending close to one percent -- well below the rate of inflation. I've also proposed policies that would slow the unsustainable growth of our most serious long-term fiscal challenge: entitlement spending. By keeping taxes low and restraining Federal spending, we can meet my plan to have a balanced budget by 2012.

The Democrats in Congress are trying to take us in a different direction. They've passed a budget that would mean higher taxes for American families and job creators, ignore the need for entitlement reform, and pile on hundreds of billions of dollars in new government spending over the next five years. This tax-and-spend approach puts our economic growth and deficit reduction at risk.

For months, I've warned the Democrats in Congress that I will not accept an irresponsible tax-and-spend budget. I put Democratic leaders on notice that I will veto bills with excessive levels of spending. And I am not alone in my opposition. In the House, 147 Republicans have pledged to support fiscal discipline by opposing excessive spending. These 147 members are more than one-third needed to sustain my veto of any bills that spend too much.

Another key area of difference between my Administration and the Democratic leadership in Congress is my support for meaningful earmark reform. Earmarks are spending provisions that are slipped into bills by individual members of Congress, often at the last hour and without discussion or debate. It's not surprising that this leads to unnecessary Federal spending. And the problem is growing. Over the last decade, the number of earmarks has more than tripled.

In January, I proposed reforms that would make the earmark process more transparent, end the practice of concealing earmarks in so-called report language that is never included in legislation, and cut the number and cost of earmarks by at least half. My Administration has also developed the government's first public database of earmarks, and we've posted them on a website: earmarks.omb.gov. On this website, we will also be releasing information on new earmarks, because this Administration wants you to see where your tax dollars are being spent.

After I announced my earmark reforms in January, the House passed a rule that called for full disclosure of earmarks. But in the past few weeks, Democratic House leaders announced that they were abandoning this commitment. Instead of full disclosure, they decided they would not make public any earmarks until after Members had already voted on the spending bills. This change would have allowed a small group of lawmakers and their unelected staff to meet behind closed doors to decide how and where to spend your tax dollars. I'm pleased to report that earlier this week a group of House Republicans stopped this plan and extracted a commitment from House Democrats to list all earmarks in advance and give lawmakers a chance to strike them. The American people need to hold House Democrats accountable for keeping that commitment.

In the weeks ahead, my Administration will continue pushing for earmark reform and holding the line on Federal spending. The American people do not want to return to the days of tax and spend policies. They expect accountability and fiscal discipline in Washington, D.C. And I will use my veto to stop tax increases and runaway spending that threaten the strength of our economy and the prosperity of our people.

Thank you for listening.

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[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

**Since my Administration’s tax relief was implemented four years ago, our economy has added more than eight million new jobs, and we’ve experienced 45 months of uninterrupted job growth. With more Americans working and more businesses thriving, our economy has produced record tax revenues. **

I certainly don’t want new taxes, do you?

[Salvation]

**The Treasury Department recently reported that this year’s Federal revenues are up eight percent over last year. As a result, our Nation’s budget deficit is about one-third lower than it was at this time last year. **

Will ABCNNBCBS let people know this? I doubt it.

[Salvation]

Bush Vows To Veto Big Government Spending

[Lurker]

my Administration is working to reduce the Federal deficit through strict fiscal discipline.

Liar.

Over the last decade, the number of earmarks has more than tripled.

Most of that happened under a Republican House and Senate. Now all of a sudden it bothers you?

And I will use my veto to stop tax increases and runaway spending that threaten the strength of our economy and the prosperity of our people.

How are you going to veto a sunset of tax breaks Mr. President? And btw, you didn't bother to veto a single spending bill in 6 years when Republicans were tossing around taxpayer money like it was confetti.

I'd say they were spending like drunken sailors, but that's an insult to drunken sailors the world over. I've never had a drunken sailor send armed people to my door demanding money in the form of 'taxes'.

Mr. Bush I supported you for 7 long years.

I stood by you when you passed CFR. Oh I didn't like it, but I continued to support you.

I stood by you when you signed that hideous Medicare Drug Plan. Oh I didn't like it, but I continued to support you.

I've been a whole hearted supporter of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But all that is over. Your shameful attempt to grant amnesty to 20 million criminals was the last straw for me. I will not contribute one dime of my money or one minute of my time to the Republican Party until that amnesty bill is dead and buried and you are out of office.

Were it up to me I'd have Articles of Impeachment drawn up because or your abysmal failure to 'take care that the laws are faithfully executed.'

It's obvious that you and the RNC no longer give a sh** about me. Therefore I no longer give a sh** about you.

L

[advance_copy]

Bush warns he'll veto runaway spending

CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush warned Congress on Saturday that he will use his veto power to stop runaway government spending.

"The American people do not want to return to the days of tax-and-spend policies," Bush said in his radio address.

The House passed a $37 billion budget for the Homeland Security Department on Friday, but Republicans rallied enough votes to uphold a promised veto from Bush.

The measure — one of several annual spending bills that Congress began to consider this week — exceeds Bush's request for the department by $2.1 billion.

Democrats on Friday defended the extra money in the homeland security bill, noting it contains money to hire 3,000 additional border agents, improve explosive detection at airports and provides money to double the amount of cargo screened on passenger aircraft.

The administration, hoping to appease Republicans who demand fiscal restraint, has pledged to keep overall spending to the level in Bush's proposed budget in February.

The president has had uneven success.

Most recently, Democrats added $17 billion to an Iraq war funding bill, money not sought by Bush. All told, Democrats plan spending increases for annual agency budgets of about $23 billion above the White House budget request.

House GOP conservatives have pledged to come up with the votes needed to uphold any Bush vetoes.

"I am not alone in my opposition," Bush said, stressing that 147 Republicans in the House have pledged to stand with him. "These 147 members are more than the one-third needed to sustain my veto of any bills that spend too much."

The president, though, has backed away from his veto threat of the politically sensitive bill to fund veterans' programs. It exceeds Bush's request by $4 billion, or 7 percent, but the president acquiesced when GOP lawmakers made it clear that with troops overseas, they were not interested in squaring off with Democrats over spending for veterans.

Bush taped his radio message in Washington on Friday before making a visit to Wichita, Kan., and heading to his Texas ranch for Father's Day weekend. He'll be joined at the ranch for what is expected to be a rainy weekend, by first lady Laura Bush, Jenna — one of their twin daughters_ and family friends.

In his radio broadcast, Bush also railed against earmarks — a common Capitol Hill practice of slipping pet projects into spending bills.

He said that in January, the House passed a rule that called for full disclosure of earmarks. To give the public a chance to peek at earmarks, he said the administration has started posting them on a web site called http://www.earmarks.omb.gov.

When they ran the House, Republicans larded legislation with these pet projects. But on Thursday, they were the ones forcing Democrats to be more open about Congress' pork barrel ways.

After days of bickering, Democrats this week abandoned plans to pass spending bills without allowing foes of so-called earmarks to challenge them in the full House. The hope is that by shedding more light on earmarks, excessive spending on home district projects will be curtailed.

[Salvation]

Thanks for that post. I especially like the last paragraphs about earmarks and the dimocrats bickering. LOL!

[TennTuxedo]

Bush's desire to pass the Immigration Bill granting Amnesty to illegal aliens will result in unprecedented congressional spending and huge tax increases on US citizens.

Anyone else see the hypocrisy?

[SerpentDove]

>>The American people expect us to spend their tax dollars wisely, or not at all...<<

HA HA! Mr. Runaway Spending is a natural born comedian.

[cardinal4]

I've also proposed policies that would slow the unsustainable growth of our most serious long-term fiscal challenge: entitlement spending.

How is he going to that while endorsing amnesty?

[EagleUSA]

How is he going to that while endorsing amnesty?
::::::
It is just GROSS HYPOCRISY. He is getting real good at lying to the American public. Very Clintonesque. An amnesty is a MAJOR disaster, financial and demographic, awaiting to happen.

[tumblindice]

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

“The estimated population of the United States is 302,175,310 so each citizen’s share of this debt is $29,246.45.”

As a postscript, subjects of the North American Union, I ask all of you to write me out a check—your children and toddlers too, I’ll just hold on to theirs—and make it an even $30,000, won’t you?
I’ve used up all my political capital and my charge card will soon be maxed out at 10 trillion. I must pick up the tab for a number of things to fight evil over the next year.
There are undocumented Americans living in the shadows and medical ships we must send to provide pre-natal and birthing services to those not yet able to come and do the jobs that bigoted, racist, unpatriotic Americans will not do.
There are Africans dying of AIDs. We all have AIDS you know. And there are actresses starving in Hollywood, and of course there’s the war . . . so please, won’t you dig deep and help?
If you don’t, I will taunt you a second time . . .

[raybbr]

Another key area of difference between my Administration and the Democratic leadership in Congress is my support for meaningful earmark reform. Earmarks are spending provisions that are slipped into bills by individual members of Congress, often at the last hour and without discussion or debate. It's not surprising that this leads to unnecessary Federal spending. And the problem is growing. Over the last decade, the number of earmarks has more than tripled.

Then why have you never vetoed one budget bill laden with pork/earmarks?

Does anyone believe anything he says anymore?

[raybbr]

I've also proposed policies that would slow the unsustainable growth of our most serious long-term fiscal challenge: entitlement spending.

How is he going to that while endorsing amnesty?

How can he say this with a straight face after the Medicaid drug bill?

[BlackJack]

Right on.

[Cobra64]

Well said. I agree 100% with your comments.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

http://immigrationcounters.com/

[peeps36]

He wants to destroy our country using less tax dollars than the democrats. What will happen to America when an economic crises hits and we have 20 million new uneducated citizens? How much will it cost to take care of them ?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

LAST SENTENCE WELL SAID!!!