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7337942
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Text of Remarks by the President to Be Delivered upon the Signing of the Budget Message to Congress [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7337942
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Text of Remarks by the President to Be Delivered upon the Signing of the Budget Message to Congress [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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7337942
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1975-02-03
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1975
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Digitized from Box 7 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE
FEBRUARY 3, 1975
UNTIL 10:00 AM, EST
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
TEXT OF REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO BE DELIVERED UPON THE SIGNING
OF THE BUDGET MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
No single act a President can take sets forth our national goals and priorities
so completely -- so clearly -- as the annual budget message to the Congress.
That is why I am particularly pleased to see here this morning so many of
you who worked so long on this document to witness this signing ceremony
which is the culmination of these efforts.
Both custom and good manners call for the Chief Executive to seek the
cooperation of the Congress -- and to pledge his own -- as he submits the
budget.
The size of the projected deficit requires me to go far beyond custom and
good manners in pledging my utmost cooperation. Together, we must
stimulate the economy and reduce the rate at which certain federal expendi-
tures have been growing in the past ten years.
If these were normal economic times, the Congress would be receiving a
budget in balance for the coming fiscal year rather than one with such a
large deficit.
But these are not normal times, and the measures I propose -- to give the
economy a boost with tax rebates and reductions, and to provide greatly
expanded assistance to the unemployed -- are responsible for some of the
deficit. Lagging receipts from tax revenues contribute to most of the
remainder of this deficit.
Without question, our immediate task is the restoration of active growth
in our economy and that goal is reflected in the projected budget deficit.
To sustain our economic growth over the long haul, we must begin now to
set a new course that will bring our future national budgets into balance during
periods of good economic growth.
Although this budget carries with it a fifty-two billion dollar deficit, this
amount will be even larger if the Congress fails to go along with reductions
totaling seventeen billion dollars which I have requested. If we are to
achieve long-range economic stability in this country, free from ever-rising
inflation, we must put into effect permanent reductions in program
expenditures.
As I said at the press briefing on the budget last Saturday, it has become
a commonly accepted view that some government expenditures are uncontrol-
lable that they will continue whether we like it or not. I firmly reject
that view. They are controllable if the Congress and the President join
together to hold down excessive spending. This budget is designed to bring
some of these so-called "uncontrollable" programs back into line. I ask the
Congress to work with me toward this objective.
Despite the huge deficit we project, the budget being submitted today is a
compassionate one. It has muscle as well. It has discipline and honest
self-denial. It is a start in a new direction along the permanent road of
fiscal integrity which Americans must achieve for the long-term economic
good of our country.
(MORE)
-2-
I am pleased that Roy Ash and some of his staff from the Office of
Management and Budget could be here today -- because Roy is returning
shortly to private life.
Like the good soldier he is, Roy stayed on to finish the job he began in
putting this budget together. He stuck to it until the last comma and the
final period were in place.
Roy may be one of the most unappreciated men in Washington -- but not
by me. I will miss his "tough" instincts and sound counsel.
James Lynn will be taking over a tight ship from Roy, and I look to him
to enhance further the capability of solid management so necessary to
that office.
At times like this, a simple "thanks" may sound inadequate. But the
dictionary defines the term as an expression of gratitude and appreciation.
And that is what this administration -- and this President -- owes Roy Ash.
Roy, I hate to see you go but I must warn you: I have your unlisted telephone
number in Los Angeles.
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