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    "label": "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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    "title": "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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    "ocrText": "Digitized from Box 7 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE\nFEBRUARY 3, 1975\nUNTIL 10:00 AM, EST\nOffice of the White House Press Secretary\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nTEXT OF REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT\nTO BE DELIVERED UPON THE SIGNING\nOF THE BUDGET MESSAGE TO CONGRESS\nNo single act a President can take sets forth our national goals and priorities\nso completely -- so clearly -- as the annual budget message to the Congress.\nThat is why I am particularly pleased to see here this morning so many of\nyou who worked so long on this document to witness this signing ceremony\nwhich is the culmination of these efforts.\nBoth custom and good manners call for the Chief Executive to seek the\ncooperation of the Congress -- and to pledge his own -- as he submits the\nbudget.\nThe size of the projected deficit requires me to go far beyond custom and\ngood manners in pledging my utmost cooperation. Together, we must\nstimulate the economy and reduce the rate at which certain federal expendi-\ntures have been growing in the past ten years.\nIf these were normal economic times, the Congress would be receiving a\nbudget in balance for the coming fiscal year rather than one with such a\nlarge deficit.\nBut these are not normal times, and the measures I propose -- to give the\neconomy a boost with tax rebates and reductions, and to provide greatly\nexpanded assistance to the unemployed -- are responsible for some of the\ndeficit. Lagging receipts from tax revenues contribute to most of the\nremainder of this deficit.\nWithout question, our immediate task is the restoration of active growth\nin our economy and that goal is reflected in the projected budget deficit.\nTo sustain our economic growth over the long haul, we must begin now to\nset a new course that will bring our future national budgets into balance during\nperiods of good economic growth.\nAlthough this budget carries with it a fifty-two billion dollar deficit, this\namount will be even larger if the Congress fails to go along with reductions\ntotaling seventeen billion dollars which I have requested. If we are to\nachieve long-range economic stability in this country, free from ever-rising\ninflation, we must put into effect permanent reductions in program\nexpenditures.\nAs I said at the press briefing on the budget last Saturday, it has become\na commonly accepted view that some government expenditures are uncontrol-\nlable that they will continue whether we like it or not. I firmly reject\nthat view. They are controllable if the Congress and the President join\ntogether to hold down excessive spending. This budget is designed to bring\nsome of these so-called \"uncontrollable\" programs back into line. I ask the\nCongress to work with me toward this objective.\nDespite the huge deficit we project, the budget being submitted today is a\ncompassionate one. It has muscle as well. It has discipline and honest\nself-denial. It is a start in a new direction along the permanent road of\nfiscal integrity which Americans must achieve for the long-term economic\ngood of our country.\n(MORE)\n-2-\nI am pleased that Roy Ash and some of his staff from the Office of\nManagement and Budget could be here today -- because Roy is returning\nshortly to private life.\nLike the good soldier he is, Roy stayed on to finish the job he began in\nputting this budget together. He stuck to it until the last comma and the\nfinal period were in place.\nRoy may be one of the most unappreciated men in Washington -- but not\nby me. I will miss his \"tough\" instincts and sound counsel.\nJames Lynn will be taking over a tight ship from Roy, and I look to him\nto enhance further the capability of solid management so necessary to\nthat office.\nAt times like this, a simple \"thanks\" may sound inadequate. But the\ndictionary defines the term as an expression of gratitude and appreciation.\nAnd that is what this administration -- and this President -- owes Roy Ash.\nRoy, I hate to see you go but I must warn you: I have your unlisted telephone\nnumber in Los Angeles.\n#\n#\n#"
}