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7341991
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President Vetoes H.R. 8069, the Departments of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare Appropriation Act, 1976 [Veto Statements and Announcements]
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7341991
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document
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President Vetoes H.R. 8069, the Departments of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare Appropriation Act, 1976 [Veto Statements and Announcements]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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U.S. House of Representatives. (03/04/1789 - )
Legislation
Vetoes
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7341991
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19
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1975-12-19
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12
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1975
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nara-archive
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Digitized from Box 19 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 1975
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
I return without my approval H.R. 8069, the Departments
of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare Appropriation
Act, 1976.
As you know, I have just vetoed H.R. 5559, which would
have extended for six months the temporary tax cut due to
expire on New Year's Eve, because it was not accompanied by
a limit on Federal spending for the next fiscal year.
H.R. 8069 is a classic example of the unchecked spending
which I referred to in my earlier veto message.
H.R. 8069 would provide nearly $1 billion more in
spending authority than I had requested. Not only would
the $45 billion total in this bill add significantly to
the already burdensome Federal deficits expected this year
and next, but the individual increases themselves are un-
justified, unnecessary, and unwise. This bill is, therefore,
inconsistent with fiscal discipline and with effective
restraint on the growth of government.
I am not impressed by the argument that H.R. 8069 is
in line with the Congress' second concurrent resolution on
the budget and is, therefore, in some sense proper. What
this argument does not say is that the resolution, which
expresses the Congress' view of appropriate budget restraint,
approves a $50 billion, or 15 percent, increase in Federal
spending in one year. Such an increase is not appropriate
budget restraint.
Effective restraint on the growth of the Federal
Government requires effective limits on the growth of
Federal spending. This bill provides an opportunity for
such limitation. By itself, this bill would add $382 million
to this year's deficit and would make next year's deficit
$372 million more than if my recommendations had been
adopted. In addition, the increases provided for this
year would raise expectations for next year's budget and
make the job of restraining spending that much more
difficult. Thus, this bill would contribute to excessive
deficits and needless inflationary pressures.
Furthermore, if this bill became law, it would increase
permanent Federal employment by 8,000 people. I find it
most difficult to believe the majority of the American
people favor increasing the number of employees on the
Federal payroll, whether by Congressional direction or by
other means. On the contrary, I believe the overwhelming
majority agree with my view that there are already too many
employees in the Federal Government.
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I am returning this bill without my signature and
renewing my request to the Congress to approve a ceiling
on Federal spending as the best possible Christmas present
for the American people.
GERALD R. FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 19, 1975
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