Ford Administration Cabinet Minutes

GERALD R. Cabinet Minutes - 8/27/75 FORD The President entered the room at 11:06 a.m. The press entered at 11:07 a.m. At 11:09 a.m. the President opened the meeting indicating there was much business to be done. The President first called on Director of the Budget Lynn to talk about the 1977 budget. Director Lynn discussed the need to prepare the budget as early as possible and that recommendations from Cabinet officers should be to him soon. He stated further that there probably will not be an extension on deadlines for the budget this year as in past years. Senator Muskie had indicated in a letter to Director Lynn that the ex- tensions will not be granted and that the deadline must be maintained. Therefore, the budget must be in on the 19th of October and Cabinet officers should have their proposals in by the 30th of September up to the 19th of October. The second area he discussed was appropriation bills. He mentioned the Education Bill and the fact that it is com- ing up for an override very soon. He asked the Cabinet to read the President's veto message. He thought that it was very, very good and well written. He also stressed the need to get to the bills and amend the bills per the Administration's desires before they are passed. The Education Bill has grown beyond reasonable bounds and perhaps it did so because Administration people were slow in getting to it. He also stated his strong desire to have both the Secretary and Under Secretary work with the Congress to get Administration priorities passed. If all bills are passed that are currently contemplated, the deficit for 1977 would be in the 70 to 75 billion dollar area. As a last cautionary note, he mentioned that unless the Cabinet is more active in the Congress, many authori- zation bills will become appropriation bills and that will mean that the present deficit will continue to soar unabated. The President then called on Jack Marsh to discuss a legi- slative review and a look ahead. Legislative Review (1) He reviewed the Congress. Economics and energy still