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12th National Legislative Conference, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Washington, DC, June 12, 1967
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12th National Legislative Conference, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Washington, DC, June 12, 1967
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D22, folder "12th National Legislative
Conference, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Washington, DC,
June 12, 1967" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D22 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
12TH NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL-CIO
11 a.m., JUNE 12, WASHINGTON HILTON HOTEL
REMARKS BY CONGRESSMAN GERALD R. FORD
I have an idea that you have some interest in the "common situs picketing"
bill which is now pending in the House of Representatives. I know of your long
concern with this issue. Ever since the bill was introduced this year, Republican
members of the Committee have been engaged in intensive efforts to resolve the
extremely difficult legislative problems involved. The representatives of the
Building Trades Department of the AFL-CIO have been effective consent and helpful in this
regard. I sincerely hope that a solution satisfactory to all will be achieved.
1
The Building Trades have a right to equality under the law. We want to be
sure that no industrial union or any other union is given an unfair advantage
over the Building Trades. We want to be sure the rights of the public are also
upheld. Many Republicans are insisting in Congress that you be given the same
rights to picket and to engage in other peaceful concerted activities as are
presently enjoyed by the industrial unions.
One manifestation of this concern on our part is the introduction of a common
situs picketing bill, H. R. 9669, by my esteemed colleague, Cong. Charlie Goodell
of New York. In my opinion, his bill establishes your right to engage in common
situs picketing under legitimate circumstances, and I am convinced that it
establishes what you so earnestly desire--equality with the industrial unions.
smight
The lawyers have it in their laps/now. Being a lawyer myself, I sympathize
with their difficulties and I can't help but recall the classic old story of the
two Irishmen who were returning home after a night on the town. Feeling no pain,
they passed a cemetery and noticed a tombstone which said--"Here lies William
Jones, Lawyer, An Honest Man." Whereupon Pat turned to Mike and said--"You know,
there must be two people buried there."
Seriously, I think it's a lot easier to find an honest lawyer than it is for
some people to learn from experience.
This country again seems to be headed for the same kind of deep economic
trouble we experienced in 1966--and too few of our fellow citizens are getting
excited about seriousness of the problem.
You in this audience are among those who should be most alarmed. It seems most
strong and serving
appropriate that I direct a warning to you.
^
If this Administration and this Congress do not bring federal spending under
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
-2-
control promptly, the U. S. will experience a new round of inflation, high interest
rates and tight money--and another depression in the homebuilding industry before
we have even scrambled out of the last one.
You know who is in the driver's seat in the management of the nation's economy.
You know who is calling the shots--demanding more taxes, higher federal spending,
greater borrowing, tighter money, and higher interest rates. It isn't the Republicans.
Republicans are doing their level best to reduce the President's spending
requests for fiscal 1968.
Are we getting any help from the White House? Not a bit. Instead we are
being treated to typical political abuse from the federal bureaucracy.
The President is supposed to be a smart politician. Does he really believe
that American people will welcome a $29 billion federal deficit for fiscal 1968?
Does he think they will be happy when prices take off for the sky again--as indicated
by a price rise in April that was the biggest in six months? Does he expect the
American people to applaud Administration high spending that brings on higher prices,
higher interest charges, tight money and a mess in the entire economy?
Last January the President demanded that additional federal taxes be imposed
on the Nation. The American people didn't buy his income tax surcharge--and the
new Congress elected last November with your help said, "No, you haven't made a
case it." We said reduce non-military, non-essential spending and no new taxes
will be needed. But the Johnson Administration has refused to cut non-essential
spending, and the threat of a Johnson tax increase now is picking up steam.
It is growing because the Administration's red-ink spending is growing in
massive proportion. If an income tax increase IS loaded on the backs of the
American people this year or next, it will be entirely because the Johnson Admini-
stration refused to eliminate non-essential domestic spending as an offset to
Vietnam spending.
you
shample
Nobody's happy about the Vietnam War. But we have to pay for it. If we
A
finance studies on the sex life of the mosquito at the same time and then go out
into the private money market to pay for it, interest charges are going to go up,
prices are going to go up, and a lot of our citizens are going to get hurt. That's
what's happening--and it's time the people woke up to it.
Republicans-with the help of some discerning Democrats--last week managed to
block a $29 billion increase in the national debt limit.
We know there's a need for some increase in the debt limit in the months ahead,
but we threw up the STOP sign now in the hope we can get the Administration to
-3-
slow down, revise its spending plans, avoid the same kind of financial disaster
that had the homebuilding industry on the rocks just a year ago.
In this financial crisis we are urging the House to send the President's
fiscal 1968 budget back to him with a demand that he make substantial reductions.
Congress bases its spending decisions on the President's budget. It would
be more helpful to Congress in its moves to head off a new round of inflation,
tight money and record-high interest reates if the President would give us the
benefit of some budget-cutting advice.
There is precedent for this. The House sent the fiscal 1958 budget back to
President Eisenhower with a plea for reductions, and he promptly cut his own
budget by $1.355 billions.
I hope this procedure will be followed now. The financial crisis is far worse
now than it was 10 years ago. We enjoyed peace in 1957. Today the problem is
compounded because America is at war.
If groups like yours would join me and my colleagues in demanding an
economy campaign, a holddown in non-essential federal spending, the President
might well pay some attention.
This is what we need--an aroused public. If the public does not become
aroused until the economy again is plunged into a mess, it will be too late.
Thank you for giving me this opprotunity to share my thinking with you.
Thank you.
####
12TH NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL-CIO
11 a.m., JUNE 12, WASHINGTON MILTON HOTEL
REMARKS BY CONGRESSMAN GERALD R. FORD
I have an idea that you have some interest in the "common situs picketing"
bill which is now pending in the House of Representatives. I know of your long
concern with this issue. Ever since the bill was introduced this year, Republican
members of the Committee have been engaged in intensive efforts to resolve the
extremely difficult legislative problems involved. The representatives of the
Building Trades Department of the AFL=CIO have been effective and helpful in this
regard. I sincerely hope that a solution satisfactory to all will be achieved.
The Building Trades have a right to equality under the lew. We want to be
sure that no industrial union or any other union is given an unfair advantage
over the Building Trades. We want to be sure the rights of the public are also
upheld. Many Republicans are insisting in Congress that you be given the same
rights to picket and to engagesin # other peaceful concerted activities as are
presently enjoyed by the Industrial unions.
One manifestation of this concern on our part is the introduction of a common
situs picketing bill, M. R. 9669, by my asteemed colleague, Cong. Charlee Goodell
of New York. In my opinion, his bill establishes your right to engage in common
situs picketing under legitimate circumstances, and I am convinced that it
establishes what you so earnestly desire--equality with the industrial unions.
The lawyers have it in their laps now. Being a lawyer myself, I sympathize
with their difficulties and I can't help but recall the classic old story of the
two Irishmen who were returning home after a night on the town. Feeling no pain,
they passed a cemetery and noticed a tombstone which said--"Mere lies William
Jones, Lawyer, An Monest Man. Whereupon Pat turned to Mike and said--"You know,
there must be two people buried there."
Seriously, I think it's a lot easier to find an honest lawyer than it is for
some people to learn from experience.
This country again seems to be headed for the same kind of deep economic
trouble we experienced in 1966--and too few of our fellow citizens are getting
the
excited about seriousness of the problem.
You in this audience are among those who should be most alarmed. It seems most
appropriate that I direct a warning to you.
If this Administration and this Congress do not bring federal spending ERALO under
LIBRARY
-2-
control promptly, the U. s. will experience a new round of inflation, high interest
rates and tight money--and another depression in the homebuilding industry before
we have even scrambled out of the last one.
You know who is in the driver's seat in the management of the nation's economy.
You know who is calling the shots--demanding more taxes, higher federal spending,
greater borrowing, tighter money, and higher interest rates. It isn't the Republicans.
Republicans are doing their level best to reduce the President's spending
requests for fiscal 1968.
Are we getting any help from the White Mouse? Not a bit. Instead we are
being theated to typical political abuse from the federal bureaucracy.
The President is supposed to be a smart politician. Does he really believe
the American people will welcome a $29 billion federal deficit for fiscal 1968?
the
Does he think they will be happy when prices take off for the sky again--as indicated
by a price rise in April that was the biggest in six months? Does he expect the
American people to applaud Administration high spending that brings on higher prices,
higher Interest charges, tight money,and a mess in the entire economy?
Last January the President demanded that additional federal taxes be imposed
on the Nation. The American people didn't buy his income tax surcharge--and the
new Congress elected last November with your help said, "No, you haven't made a
case
for
it." We said reduce non-military, non-essential spending and no new taxes
will be needed. But the Johnson Administration has refused to cut non-essential
spending, and the threat of a Johnson tax increase now is picking up steam.
It is growing because the Administration's red-ink spending is growing in
massive proportion. If an income tax increase IS loaded on the backs of the
American people this year or next, it will be entirely because the Johnson Admini-
stration refused to eliminate non-essential domestic spending as an offset to
Vietnam spending.
Nobody's happy about the Vietnam War. But we have to pay for it. If we
finance studies on the sex life of the mosquito at the same time and then go out
into the private money market to pay for it, interest charges are going to go up,
prices are going to go up, and a lot of our citizens are going to bet hurt. That's
what's happening--and it's time the people woke up to it.
Republicanswewith the help at some discerning Democrats--last week managed to
block a $29 billion increase in the national debt limit.
We know there's a need for some increase in the debt limit in the months ahead,
but we threw up the STOP sign now in the hope we can get the Administration to
-3-
slow down, revise its spending plans, avoid the same kind of financial disaster
that had the homebuilding industry on the rocks just a year ago.
In this financial crisis we are urging the House to send the President's
fiscal 1968 budget back to him with a demand that he make substantial reductions.
Congress bases its spending decisions on the President's budget. It would
be more helpful to Congress in its moves to head off a new round of inflation,
tight money and record-high interest reates if the President would give us the
benefit of some budget-cutting advice.
There is precedent for this. The House sent the fiscal 1958 budget back to
President Eisenhower with a plea for reductions, and he promptly cut his own
budget by $1.355 billions.
I hope this procedure will be followed now. The financial crisis is far worse
now than it was 10 years ago. We enjoyed peace in 1957. Today the problem is
compounded because America is at war.
If groups like yours would join me and my colleagues in demanding an
economy campaign, a holddown in non-essential federal spending, the President
might well pay some attention.
This is what we need--an aroused public. If the public does not become
aroused until the economy again is plunged into a mess, it will be too lake.
Thank you for giving me this opprotunity to share my thinking with you.
Thank you.
####
BERALO, FORD LIBRARY