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7337950
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Remarks of the President upon the Signing of the of the Budget Message to Congress [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7337950
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Remarks of the President upon the Signing of the of the Budget Message to Congress [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
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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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 3, 1975
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
UPON THE SIGNING OF THE
OF THE BUDGET MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
THE CABINET ROOM
10:04 A.M. EST
Good morning, everybody.
No single act a President can take sets forth
our national goals and our national priorities so completely
and 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 have worked so long and so hard
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, on this occasion, submits the
budget document.
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 of growth at which certain Federal
expenditures 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 unfortunately, these are not normal times and
the measures that I am proposing -- 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.
MORE
Page 2
Although this budget carries with it a $52 billion
deficit, this amount will be even larger if the Congress
fails to go along with the reductions totaling $17 billion
which I have requested. If we are to achieve long-range
economic stability in America, 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 uncontrollable -- 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 carefully designed to bring some of
these so-called "uncontrollables" back into line. I ask
the Congress to work with me to achieve that result.
Even with the steps I have proposed to return
fiscal integrity, this budget continues the steady and
sharp annual increase in Government payments to individuals --
to those Americans who need help most from their Government.
These payments will increase by $15 billion in
fiscal year 1976 over 1975; from $137 billion to $152 billion.
These payments include increased amounts for Social Security,
welfare, unemployment compensation and retirement payments.
Such payments to individuals have increased steadily as a
percentage of the total budget until they now account for
more than 40 percent of Government spending.
Despite the huge deficit that 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.
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 shortly returning to private
life.
Like the good soldier he is, Roy stayed on to finish
the job that 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.
Jim 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.
MORE
Page 3
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 --
owe: to Roy Ash.
Roy, I hate to see you go, but I must warn
you: I have your unlisted telephone number in Los Angeles.
So, with those observations and comments, I will
sign the two budget documents that go to the Congress. I
can't help but ask the question: Roy, why didn't we
send one up there with the same red color that we have
on the other one?
A left-hander may not look good signing documents,
but I couldn't help but appreciate those two left-handed
tennis players yesterday.
There is the bad news but also, if followed by
the Congress, will be good news. So, Roy, let me give to
you and to the people that I have worked with, and you
have to a greater extent, a pen that is part of the
operation in this final one.
This is for Paul O'Neill and the others.
Thank you very much. Thank you again for all
of the help and assistance.
Now, I know there are others besides the six
or seven of you that have done some work on this. This is
for all of you as well as Roy and the others, and we will
try to have a better one next year, but this one is the
best, I think, that we could possibly do under the
economic circumstances and the facts of life and I thank
you again, Roy.
END
(AT 10:16 A.M. EST)