[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[February 4, 1991]
[Pages 99-100]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks to Members of the National Governors' Association
February 4, 1991

    Let me just make a few brief comments, and then what I really am
anxious to do is to hear from you. I know you've been briefed in some 
detail on many aspects of the domestic program, but I'd like to get from 
you a feel for emphasis and some of your most serious concerns.
    But first, my thanks to you, Governor Gardner and Governor Ashcroft. 
And I know Dick Cheney has briefed you on the Gulf. And let me simply 
just say this on it: It's going according to plan. We are going to set 
the timetable for what lies ahead--not Saddam Hussein. And I have a very 
strong team that is working this problem of the Gulf. Not only do I have 
great confidence in the officers and the men and women in the Gulf 
itself but, of course, I think Dick Cheney and General Colin Powell--
working so closely together and then working very closely with our Chief 
of Staff here and mainly with General Scowcroft, my able right hand on 
these national security matters.
    I have confidence that we're doing the right thing, and I have 
confidence that it is going the way we planned. And there have been no 
surprises, and there will not be any quick changes, nor will I try to 
tie the hands of the military because I just feel we have to go forward 
and prosecute this to a successful conclusion. So, I want you to know 
from my standpoint the team is working well, the objectives are out 
there, and we're going to achieve them all.
    So, I will be glad to respond to questions on this, of course, later 
on because I know it's a matter of enormous concern in your communities. 
I used the figure, I think last night, mentioning some 436 units of the 
National Guard--over 60,000 men and women who are more than spectators. 
And I would just encourage all of you to give the utmost support you 
possibly can. I talked to some of you all last night, and I was very 
impressed with what you told me about this spirit of these people and 
even more so about the spirit in the communities.
    I do think that the United States is supporting this. I can tell you 
that you read from time to time about lack of public support in some of 
the coalition countries, but

[[Page 100]]

generally speaking, the support is very, very strong. And that is not 
just the U.S.; it's in other countries as well.
    So, here at home I understand you've been talking about that. I 
recognize that we are facing enormously challenging problems and that 
some of you face exactly the same problems that the Federal Government 
does in terms of trying to restrict these deficits or get out of this 
deficit mode.
    One of the subjects that I really wanted to build on as we go along 
here this year with the Governors is what happened at the 
Charlottesville education summit. I think you expressed many concerns 
there, those who were Governors then, and I hope we have responded. You 
were concerned about the readiness of the kids for school. And we have 
recommended and received good support for Congress on this whole concept 
of increased funding for Head Start. You wanted more emphasis on 
research and on assessment, and we saw it and got increases in those 
programs--not that those increases alone at the Federal level are going 
to get the job done. Nobody knows that better than the Governors around 
this table.
    But you asked for a lasting commitment. And let me just say that 
though the Gulf war has overshadowed almost everything in terms of 
interests from the American people, we have not pulled back one iota in 
our determination to work with you. Sixteen months after that summit, 
the work still goes on. And I think we're going to do all right. We want 
to see these goals fully met, and I told you that I would convene my 
Cabinet to mobilize their Departments toward the achievement of the 
goals, and I think I can tell you that--I hope you've had a chance to 
glance at the report. That's working fairly well.
    To those of you who weren't in office at the time of that summit--
and we have many new Governors here--let me simply restate a commitment. 
As you work towards world-class education, the Federal Government and 
this President want to be with you every step of the way. And so, all of 
us should renew our commitment to fulfilling the goals set out in 
Charlottesville.
    One last point is, I know how you all feel about flexibility and not 
mandating programs from Washington. Some people call some of our 
proposals warmed-over federalism. They miss the point. The point is you 
are on the problem-solving edge of this equation. You are better 
equipped to represent the diverse interests of the various States. And 
so we want to continue to work with you as best we can without sending a 
lot of mandated programs, whether it's in Medicaid or whatever else.
    I understand that John Sununu came over and talked to you at length 
about this new proposal. Some of you mentioned it to me last night--on 
this block grant approach. And it is different. It's fully funded, and 
it is something that--I am very grateful to those who have spoken out on 
it already. I am not naive. We're going to have to fight together to get 
this through the Congress. But I think if we get this strong support 
continuing--it's already been manifested by the Governors--I think that 
will send a very strong message to the Congress. And I think we can take 
this step. And I hope that it will benefit each and every Governor and 
every State present.
    So, those are the opening remarks. As I say, what I really want to 
do--I know you've heard from the experts--is to get your opinions on the 
most pressing problems. And, of course, I would be glad to try to 
respond to questions. I just heard a briefing that Dick Darman gave 
along with our Secretary of the Treasury, Nick Brady, and others on the 
budget. So, he's here if you want any specifics on it.
    But with no further ado, and with the understanding and cooperation 
of the press, who are now history here--[laughter]--we thank you very 
much. We will go ahead and hear from you all. Thank you.

                    Note: President Bush spoke at 11:31 a.m. in the East 
                        Room at the White House. In his remarks, he 
                        referred to Gov. Booth Gardner of Washington; 
                        Gov. John Ashcroft of Missouri; Secretary of 
                        Defense Dick Cheney; President Saddam Hussein of 
                        Iraq; Colin L. Powell, Chairman of the Joint 
                        Chiefs of Staff; John H. Sununu, Chief of Staff 
                        to the President; Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to 
                        the President for National Security Affairs; 
                        Richard G. Darman, Director of the Office of 
                        Management and Budget; and Secretary of the 
                        Treasury Nicholas F. Brady.