[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: GEORGE W. BUSH (2001, Book I)]
[April 16, 2001]
[Pages 403-406]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Remarks to the United States Chamber of Commerce
April 16, 2001
Thank you very much. Kelly, thank you
very much for that kind introduction. It's an honor for me to be here.
Tom, thank you for opening up this
fantastic facility. I am thrilled to know that some of my former
Governors are with members of the chambers in their respective States,
and I want to say hello to them. I thank all those who are tuning in.
It's kind of nice to be able to speak to so many folks in so many cities
without having to fire up Air Force One. [Laughter]
I'm especially honored to be able to speak to the folks who really
help our economy grow, the entrepreneurs, the business folks of America,
the employers, the risk takers, the people who really work hard to
realize the great American Dream.
As Kelly said, this is tax day. All across America, husbands and
wives spent last weekend side-by-side at the kitchen table trying to
finish their 1040s. You have to say this for the income tax, it tends to
bring families together. [Laughter]
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The Internal Revenue Service asks our families in America a lot of
questions: How much did you earn? Did you move last year? How big is
your mortgage payment? You know, the truth of the matter is, the IRS
knows more about us than our neighbors do. In a lot of cases, they know
more about us than our families do. But while the tax system knows a lot
about our citizens, there's a lot our citizens may not know about our
tax system.
In 2001 the Federal Government will take a bigger share of the U.S.
economy in taxes than in any year since 1944. And I'll remind you, in
1944 we had 11.5 million people under arms. The Federal Government will
take more as a percentage of the national economy this year than it did
during World War II except for one year, more than in any year of the
Vietnam war or the Korean conflict, more than it took to win World War I
or prevail in the cold war. Our country is at peace, but our Government
is charging wartime prices. Enough is enough. The American people
deserve tax relief.
You often hear it said, we cannot afford tax relief. But even after
adjusting for inflation, the U.S. Government will collect twice as much
income tax revenue in 2001 as it did in 1981. Enough is enough, folks.
It's time to give our folks some tax relief in America.
During the budget debates in Washington, some Members of Congress
complained that they did not have enough money to spend, but in 2001 the
income tax will yield 2 billion in revenues for each and every one of
the 535 Members of Congress. I think they should be able to get by on
that--[laughter]--even the Senators. [Laughter] No, enough's enough.
People in America deserve tax relief.
Thanks to the help of a lot of folks here and all around the
country, tax relief is on the way. The American taxpayer won some
important victories a couple of weeks ago. The House of Representatives
voted in favor of a plan that I think is an important plan, 1.6 trillion
in tax relief over the next 10 years. The Senate approved most of my tax
plan but wants the Government to spend far more.
Some Members of the Senate are, unfortunately, proving the point I
make all across the country: If you send it, they will spend it.
[Laughter] Federal discretionary spending rose by 8 percent in 2001. The
Senate has just voted to increase the discretionary spending by another
8 percent in 2002. At that rate, Federal discretionary spending will
double by 2010. Think about that. If we keep spending at the pace the
Senate wants, in only 9 years' time Government operations will cost
twice as much as they do today.
Now, Senators are in their home States this week listening to the
taxpayers. I hope Americans will send a clear message: Excessive Federal
spending threatens economic vitality. What we want is a stronger
economy, not larger Federal Government.
There's a better way: Increase discretionary spending by a moderate
and responsible 4 percent--by the way, at a rate larger than inflation--
and then reduce taxes for everyone who pays taxes.
My plan does not puncture the Tax Code with loopholes. It doesn't
give special treatment to special interests. My plan targets only one
interest, the public interest. It directs help to individuals and
families and small businesses. It is a plan for real people, and it will
help produce real prosperity.
Let me tell you a little bit about what tax relief means for
American families. My plan, when fully implemented, returns about $1,600
to the typical family of four. Sixteen hundred pays the typical mortgage
for more than a month. Sixteen hundred will buy the typical family
nearly 3 months worth of groceries. Sixteen hundred will fuel two cars
for a year.
There are a lot of American mothers and dads who wake up in America
today anxious over bills they have to pay. Their worries don't get any
easier when the Federal Government takes more of their income
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in taxes than they pay for food, shelter, and clothing. For families
with children to raise and debts to pay, tax relief will lift burdens
and ease worries.
For small businesses, tax relief means more customers and improved
cashflow, more money to hire more workers, more money to expand
benefits, more money to invest in new technology. Tax relief will create
new jobs. Tax relief will generate new wealth, and tax relief will open
new opportunities.
If you read some of the news accounts of this budget debate, if you
listen to what some of the Members of Congress say, you'd think that
little of value can ever happen in America unless the Government makes
it happen. You'd think that when we return money to the taxpayers, it
evaporates into the air.
Let me tell you some of the things 1.6 trillion could mean to the
private economy. It could buy 10 million new middle-income homes. It
could pay the tuitions of 26 million young people at a private college
or university for 4 years each. It could purchase 76 million new
automobiles. These are the kinds of things Americans do with their own
money. And there are many others.
Just ask Tommy and Sharen
Winfield, for example. They're watching via
closed circuit here from Atlanta, Georgia. The Winfields have three
children. Tommy has been working as an operating engineer at Children's
Hospital of Atlanta for the past 3 years. They pay 1,380 a year in
Federal income taxes. Under my plan, they'd pay nothing.
I first met Tommy a few weeks ago, and we
were having a roundtable discussion about tax relief. I asked him
whether he thought the relief would make a difference to his family--you
see, there are some who say, ``Thirteen eighty, that's nothing. That's
not enough money for anybody.'' But let me tell you what Tommy said loud
and clear, and I hope the Members of the United States Congress hear it.
Tommy said, ``Sir, if they don't believe you''--meaning whether or not
tax relief means anything--``then they should just ask me.'' Thirteen
eighty means a lot to Tommy. It means a lot to a lot of folks in
America: those who are struggling with higher energy bills because we
hadn't had an energy policy; those who have got big credit card debts.
We've got the Blake family with us from Alexandria, Virginia,
Kelly and Pam--one less
son. [Laughter] They pay $4,000 in Federal income tax. Under my plan,
they will save $1,700. That's real money for this hard-working couple.
They and their two sons, I can assure you, will find good use for that
tax relief. And whatever they do, I strongly believe they will spend it
better and more productively than the Federal Government can.
This is an important debate for our country. It's a debate about how
to make sure our economy continues to grow. But it's really a debate
about, who do we trust? Who do--those of us who have been honored to
serve our country at the Federal level--who do we trust with the
people's money? Do we trust our Government, or do we trust the people? I
believe, after we meet priorities--and we meet priorities by growing the
discretionary budget by 4 percent--that we always have got to remember
whose money it is we're talking about. It's not the Government's money;
it's the people's money.
And we've always got to remember, the role of Government is not to
create wealth. It's to create an environment in which the entrepreneur
can flourish, in which the small business can grow to become a big
business. That's the role of Government. And that's why it's vital at
this point in American history that we return money back to the people.
Instead of returning money, we ought not to take it in the first place,
with real meaningful tax relief.
I've learned that the people can make a big difference in a lot of
debates, particularly the tax relief debate. We're making
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some pretty good progress. I saw a good Democrat Senator out of Georgia
the other day. Max Cleland said that he is
interested in--when he comes back--interested in supporting the $1.6
trillion plan. I think that's what he said. It certainly sounded like it
to me. [Laughter] And that's a good sign. I appreciate the Senator going
home and listening to the people.
You see, I think we've finally made the case that we can meet the
obligations of the Federal Government, that we don't have to grow at 8
percent in order to meet obligations. We've also made the case that
sending money back to the people is important for our economy and
important for the American Dream. And I want to thank your help for it.
I want to invite all Americans to take a look at the budget plan
themselves. You can order the little book by calling 202-512-1800, and
ask for the Citizen's Guide to the Federal Budget. Or you can download
it for free at www.whitehouse.government.
It's important for you to follow your Government closely. It's
important for you to not let the filter decide what's reality and what's
not reality. It's important to get the facts. And it's always important
to understand that tax relief will stimulate creativity and enterprise
for individual Americans.
I firmly believe tax relief means a better life in a more prosperous
America. So let the Members of Congress know when they come back that
you're watching, that you care for what they do because it will affect
your life in a positive way.
I can't thank you all enough for your support, and I can't thank you
enough for letting me come by and make my case.
God bless you all.
Note: The President spoke at 2:25 p.m. in the Hall of Flags at the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce. In his remarks, he referred to Kelly N. Stanley,
chairman, and Thomas J. Donohue, president and chief executive officer,
U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Tommy and Sharen Winfield's children, Joy and
Tiffany Winfield and Ager Hilson; and Kelly and Pam Blake's children,
Jeremy and Jared.