    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [March 24, 2007]
    [Pages 343-345]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    March 24, 2007

        Good morning. The position of U.S. attorney is one of the most
    important jobs in the Justice Department. U.S. attorneys are appointed
    by the President, and they play a leading role in prosecuting crime and
    protecting the public.
        In recent months, the Justice Department determined that new
    leadership in several of these positions would better serve the country.
    I strongly support the Attorney General
    in this decision. I also appreciate the hard work and service of the
    U.S. attorneys who resigned, and I regret that their resignations have
    turned into a public spectacle.

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        Earlier this week, my administration presented to Congress a
    reasonable way forward that balances the constitutional prerogatives of
    the Presidency with Congress's interest in learning more facts behind
    the decision to replace 8 of the 93 U.S. attorneys. Members of Congress
    now face a choice, whether they will waste time and provoke an
    unnecessary confrontation or whether they will join us in working to do
    the people's business. We have many important issues before us, so we
    need to put partisan politics aside and come together to enact important
    legislation for the American people.
        One of the most urgent legislative priorities is to fund our troops
    fighting the war on terror. I've asked Congress to pass an emergency war
    spending bill that gives our troops what they need, without strings and
    without delay. Instead, a narrow majority in the House of
    Representatives decided yesterday to make a political statement. The
    emergency war spending bill they voted for would cut the number of
    troops below the level our military commanders say they need to
    accomplish the mission. It would set an artificial timetable for
    withdrawal that would allow the enemy to wait us out. And it would
    require an army of lawyers to meet the conditions imposed by politicians
    in Washington who are substituting their own judgment for that of our
    generals in Iraq. I have made it clear that I will veto any such bill,
    and it is clear that my veto would be sustained.
        To get the votes they needed to pass the bill, the Democrats who
    control the House also included billions of dollars in domestic and
    porkbarrel spending for local congressional districts. This spending
    includes things like $74 million for peanut storage, $25 million for
    spinach growers, and a host of other spending items that have nothing to
    do with the war. Even with all this extra spending tacked on, the vote
    in the House was very close. This means that the Democrats do not have
    enough votes to override my veto.
        By choosing to make a political statement and passing a bill they
    know will never become law, the Democrats in Congress have only delayed
    the delivery of the vital funds and resources our troops need. The clock
    is running. The Secretary of Defense has
    warned that if Congress does not approve the emergency funding for our
    troops by April 15th, our men and women in uniform will face significant
    disruptions, and so will their families. April 15th is also about the
    same time that Congress returns from its Easter vacation. Members of
    Congress need to put our troops first, not politics. They need to send
    me a clean bill, without conditions, without restrictions, and without
    pork.
        This is an important moment for our Nation, and it is an important
    moment for the new Congress. My administration has presented a
    reasonable way forward on the matter of U.S. attorneys and on ensuring
    that our men and women in uniform have the funds and the flexibility
    they need to win in Iraq. It is not too late for us to work together.
    For the good of our Nation, I ask the Democratic leaders in Congress to
    seize the opportunity before us and move beyond political statements to
    bipartisan action.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 1 p.m. on March 23 in the Cabinet Room
    at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on March 24. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    March 23, but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In the
    address, the President referred to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates.
    The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.

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