    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [June 19, 2007]
    [Pages 772-773]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Nomination of Congressman James A. Nussle To Be Director of the Office of Management and Budget
    June 19, 2007

        The President. Good afternoon. Welcome to the White House. I am here
    to say goodbye to a good friend and introduce the newest nominee to my
    Cabinet. Recently Rob Portman came and
    told me that after 14 years of public service in Washington, he's ready
    to head home to be with Jane and the family.
    I've known him for many years. There's no finer man in public service
    than Rob Portman. He's been a trusted adviser, and Laura and I am going to miss him.
        Fortunately, we found a good man to succeed him. Today I'm pleased
    to announce my nomination of Jim Nussle to serve as Director of the
    Office of Management and Budget.
        I'm proud to welcome Jim's wife Karen,
    his mom and dad, Lori and Mark; and his mother-in-law Eva Mae. Any man who invites his mother-in-law to a--[laughter]--
    has got to have good judgment. [Laughter] We're going to ask a lot of
    Jim, and I thank you all for supporting him in this.
        The job of OMB Director is one of the most important in our Federal
    Government. The Director has a central responsibility for implementing
    the full range of my administration's agenda, from defense programs that
    will keep the American people safe to energy initiatives that will break
    our dependence on foreign oil to tax policies that keep our economy
    growing and creating jobs.
        In all these areas, the OMB Director works to ensure that the
    American people get good value for every tax dollar they send to
    Washington. Jim Nussle is the right man to take on these challenges. For
    16 years, Jim represented the people of northeast Iowa in the United
    States Congress. As a Member of Congress, Jim was a strong advocate for
    fiscal discipline and a champion of tax cuts that allowed the American
    people to keep more of what they earn. In 2001, Jim became chairman of
    the House Budget Committee. As a leader in Congress, Jim showed he can
    work with Members of both sides of the aisle to get positive things done
    for America. Jim's name and knowledge command respect on Capitol Hill.
    And as OMB Director, he will use his expertise about the budget process
    to ensure that the taxpayers' money is spent with respect and with
    restraint.
        In his new post, Jim will continue the important work carried out by
    Rob Portman. Over the past 2 years, Rob
    has served my administration in two important jobs. As the United States
    Trade Representative, Rob negotiated several new trade agreements and
    reenergized the Doha talks at the World Trade Organization.
        And as OMB Director, he helped me
    achieve our goal of cutting the Federal deficit in half and doing it 3
    years ahead of schedule. He's helped me put forward a plan to balance
    the budget by 2012 by restraining Federal spending and keeping our taxes
    low. He's put Democratic leaders in Congress on notice that I will veto
    bills with excessive levels of spending. He has led my administration's
    efforts to curb the use of congressional earmarks and implement reforms
    that will make the earmark process more transparent.

    [[Page 773]]

        I thank Rob for his service and
    good advice and, most of all, his friendship. I want to tell his wife
    Jane, that after 14 years of commuting to
    Washington, he's going to be back home in Ohio, especially on the
    weekends.
        Rob is a tough act to follow, but
    that's why I picked Jim Nussle. He's a man of integrity, a man of
    vision, a man well qualified to hold this job. I ask the Senate to act
    quickly on his nomination. When confirmed, he'll make an outstanding OMB
    Director.
        Congratulations to you.

    [At this point, Director-designate Nussle made brief remarks]

        The President. Good job. Well done.

    [Office of Management and Budget Director Robert J. Portman made brief
    remarks]

        The President. Good job. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:49 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary also included the remarks of Director-designate Nussle and
    Director Portman.