    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [February 4, 2008]
    [Pages 145-146]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Cabinet Meeting
    February 4, 2008

        Thank you all for coming. I just met with my Cabinet, where we
    discussed a lot of issues. And one issue we discussed was the budget. I
    submitted the budget today to Congress. It's on a laptop notebook, an e-
    budget. It saves paper, saves trees, saves money. I think it's the first
    budget submitted electronically.

    [[Page 146]]

        And it's a good budget. It's a budget that achieves some important
    objectives. One, it understands our top priority is to defend our
    country, so we fund our military, as well as fund the homeland security.
        Secondly, the budget keeps our economy growing. It's central that we
    make sure that we deal with the uncertainties--the economic
    uncertainties we face. And that's why we're working hard with the House
    and the Senate to get a growth package out quickly that will put money
    in the hands of consumers and provide incentives to small businesses and
    large businesses to invest.
        Thirdly, we recognize that in order for this economy to grow, it's
    important to make the tax relief permanent. And that's what this budget
    reflects. It's a budget that boosts money for education and health and
    housing. It helps deal with the issue of making the Tax Code more fair
    for individuals who want to buy health insurance in the individual
    market.
        This budget is one that keeps spending under control; discretionary
    spending is held to less than 1 percent. It eliminates 151 wasteful or
    bloated programs, saving the taxpayers $18 billion. It also takes a hard
    look at entitlement growth over the next 5 years and provides specific
    recommendations to save $208 billion over those 5 years. At the same
    time, the budget achieves balance by 2012.
        This is a good, solid budget. It's not only an innovative budget, in
    that it's coming to Congress over the Internet, it's a budget that's
    balanced--it gets to balance in 2012 and saves taxpayers money.
        You know, in my State of the Union, I said to the Congress that
    there's a lot of talk about entitlement spending. Once again, we've
    proposed specific reforms and specific measures. And Congress needs to
    come up with its own ideas. And Congress needs to respond to these
    looming deficits as a result of unfunded liabilities inherent in Social
    Security and Medicare. Our budget does that. Our budget protects America
    and encourages economic growth. Congress needs to pass it.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:57 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House.