[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 9 (Monday, March 5, 2001)]
[Pages 343-344]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the National Governors' Association Conference

February 26, 2001

    It's good to see you all again. I hope everybody had as fun a time 
last night as Laura and I did. It was--I really enjoyed it, and thanks 
for coming.
    When the history of this administration is written, it will be said 
the Nation's Governors had a faithful friend in the White House. I've 
sat where you're sitting, and I know what it's like to have a good idea 
and then to wait on the Federal Government to tell you whether you can 
try it or not.
    So let me make this pledge to you all: I'm going to make respect for 
federalism a priority in this administration. Respect for federalism 
begins with an understanding of its philosophy. The Framers of the 
Constitution did not believe in an all-knowing, all-powerful Federal 
Government. They believed that our freedom is best preserved when power 
is dispersed. That is why they limited and enumerated the Federal 
Government's powers and reserved the remaining functions of government 
to the States.
    And today I'm announcing a new federalism initiative. I will sign a 
directive creating an Interagency Working Group on Federalism. The 
Working Group will seek your opinions on the issues that Governors and 
other leaders in local and State government believe should be addressed. 
The Group will look for ways to speed up waivers and to streamline rigid 
rules and regulations. And it will be charged with drafting a new 
Executive order on federalism, which will require their departments and 
agencies to respect the rights of our States and territories.
    We look forward to a close relationship. You've got strong advocates 
in my administration, starting with four former Governors: Ashcroft, 
Thompson, Whitman, and Bush. [Laughter] We'll also have an 
Intergovernmental Affairs Office run by Ruben Barrales of California, 
who will be responsive to your needs and your requests.
    We've just lived through a decade of the most exciting, important 
things done by government have been done by Governors. In 7 years, 
you've reduced welfare rolls by more than half, improved millions of the 
lives of your fellow citizens by helping them find work. You brought new 
meaning to crime prevention programs. You pioneered education reforms, 
and many of you have shown how tax relief can reenergize State 
economies.
    In Michigan and Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, for example, 
tax relief pumped adrenalin into troubled economies. I saw the same 
thing happen in Texas when I proposed, fought for, and signed meaningful 
tax relief.
    More than half the States have reduced taxes in each and every one 
of the past 3 years. Governors deserve more credit than you get when it 
comes to the prosperity of our country. The surging growth we've seen in 
States that have reduced taxes gives an

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answer to the people who say we cannot afford tax cuts. You've shown we 
can't afford not to cut taxes.
    I look forward to this discussion today to discuss how best to 
devolve authority back to the States. Real change comes from the bottom 
up, not the top down. The genius of the American system has been to let 
that change flow upward, from neighborhoods to cities to States and then 
to the Federal Government. We need to keep that path open, to give 
Government a human face and bring decisionmaking closer to the people. I 
am going to rely upon my friends, the Governors.
    I look forward to being in constant contact with you. You see, you 
bring common sense to the political debate. You're dedicated servants. 
You respect the will of the people. Our country is better off for your 
service.
    Governor Glendening.

Note: The President spoke at 10:55 a.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to former Governors John Ashcroft of 
Missouri, Tommy G. Thompson of Wisconsin, and Christine T. Whitman of 
New Jersey, currently Attorney General, Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, 
respectively; and Gov. Parris N. Glendening of Maryland, chair, National 
Governors' Association (NGA). The transcript released by the Office of 
the Press Secretary also included the remarks of Governor Glendening and 
Gov. John Engler of Michigan, vice chair, NGA.