[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 16 (Monday, April 23, 2001)]
[Pages 616-618]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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]
    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 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 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,

[[Page 617]]

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 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 
cash flow, 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 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

[[Page 618]]

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 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 Sharon Winfield's children, Joy and 
Tiffany Winfield and Ager Hilson; and Kelly and Pam Blake's children, 
Jeremy and Jared.