[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 13 (Monday, April 2, 2007)]
[Pages 373-374]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.
    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

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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 his 
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.