[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 25 (Monday, June 25, 2007)]
[Pages 828-829]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.

[[Page 829]]

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.
    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.

[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.