For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 3, 2001
Radio Address by the President to the Nation
THE PRESIDENT: Good
morning. As I begin, I want to say a few words about the
people of Washington state. Earlier this week, that state
was rocked by a powerful earthquake, which affected countless lives and
caused billion dollars of damage. The Director of the
Federal Emergency Management Association, Joe Allbaugh, went
immediately to Seattle. And my administration is providing
help. Our prayers are with the people of Washington state.
A few days ago, I had the honor of addressing
a joint session of Congress. I hope you had a chance to tune
in and hear my plans for the federal budget and my priorities for the
country. After making my case to Congress, I headed out
early the next morning on a swing through five states, to bring my case
directly to you, the American people.
I approach our budget as American families
do. First, we set priorities, and funded them. My
top priority is education reform. And I have asked that the
Department of Education receive the largest percentage increase of any
federal agency. We increase funding for our reading programs
and character education and recruiting good
teachers. This time around, however, we won't be
just spending more money. We will be setting higher
standards, and expecting real results for all our children.
We're going to keep the promise of Social
Security and keep the government from raiding the Social Security
surplus. And to safeguard the system against long-term
threats, I will form a Presidential commission to reform Social
Security, and place it on firm financial ground.
We will spend more on Medicare, as well, nearly doubling its budget in
10 years. But just as important, we will modernize Medicare,
to provide a prescription drug benefit for senior
citizens. We will also support and strengthen America's
military, starting with a pay increase, and better housing for our
troops.
After meeting these national priorities, my
budget pays down a record amount of national debt. We will
pay off $2 trillion of debt over the next decade. That will
be the largest debt reduction of any country, ever. Future generations
shouldn't be forced to pay back money that we have
borrowed. We owe this kind of responsibility to our children
and grandchildren.
And in addition to funding our priorities, and
reducing debt by a record amount, we set up a contingency fund of
nearly $1 trillion, and we still have money left over. The
surplus money that remains will be used for a broad, fair tax
relief. A surplus, after all, is an over-charge of American
tax payers. And on your behalf, I am asking for a refund.
My tax plan reduces income tax rates across
the board, giving the largest percentage reductions to working families
who need the most help. My plan reduces the marriage penalty, and gets
rid of the death tax. It will boost the economy, and help
create new businesses, new jobs and new growth, at a time when we need
all three.
When the tax cut takes effect, the typical
family of four will save $1,600 every year. Some say that's
not much. But they ought to talk to people like Steven and
Josefina Aramos, young parents trying to build a better life for their
family. Right now they pay about $8,000 a year in federal
income taxes. My plan will save this hard working family
more than $2,000. Steven says, "Two thousand dollars is a
lot to my family. If we had this money, it would help us
reach our goal of paying off our personal debt in two years time."
Well, I want the Aramos family and millions of
others like them to meet their goals, and to live out their best hopes
for themselves and their children. Our federal budget must
be good for the family budget.
That was my message to Congress on
Tuesday. And now, I hope you'll send a message in favor of
tax relief to your congressman or your senator. After all, the surplus
is your money.
Thank you for listening.
END
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