2007 State of the Union address: on Budget & Economy


George W. Bush: Priorities: balance budget; stop earmarks; fix entitlements

    I want to discuss 3 economic reforms that deserve to be priorities for this Congress.
  1. We must balance the federal budget. We can do so without raising taxes. What we need to do is impose spending discipline. We set a goal of cutting the deficit in half by 2009--and met that goal three years ahead of schedule. Now let us take the next step. In the coming weeks, I will submit a budget that eliminates the federal deficit within the next five years.
  2. The time has come to end the practice of earmarks. So let us expose every earmark to the light of day and to a vote in Congress; and cut the number and cost of earmarks at least in half.
  3. To keep this economy strong we must take on the challenge of entitlements. Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid are commitments of conscience--yet somehow we have not found it in ourselves to act. So let us work together and do it now. With enough good sense and good will, you and I can fix Medicare and Medicaid--and save Social Security.
    Source: 2007 State of the Union address to Congress Jan 23, 2007

    James Webb: Top of economy doing great; but workers not

    When one looks at the health of our economy, it’s almost as if we are living in two different countries. Some say that things have never been better. The stock market is at an all-time high, and so are corporate profits. But these benefits are not being fairly shared. When I graduated from college, the average corporate CEO made 20 times what the average worker did; today, it’s nearly 400 times. In other words, it takes the average worker more than a year to make the money that the boss makes in one day

    Wages and salaries for our workers are at all-time lows as a percentage of national wealth, even though the productivity of American workers is the highest in the world. Medical costs have skyrocketed. College tuition rates are off the charts. Our manufacturing base is being dismantled and sent overseas. Good American jobs are being sent along with them. In this age of globalization, the government has a duty to insist that workers’ concerns be dealt with fairly in the international marketplace.

    Source: Democratic response to 2007 State of the Union address Jan 23, 2007

    • The above quotations are from 2007 State of the Union address to Congress, plus the Democratic Response: Jan. 23, 2007.
    • Click here for definitions & background information on Budget & Economy.
    • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
    • Click here for more quotes by George W. Bush on Budget & Economy.
    2016 Presidential contenders on Budget & Economy:
      Republicans:
    Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
    Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
    Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
    Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
    Carly Fiorina(CA)
    Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
    Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
    Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
    Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
    Gov.John Kasich(OH)
    Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
    Gov.George Pataki(NY)
    Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
    Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
    Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
    Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
    Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
    Donald Trump(NY)
    Gov.Scott Walker(WI)     		Democrats:
    Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
    Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
    V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
    Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
    Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
    Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
    Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

    2016 Third Party Candidates:
    Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
    Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
    Robert Steele(L-NY)
    Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
    Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
    Click for details -- or send donations to:
    1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
    E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
    (We rely on your support!)

    Page last updated: Feb 24, 2019