Staying Ahead of the Game
In his weekly radio address, President Barack Obama called for a return to fiscal discipline, and outlined a four-step approach to reining in spending and eliminating waste.
“It’s time to fundamentally change the way that we do business in Washington," said Obama. "To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative. That will demand new thinking and a new sense of responsibility for every dollar that is spent.”
Obama, who held his first full cabinet meeting this week, said that he used the meeting to send "a clear message: cut what doesn't work."
He added that "we will continue going through the budget line by line, and we’ll identify more than 100 programs that will be cut or eliminated.” He did specify any of the programs, or say how much those cuts might save.
The president called on Congress to pass PAYGO legislation, saying that "we need to adhere to the basic principle that new tax or entitlement policies should be paid for… so that government acts the same way any responsible family does in setting its budget."
His plan also includes establishing a system for federal employees to submit ideas for cost cutting and a private sector forum on reforming government.
“We cannot sustain deficits that mortgage our children’s future, nor tolerate wasteful inefficiency. Government has a responsibility to spend the peoples’ money wisely, and to serve the people effectively,” he said. “I will work every single day that I am President to live up to that responsibility, and to transform our government so that is held to a higher standard of performance on behalf of the American people.”
“It’s time to fundamentally change the way that we do business in Washington," said Obama. "To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative. That will demand new thinking and a new sense of responsibility for every dollar that is spent.”
Obama, who held his first full cabinet meeting this week, said that he used the meeting to send "a clear message: cut what doesn't work."
He added that "we will continue going through the budget line by line, and we’ll identify more than 100 programs that will be cut or eliminated.” He did specify any of the programs, or say how much those cuts might save.
The president called on Congress to pass PAYGO legislation, saying that "we need to adhere to the basic principle that new tax or entitlement policies should be paid for… so that government acts the same way any responsible family does in setting its budget."
His plan also includes establishing a system for federal employees to submit ideas for cost cutting and a private sector forum on reforming government.
“We cannot sustain deficits that mortgage our children’s future, nor tolerate wasteful inefficiency. Government has a responsibility to spend the peoples’ money wisely, and to serve the people effectively,” he said. “I will work every single day that I am President to live up to that responsibility, and to transform our government so that is held to a higher standard of performance on behalf of the American people.”
SOURCE: Politico
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