An artist using statistics as a brush could paint two very different pictures of our country. Neither picture is complete in and of itself. And tonight I challenge and invite Congress to work with me to use the resources of one picture to repaint the other to direct the advantages of our time to solve the problems of our people. Some of these resources will come from government some, but not all. We should leave those arguments to the last century and chart a different course.
Government has a role, and an important role.
Yet too much government crowds out initiative and hard work, private charity and the private economy. And my budget is based on that philosophy. It is reasonable and it is responsible. It meets our obligations and funds our growing needs. We have increased spending for discretionary programs by a very responsible 4 percent, above the rate of inflation.