CRAWFORD, Texas — President Bush said Friday that there was a benefit to the government's fast-dwindling surplus, declaring that it will create "a fiscal straitjacket for Congress." He said that was "incredibly positive news" because it would halt the growth of the federal government.
In a 45-minute news conference in a community hall next to an RV park here, Bush avoided specific answers to several questions about how he would find the money for his next big initiatives, from missile defense, to overhauling the military, to reforming Medicaid, without dipping into Social Security surpluses that both parties have declared off limits. And he made it clear he would not rethink his tax cut, saying, "I can't tell you how proud I am to be traveling around the country and people say, 'Thanks for the $600.' "
At the same time, Bush talked in some detail about the economic slowdown, which he called a "correction," and left open the possibility that he might dip into the Social Security money if a further economic stimulus was needed.
"I've said that the only reason we should use Social Security funds is in the case of an economic recession or war," Bush said.
It will be a long while before there is any certainty about whether the economy has bottomed out or is headed toward a recession. In the meantime, Bush said that he was intent on getting Congress to follow his spending priorities, passing large increases for the military and for education and putting everything else on hold.
"If Congress goes off on a spending spree in other areas, it's going to create a competition for defense dollars," he said, adding later, "and there's going to be a battle."
Bush's news conference was his first extended session with reporters since arriving at his ranch here early this month. By putting down a strong claim for military spending and also by hinting, even in a vague way, that Social Security may not be untouchable, Bush seemed to be pulling together the strands of an emerging strategy for what could be difficult fiscal times ahead. He spent much of the session on military issues, including formally announcing the nomination of Gen. Richard B. Myers to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In his comments Friday, and in asides to elementary school students and reporters here in Crawford on Thursday, Bush appeared to be laying out his strategy for autumn. At its simplest, it boils down to this: Bush will battle for increased spending on the military and education, and he will argue that every other proposal must be decided after the military budget is set. In effect, this would preserve Bush's priorities while making others appear as if their initiatives are responsible for dipping into the Social Security surplus.