Bush Says He'll Cut Deficit in Half

Bush Says He'll Cut Deficit in Half

NewsMax.com Wires
Monday, Dec. 20, 2004

WASHINGTON – President Bush says he will submit a budget that cuts the deficit in half and mantains strict spending discipline.

"We will provide every tool and resource for our military, we will protect the homeland," Bush said. He said he would "maintain strict discipline in spending tax dollars."

In the 17th news conference of his presidency, Bush was pushing his second-term agenda.

As for Iraq, Bush accused insurgents there of trying to "disrupt the democratic process" but he cautioned that next month's elections were just the first step of a long process in creating a stable, democratic country.

"The elections in January are the beginning of a process, and it is important for the American people to understand that," he said.

Bush defended his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he has had disagreements over the war on terror and, more recently, over the disputed elections in Ukraine.

"The relationship's an important relationship, and I would call the relationship a good relationship," Bush said, adding that he had talked with Putin about getting Russia admitted to the World Trade Organization.

Bush said he work toward giving Russia and the United States equal access to nuclear storage sites.

Over the years, Bush has toned down criticism of Russia's campaign against separatist rebels in Chechnya, and Putin has acquiesced to U.S. troops being stationed in Central Asia, close to Moscow.

But earlier this month, Putin said he could not imagine how Iraqi elections that the Bush administration scheduled for Jan. 30 could be held under "conditions of occupation by foreign forces," a reference to the United States.

Complete coverage: Transcript of Bush discussing illegal aliens, Social Security, Iraq, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, more