Barack Obama

You can't sustain a system that bleeds billions of taxpayer dollars on programs that have outlived their usefulness or exist solely because of the power of politicians, lobbyists or interest groups. We simply can't afford it.

We are going to have to make sure that we are investing in roads, bridges, other infrastructure investments that lay the groundwork for long-term economic growth.

There is only one president at a time. That president is George W. Bush, and he will be president until I'm sworn in on January 20.

They're not going to accept amounts greater than $50,000.

If this is true and this was just a report this morning but if it's true, it is a prime example of the kind of waste that I intend to end as president.

We can't sustain a system that bleeds billions of taxpayer dollars on programs that have outlived their usefulness or exists solely because of the power of politicians, lobbyists or interest groups. We simply can't afford it.

There are just going to be some programs that simply don't work and we've got to eliminate.

We are going to go through our federal budget, as I promised during the campaign, page by page, line by line, eliminating those programs we don't need.

I don't think that there's any question that we have a mandate to move the country in a new direction and not continue the same old practices that have gotten us in the fix that we're in.

There is only one president at a time. Given the extraordinary circumstances that we find ourselves in, however, I think it is very important for the American people to understand that we are putting together a first class team, and for…

They're not going to accept amounts greater than $50,000.

Just because a program, a special interest tax break or corporate subsidy is tucked into this year's budget, does not mean it should survive the next.

We will go through our federal budget -- page by page, line by line -- eliminating those programs we don't need, and insisting that those we do operate in a sensible cost-effective way.

We cannot sustain a system that bleeds billions of taxpayer dollars on programs that have outlived their usefulness, or exist solely because of the power of a politician, lobbyist, or interest group.

This talented and dynamic individual brings diverse skills to the White House, and is ready to work hard in service to the American people at this defining moment in history.

I believe that a nation's budget reflects its priorities.

I am honored to have this hardworking and trusted advisor join my administration as we work to tackle serious challenges and bring the change that we need to Washington.

I'm confident that we will rise to meet this challenge.

That is why I will ask my team to think anew and act anew to meet our new challenges.

In these challenging times, when we are facing both rising deficits and a sinking economy, budget reform is not an option. It is an imperative.

Budget reform is not an option. It is an imperative.

This isn't about big government or small government. It's about building a smarter government that focuses on what works.

We must also restore the confidence of middle-class families that their government is on their side.

I want this on my desk on January 20. I mean, it sort of puts the Congress on notice. It shows that he's serious.

That work starts today, because the truth is, we do not have a minute to waste. Right now, our economy is trapped in a vicious cycle.