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Show Community f0 Comments y Jj' For those who are the least bit familiar with this column or with me, there is little doubt that my political leanings are Republican. That does not mean that I have always voted the straight party ticket. On the contrary, I have supported Gov. Calvin L. Rampton in his last two bids for that high office, because I thought he was a moral man, a good administrator and a brilliant governor. I supported Sen. Frank E. Moss in 1964 for his sponsorship of the legislation which made Canyonlands a national park. And on numerous occasions, I supported local Democrats for office, because I felt they were best for the jobs.. It is only fair at this time, in light of the above statements, that I list the reasons why I support Gerald Ford for election to a full term as President of the United States, as I do so because of a number of reasons, not just because he is a Republican. President Ford and his administration strongly believe that the only way to achieve a full economic recovery is to reduce federal spending, lessen the tax burden on individuals and corporations, and develop tax incentives to stimulate the economy. When he inherited the Presidency in August 1974, our nation's economy like that of the rest of the world was wracked by a mounting inflation and a deepening recession. The unemployment rate was rising steadily. Hard decisions, based on economic realities, had to be made. President Ford made those decisions. Against the advice of Congress and big labor, massive new spending programs were delayed or vetoed. In their place, the Ford Administration designed balanced and consistent programs tq. stem both the inflation and the recession; -v- ! r Today, while it is still high, inflation is only half what it was in 1974. Unemployment, still too high, is moving downward and 83 million Americans are now at work more than at any time in our history. During the last eighteen months, more than four million jobs have been added, and President Ford has said he intends to add at least 2.5 million jobs a year during his next Administration. And, the President had made clear, these jobs will be permanent ones, not temporary, dead-end, make-work jobs that would lead to higher taxes, higher prices and ultimately higher unemployment. Massive federal programs have not proved to be the answer to either social reform or fiscal responsibility and stability. Most of these programs initiated during the Democratic Administrations Administra-tions of the 1960's cost more than ever. For example, the food stamp program begun in 1965 at a cost of $14 million a year now costs $5 billion annually. While the President believes the program is conceptually sound, and our nation's poor need and deserve a break on food purchases, he has proposed reforms that would increase benefits to the needy poor, while ending them for free-loaders and middle income recipients. The proposed reforms, which will save a billion dollars a year, have not been acted on by Congress. During President Ford's two years in office he has proposed the largest spending cuts in our nation's history. Unfortunately, Congress had paid little heed and this year's budget is almost $20 billion higher than the President proposed. In order to counteract this big-spending Congress, the President vetoed more than 60 measures passed by Congress. Forty-seven of those vetoes were sustained, saving $9 billion in new spending. In the words of President Ford: "The way to a healthy non-inflationary economy has become increasingly apparent the government must stop spending so much and borrowing so much of our money; more money must remain in private hands where it will do the most good. To hold down the cost of living, we must hold down the cost of government." A close scrutiny of the economic statistics will show that this is just what is being accomplished by the Administration in recent days. President Ford has spent 28 years in Congress and the White House confronting America's economic requirements and problems. During the last two years the President has made critical decisions that have put our nation on the road to economic recovery. It is important that this momentum toward recovery be maintained and that President Ford be elected in November to a full four-year term. That's the way I feel. Sam Taylor |