Obama: ‘The Idea that I Get a Kick out of Big Government Is Just Not the Case’

"And by the way, if any of you doubt my claim that we have actually eliminated a bunch of regulations, we can give you a manual. Shaun Donovan knows because I charged him with this. And prior to that, Mr. Forman, and others, and Silvia, before she was HSS secretary. They have all worked on this and they know how important I think this is. 

I do not believe in regulation for regulation's sake, contrary to rumor. This  idea that somehow, I get a kick out of big government, it is just not the case. The truth of the matter is, if something is working without us getting involved, we have more than enough to do without getting involved. We really do. It is not like I wake up every morning thinking, how can I add more work for me? (Laughter) I do not think that way. If there is something that we can stop doing, or do smarter and do better, we are happy to do it."