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Budget: Labor/HHS Veto 11/3/99
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FOIA Number: 2006-0462-F
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administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
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Speechwriting
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Terry Edmonds
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17509
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Budget: Labor/HHS Veto 11/3/99
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10/27/1999 02:02 2022890916
PSB DC
PAGE 07
Across the board
Republicans in Congress are proposing an across the board cut in spending that
would cut spending from every government program by 1.4%.
52% support/oppose this spending cut.
52% support (20% strongly + 31% somewhat)
44% oppose (21% strongly + 22% somewhat)
D
R
/
<35 k
>35k
< 35
> 35
65+
years
years
31/63
76/20
53/43
52/44
54/44
52/43
53/43
55/39
59% say that this will have a minimal impact, since all government agencies have
a great deal of waste anyway, and this will just force them to operate more
efficiently. 37% say that the Republican budget cut is a reckless political ploy
designed to cut the size of government without considering whether or not the
cuts would hurt important programs.
D
R
1
<35 k
>35 k
< 35
> 35
65+
years
years
42/52
81/16
59/38
51/45
61/36
64/36
56/38
64/25
but three-quarters think that cuts targeting waste in specific programs
makes more sense,
...
18% think it makes more sense to cut all spending across the board.
77% think it makes more sense to find waste in specific programs and cut them.
D
R
/
<35k
>35k
< 35
> 35
65+
years
years
10/76
30/67
15/84
19/77
18/77
14/80
20/75
18/66
and they continue to think that other alternatives, including the cigarette
tax, would be at least as good as an across the board cut.
46% would prefer cutting spending by 1.4 percent across the board to pass a
balanced budget that did not raid the Social Security surplus.
48% would prefer raising taxes on cigarettes by 55 cents per pack.
D
R
/
<35k
>35 k
<35
>35 >
65+
years
years
31/60
59/35
51/45
46/42
42/55
31/62
50/43
40/40
13
Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates
10/27/1999 02:02
2022890916
PSB DC
PAGE 08
The strongest argument against the across the board cut is the one that
mentions Republican pork in the budget. Arguments about the specific
effects of the cuts also are very powerful.
Ranked By Strongly Oppose
The following are reasons people save
Support/Oppose
given for opposing the Republican 1.4
All
D
R
I
M
F
percent across the board spending cut.
After each, please tell me if you strongly
support, somewhat support, somewhat
Strongly
Oppose
oppose, or strongly oppose the
Republican 1.4 percent cut.
This plan would allow Congress to fund its
47
23/71
10/87
43/53
20/74
27/66
20/76
own pork-barrel projects, and at the same
time make devastating across- the-board cuts
in everything from education to child nutrition
to the FBI.
This is an irresponsible plan that would
46
26/70
14/82
50/47
23/73
30/65
23/74
discharge 39,000 members of the military, cut
Head Start services to over 6,500 children,
and cut food assistance to 103,000 needy
women, children, and infants.
In order to truly protect the Social Security
44
29/65
1/88
51/43
38/61
35/61
23/70
surplus, the Republicans will have to make
cuts of closer to 9 percent across the board.
These cuts would slash Head Start by 43,000
children, reduce the military by up to 250,000,
and radically lower critical research on cancer
and other diseases.
An across the board cut would take every
43
34/64
14/83
61/37
36/64
41/59
28/69
priority and reduce it equally, without
weighing which programs it makes sense to
cut. Important health, education, public
safety, and defense programs will all be cut.
This plan simply avoids making choices.
Republicans first tried to pass an $800 billion
33
44/51
24/68
63/33
50/48
47/47
42/55
tax cut, and now they are saying that we have
to cut spending to balance the budget without
dipping into the Social Security surplus. The
tax cut obviously was an irresponsible
proposal. How can we trust them now on
Social Security and budget issues?
This is simply not necessary. If both sides
17
62/35
45/48
72/25
72/28
63/34
61/36
worked together, they would find a more
sensible solution that did not drastically
14
Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates
10/27/1999 02:02 2022890916
PSB DC
PAGE 09
cutting everything.
Budget Scenarios
Scenario 1: Holding Bills Until the End
This strategy initially plays very well for the President. A stern message to
the Republicans that they should do their job makes 72% more favorable to
him.
Suppose that President Clinton does not sign the remaining budget bills until
Congress sends all of them to him. At that point, he vetoes the budget bills,
saying they do not add up, and that the Republicans are trying to force him to
spend the Social Security surplus. He says they should go back to the drawing
board, put away their gimmicks, cut out the pork, and send him a budget that
funds the programs we value without cutting into Social Security.
Given this, 72/16% are more/less favorable towards President Clinton.
72% more (31% much + 41% somewhat)
16% less (9% much + 7% somewhat)
D
R
I
<$35k
>$35k
90/8
45/31
74/15
79/22
73/16
Although there is a substantial drop in the President's numbers following a
Republican counterattack, he nonetheless retains a small advantage.
Suppose in response, the Republicans say President Clinton is the one trying to
use the Social Security surplus by insisting on funding for his big-government
programs, and that if it were up to him, he'd raise taxes and spend even more.
They say he should stop holding the budget hostage to his pet programs, and let
the country get on with its business.
Given this, 47/42% are more/less favorable towards President Clinton.
47% - more (12% much + 35% somewhat)
42% less (19% much + 23% somewhat)
DR15
61/28
21/62
51/40
47/43
51/39
And he can regain his support simply by responding to the Republican
attack - especially with a message calling for bipartisanship.
Suppose President Clinton says he wants to work with the Republicans to get a
workable budget, and he has proposed ways to pay for the budget without raiding
15
Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates
10/27/1999 02:09 2022890916
PSB DC
PAGE 01
the Social Security surplus, like a tax on tobacco companies tied to teen smoking
levels and a tax on companies to pay for toxic waste cleanup.
Given this, 76/20% are more/less favorable towards President Clinton.
76% more (36% much + 40% somewhat)
D
R
/
83/15
60/27
80/20
Given this, if the election for Congress were held tomorrow, 47/34% would vote
for a Democrat / Republican to represent them in Congress.
D
R
/
<$35 k
>$35k
97/1
11/83
28/32
60/31
47/35
Scenario 2: Mutual Recriminations
It has been so drilled into people that the measure of success for any
budget agreement is whether it touches the Social Security surplus that a
vague statement on the issue - even following a bipartisan agreement - will
cause the agreement to receive only lukewarm support.
Suppose that President Clinton and the Republicans in Congress reach a budget
agreement that both sides say meets their priorities. They say that they will not
know until next year, when tax revenues come in, whether the budget will use any
of the Social Security surplus.
Given this, 45/45% are more/less favorable towards President Clinton.
45% more (7% much + 38% somewhat)
45% less (13% much + 32% somewhat)
D
R
/
<$35k
>$35k
55/28
44/45
35/60
43/44
46/45
And the vague statement will leave the President vulnerable to attacks.
Suppose that major newspapers and some members of Congress say that this
budget agreement spends 25 billion dollars of the budget surplus.
Given this, 31/60% are more/less favorable towards President Clinton.
31% more (5% much + 26% somewhat)
60% less (18% much + 42% somewhat)
D
R
I
<$35k
>$35 k
49/44
26/59
18/74
32/58
30/64
16
Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates
10/27/1999 02:09 2022890916
PSB DC
PAGE 02
Indeed, at that point, the President's credibility will have been so
compromised that even a responsive statement laying the blame on the
Republicans will be ineffective.
Suppose that President Clinton then said that he paid for his spending priorities
with offsets in the budget and that it was Republican pork projects that ended up
eating into the Social Security surplus.
Given this, 39/49% are more/less favorable towards President Clinton.
34% more (12% much + 27% somewhat)
49% less (17% much + 32% somewhat)
D
R
/
<$35k
>$35k
64/25
24/60
25/65
51/39
33/60
Suppose that the Republicans in Congress said it was President Clinton's new
big-spending programs that raided the Social Security surplus, and that their
budget proposal would have protected the surplus.
Given this, 32/54% are more/less favorable towards President Clinton.
32% more (9% much + 23% somewhat)
54% less (22% much + 32% somewhat)
D
R
/
<$35k
>$35 k
51/31
25/67
23/65
34/50
34/58
If this happened, 36/37% would blame President Clinton / the Republicans in
Congress for spending the Social Security surplus.
D
R
/
<$35 k
>$35 k
28/53
50/18
34/35
36/45
35/40
In this scenario, only the Democrats in Congress - not the Republicans or
the President - may gain any advantage.
Given this, if the election for Congress were held tomorrow, 46/36% would vote
for a Democrat/Republican to represent them in Congress.
D
R
/
<$35 k
>$35 k
97/1
11/83
26/37
60/34
46/38
Scenario 3: Across-the-Board Cut
If the Republicans pass an across the board cut after the rest of the budget
is done, and describe the cut as the only way to protect the Social Security
17
Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates
10/27/1999 02:09 2022890916
PSB DC
PAGE 03
surplus, the President would have to risk a noticeable favorability hit to veto
the bill.
Suppose that President Clinton and the Republicans in Congress reach a budget
agreement that both sides say meets their priorities, and that the Republicans
then send President Clinton a bill to cut all spending by 1.4% in order to protect
the Social Security surplus.
66/25% think President Clinton should sign/veto this bill.
D
R
/
<$35k
>$35k
58/28
71/26
71/21
68/25
68/31
Suppose that President Clinton vetoed the 1.4% cut, saying it was an
irresponsible cut that would force the discharge of 39,000 members of the military,
cut Head Start services for over 6,500 children, and cut food assistance to
103,000 needy women, children, and infants.
Given this, 46/46% are more/less favorable towards President Clinton.
46% more (16% much + 30% somewhat)
46% less (25% much + 21% somewhat)
D
R
/
<$35 k
>$35 k
54/42
45/38
38/57
46/53
44/47
Suppose that the Republicans say that by signing the veto on this bill, President
Clinton is signing away the Social Security surplus.
Given this, 26/62% are more/less favorable towards President Clinton.
26% more (10% much + 16% somewhat)
62% less (25% much + 38% somewhat)
D
R
/
<$35 k
>$35 k
39/49
9/82
25/63
31/58
18/72
At that point, the best response would be a counterproposal that protects
the Social Security surplus in some other way.
Suppose that President Clinton says the Republicans should have come up with a
responsible budget in the first place that did not dip into the Social Security
surplus and force irresponsible spending cuts. He says he had a plan to protect
the Social Security surplus by raising the tobacco tax, and he will not allow
across-the-board cuts to critical programs for our children, seniors, and national
defense.
Given this, 69/25% are more/less favorable towards President Clinton.
18
Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates
10/27/1999 02:09 2022890916
PSB DC
PAGE 04
69% more (34% much + 35% somewhat)
25% less (18% much + 7% somewhat)
D
R
I
<35 k
>35k
89/9
49/35
63/34
71/25
75/21
With such a counterproposal, the President can keep the blame on the
Republicans for raiding the Social Security surplus.
If this happened, 26/49% would blame President Clinton/the Republicans in
Congress.
D
R
I
<$35 k
>$35k
12/81
37/38
31/27
19/64
27/52
In this scenario as well, the Democrats in Congress come out the big
winners - stretching their 4% lead to 19%.
Given this, if the election for Congress were held tomorrow, 52/33% would vote
for a Democrat/Republican to represent them in Congress.
D
R
I
<$35 k
>$35 k
97/1
19/75
37/34
66/28
48/35
Assisted Suicide
People do not favor a federal solution for the issue of assisted suicide and
medication for the terminally ill. They are concerned in particular that it will
inhibit doctors' choices about the proper level of pain control and that it will
undo Oregon's assisted suicide law.
92% think that doctors should make decisions about what kind of drugs can be
administered to terminally ill patients. 2% think that law enforcement officials
should make decisions about what kind of drugs can be administered to terminally
ill patients.
D
R
I
Male
Female
Woman
w/kids
93/0
93/5
90/3
91/2
92/3
89/2
25% think the federal government should have the right to pass laws governing
physician assisted suicide. 64% think it should be the right of individual states.
D
R
I
Male
Female
Woman
w/kids
27/64
22/75
27/57
20/70
30/58
36/51
19
Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates
-
We Call on Cafeeree
to wtt tomorrow
sit members dow /cost
Juveride Justice
Yes
[
GOP minimum-wage bill draws veto threat - November 2, 1999
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November 2, 1999
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Another major piece of Republican-supported
WEATHER
legislation is drawing a veto threat, this one a bill headed for House
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action to raise the hourly minimum wage by $1 over the next three
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years while cushioning the impact on businesses with $35 billion in
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The House is to take up the measure in coming days.
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The two Cabinet members made it clear they prefer Clinton's version of
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the same $1 an hour, but do it over two instead of three years. And it
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It would raise the minimum wage by 33 cents in April 2000, another 33
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The tax cuts and regulatory relief would start in 2001, using projected
I of 3
11/2/1999 11:49 AM
GOP minimum-wage bill draws veto threat - November 2, 1999
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/11/02/minimumwage.ap/index.html
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non-Social Security budget surpluses. That package includes a five-year
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There is strong support among Democrats and many Republicans to
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Before the Senate will be both a measure by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy,
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GOP minimum-wage bill draws veto threat - November 2, 1999
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11/2/1999 11:49 AM
DRAFT
November XX, 1999
Dear xx,
I am writing this letter to encourage you to pass a straightforward minimum wage bill that
gives working Americans the pay raise they deserve. If we value work and family, we should raise
the value of the minimum wage.
In 1996 the Congress and I worked together to raise the minimum wage by 90 cents over 2
years. Since then, the American economy has created nearly 9 million new jobs - with more than 1
million of them in retailing. The unemployment rate has fallen from the already low rate of 5.2
percent to 4.2 percent - the lowest in 29 years. We have enjoyed the fastest and longest real wage
growth in more than two decades, while inflation is the lowest it has been in more than three
decades. The minimum wage increase has contributed to the [tk] percent decline in the welfare
caseload since the last minimum wage increase. And the minimum wage increase has meant that all
income groups have been lifted by the rising economy. This experience clearly demonstrates that
what is good for America's working families is good for the America's economy.
But as our economy continues to break records, we must do more to ensure that all
Americans continue to benefit from it. It is time to build on the steps we have taken to honor the
dignity of work. The expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit in 1993 and the increase in the
minimum wage have ensured that no full-time working parent with two children should have to
raise their family in poverty. It is important that we continue to keep this promise. That is why I
have proposed to raise the minimum wage by $1 an hour over the next two years - raising it from
$5.15 to $6.15. This modest increase would simply restore the real value of the minimum wage to
what it was in 1982. More than 11 million workers would benefit under this proposal. A full-time,
year-round worker at the minimum wage would get a $2,000 raise - enough for a family of four to
buy groceries for 7 months or pay rent for 5 months.
All Americans should share in our historic prosperity. This is why Congress should not let
politics get in the way of raising the minimum wage. If you send me a clean bill that increases the
minimum wage by $1 over the next two years, I will sign it.
Unfortunately, some in Congress have been playing politics with the minimum wage bill,
using it as a vehicle for costly and unnecessary tax cuts that would threaten our fiscal discipline. As
I have stated repeatedly, before we consider using projected surpluses to provide for a tax cut, we
must put first things first and address the solvency of Social Security and Medicare. If Congress
sends me a bill that threatens our fiscal discipline, I will veto it.
If paid for tax cuts are attached to the minimum wage bill, they should reflect our priorities
and address urgent national needs like deteriorating schools and the communities that have been left
behind during this time of prosperity. The bulk of the provisions attached to the minimum wage bill
in the House are geared away from working families. Some of these provisions could even reduce
the retirement benefits enjoyed by millions of working Americans.
America's workers show up to work every day and get the job done. Congress should do
the same and pass an increase in the minimum wage this year that does not include poison pills that
bypass the priorities of working families. I urge Congress to pass a minimum wage bill that does not
at the same time bypass the priorities of working families.
Sincerely,
WJC
2
Revised Final 11/3/99 3:30 p.m.
Glastris/Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS ON BUDGET
AND VETO OF LABOR/HHS APPROPRIATION
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, DC
November 3, 1999
Before I begin, I want to join with all Americans in
expressing my shock and profound sorrow at the shootings
that have occurred over the last two days in Honolulu and
Seattle. I have been briefed on the situation, and the federal
government has offered all appropriate assistance to local
authorities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims
and their families.
Yesterday, I returned from Oslo, Norway, where, with
American support, leaders of the Israeli and Palestinian
people entered a critical new phase in the resolution of an
ancient conflict, which once seemed intractable.
1
Tomorrow, I begin a journey to places here in America
that have are only just beginning to feel the benefits of our
current economic expansion-an expansion which, this
February, will be the longest in U.S. history. I will
highlight new ideas and efforts that can bring more of these
kinds of communities into the winner's circle.
This is truly a moment of great promise for America.
But to truly fulfill that promise, Congress must produce the
right kind of budget. A budget that reflects the values of
the American people, respects the need for government to
live within its means, and looks towards the future.
2
Moments ago, I vetoed a bill that does not meet
these criteria-a labor, health, and education spending bill
that Congress sent me yesterday. This bill is a catalogue of
missed opportunities, misguided priorities, and mindless
cuts in everything from education to national defense to the
environment. It forces school children to pay for Congress'
failure to make responsible choices. And it fails to reflect
our deepest values.
We value education, yet this bill fails to invest the right
way in education. It reneges on last year's bipartisan
commitment to fund 100,000 new, highly-trained teachers
to reduce class size in the early grades. It fails to include
my initiative to demand accountability by helping turn
around or shut down failing schools.
3
And it shortchanges other priorities, from enhancing worker
safety, to expanding child-care, to protecting Americans
from the threat of bio-terrorism.
We value fiscal responsibility, yet this bill abdicates
that responsibility. It demands mindless, across-the-board
cuts that will damage vital priorities, even as the
Republican majority has larded the budget with wasteful
spending.
Congress would spend hundreds of millions of dollars
for a ship the Pentagon didn't ask for. Yet this bill would
force the military to cut jobs for tens of thousands of
soldiers and other military personnel.
4
It would mean fewer FBI agents to fight crime; no food
assistance to tens of thousands of low-income women,
infants, and children; and no extra help to almost 10,000
children learning to read.
We value a clean environment, but the budget
Congress has passed would roll back important
environmental protections.
We value the safety of our families, but their budget
fails to put 50,00 new community police officers in our
neighborhoods to keep the crime rate going down.
5
We value peace, freedom, and the security of our
nation, but their budget would undermine America's ability
to lead the world in pursuit of those goals. Some members
of Congress have said they are willing to restore funding for
one critical effort they left out of the bill they passed: our
commitment to the Middle East peace process. That is
good, but not good enough. We need a budget that will
enable America to advance all its critical interests around
the world.
Congress is now more than a month behind schedule
and I know many members want to leave town. But the
American people want Congress to lead, and there are a lot
of important matters that remain unfinished.
6
Our nation continues to be reminded of the horrors of gun
violence. Congress needs to send me common-sense gun
safety legislation.
To ensure that every American in every health plan has
the protections they need, Congress needs to send me a
strong, enforceable Patients Bill of Rights.
To meet the challenge of an aging America, Congress
should act on my plan to extend the life of Social Security
until 2050. And it should act on my plan to strengthen
Medicare and add a prescription drug benefit.
7
To ensure the financial health of our hospitals, nursing
homes and other health care providers, Congress must
moderate the cuts that resulted from the balanced budget act
of 1997.
To give millions of people with disabilities a chance to
experience the dignity of work without losing their health
care, Congress must send me the Work Incentives
Improvement Act.
To give hard working families a chance to share in our
growing prosperity, Congress must raise the minimum
wage.
8
To keep our economy on the cutting edge of scientific
and technological change, Congress must extend the
research and development tax credit, and it should extend
other vital tax credits, such as our Welfare-to-Work tax
credit.
To provide all of our children with the schools they
need, Congress must pass tax credits to build or fix 6,000
schools.
To shine the light of prosperity on communities in the
economic shadows, Congress must pass our new markets
tax credits, that would give investors the same incentives to
invest in new markets here at home that we give them to
invest in new markets overseas.
9
The budget that I sent Congress shows that we can do
all of this in way that is paid for, that does not spend the
Social Security surplus, and that allows us to pay down the
debt over the next 15 years so that America can be debt free
for the first time since 1835. So, I urge the Congress to put
partisanship aside and work with me to complete the work
of the American people. If we do that, we can make this a
season of progress and begin a new century of promise for
America.
Thank you.
10
L4
'99 NOV 3 PM3:26
Draft 11/3/99 3:05 p.m.
Glastris/Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS ON BUDGET
AND VETO OF LABOR/HHS APPROPRIATION
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, DC
November 3, 1999
Yesterday, I returned from Oslo, Norway, where, with American support, leaders of the
Israeli and Palestinian people entered a critical new phase in the resolution of an ancient conflict,
which once seemed intractable. Tomorrow, I begin a journey to places here in America that have
are only just beginning to feel the benefits of our current economic expansion-an expansion
which, this February, will be the longest in U.S. history. I will highlight new ideas and efforts
that can bring more of these kinds of communities into the winner's circle.
This is truly a moment of great promise for America. But to truly fulfill that promise,
Congress must produce the right kind of budget. A budget that reflects the values of the
American people, respects the need for government to live within its means, and looks towards
the future.
Moments ago, I vetoed a bill that does not meet these criteria-a labor, health, and
education spending bill that Congress sent me yesterday. This bill is a catalogue of missed
opportunities, misguided priorities, and mindless cuts in everything from education to national
defense to the environment. It forces school children to pay for Congress' failure to make
responsible choices. And it fails to reflect our deepest values.
We value education, yet this bill fails to invest the right way in education. It reneges on
last year's bipartisan commitment to fund 100,000 new, highly-trained teachers to reduce class
size in the early grades. It fails to include my initiative to demand accountability by helping turn
around or shut down failing schools. And it shortchanges other priorities, from enhancing
worker safety, to expanding child-care, to protecting Americans from the threat of bio-terrorism.
We value fiscal responsibility, yet this bill abdicates that responsibility. It demands
mindless, across-the-board cuts that will damage vital priorities, even as the Republican majority
has larded the budget with wasteful spending. Congress would spend hundreds of millions of
dollars for a ship the Pentagon didn't ask for. Yet this bill would force the military to cut jobs
for tens of thousands of soldiers and other military personnel. It would mean fewer FBI agents to
fight crime; no food assistance to tens of thousands of low-income women, infants, and children;
and no extra help to almost 10,000 children learning to read.
We value a clean environment, but the budget Congress has passed would roll back
important environmental protections.
We value the safety of our families, but their budget fails to put 50,00 new community
police officers in our neighborhoods to keep the crime rate going down.
We value peace, freedom, and the security of our nation, but their budget would
undermine America's ability to lead the world in pursuit of those goals. Some members of
Congress have said they are willing to restore funding for one critical effort they left out of the
bill they passed: our commitment to the Middle East peace process. That is good, but not good
enough. We need a budget that will enable America to advance all its critical interests around
the world.
Congress is now more than a month behind schedule and I know many members want to
leave town. But the American people want Congress to lead, and there are a lot of important
matters that remain unfinished. Our nation continues to be reminded of the horrors of gun
violence. Congress needs to send me common-sense gun safety legislation. To ensure that every
American in every health plan has the protections they need, Congress needs to send me a strong,
enforceable Patients Bill of Rights. To meet the challenge of an aging America, Congress should
act on my plan to extend the life of Social Security until 2050. And it should act on my plan to
strengthen Medicare and add a prescription drug benefit. To ensure the financial health of our
hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers, Congress must moderate the cuts that
resulted from the balanced budget act of 1997. To give millions of people with disabilities a
chance to experience the dignity of work without losing their health care, Congress must send me
the Work Incentives Improvement Act. To give hard working families a chance to share in our
growing prosperity, Congress must raise the minimum wage.
To keep our economy on the cutting edge of scientific and technological change,
Congress must extend the research and development tax credit, and it should extend other vital
tax credits, such as our Welfare-to-Work tax credit. To provide all of our children with the
schools they need, Congress must pass new tax credits to build or fix 6,000 schools. To shine
the light of prosperity on communities in the economic shadows, Congress must pass our new
markets tax credits, that would give investors the same incentives to invest in new markets here
at home that we give them to invest in new markets overseas.
The budget that I sent Congress shows that we can do all of this in way that is paid for,
that does not spend the Social Security Trust Fund, and that allows us to pay down the debt over
the next 15 years so that America can be debt free for the first time since 1835. So, I urge the
Congress to put partisanship aside and stay here as long as it takes to complete the work of the
American people. If we do that, we can make this a season of progress and begin a new century
of promise for America.
Thank you.
Revised Final 11/3/99 3:30 p.m.
Glastris/Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS ON BUDGET
AND VETO OF LABOR/HHS APPROPRIATION
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, DC
November 3, 1999
Before I begin, I want to join with all Americans in
expressing my shock and profound sorrow at the shootings
that have occurred over the last two days in Honolulu and
Seattle. I have been briefed on the situation, and the federal
government has offered all appropriate assistance to local
authorities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims
and their families.
Yesterday, I returned from Oslo, Norway, where, with
American support, leaders of the Israeli and Palestinian
people entered a critical new phase in the resolution of an
ancient conflict, which once seemed intractable.
1
Tomorrow, I begin a journey to places here in America
that have are only just beginning to feel the benefits of our
current economic expansion-an expansion which, this
February, will be the longest in U.S. history. I will
highlight new ideas and efforts that can bring more of these
kinds of communities into the winner's circle.
This is truly a moment of great promise for America.
But to truly fulfill that promise, Congress must produce the
right kind of budget. A budget that reflects the values of
the American people, respects the need for government to
live within its means, and looks towards the future.
2
Moments ago, I vetoed a bill that does not meet
these criteria-a labor, health, and education spending bill
that Congress sent me yesterday. This bill is a catalogue of
missed opportunities, misguided priorities, and mindless.
cuts in everything from education to national defense to the
environment. It forces school children to pay for Congress'
failure to make responsible choices. And it fails to reflect
our deepest values.
We value education, yet this bill fails to invest the right
way in education. It reneges on last year's bipartisan
commitment to fund 100,000 new, highly-trained teachers
to reduce class size in the early grades. It fails to include
my initiative to demand accountability by helping turn
around or shut down failing schools.
3
And it shortchanges other priorities, from enhancing worker
safety, to expanding child-care, to protecting Americans
from the threat of bio-terrorism.
We value fiscal responsibility, yet this bill abdicates
that responsibility. It demands mindless, across-the-board
cuts that will damage vital priorities, even as the
Republican majority has larded the budget with wasteful
spending.
Congress would spend hundreds of millions of dollars
for a ship the Pentagon didn't ask for. Yet this bill would
force the military to cut jobs for tens of thousands of
soldiers and other military personnel.
4
It would mean fewer FBI agents to fight crime; no food
assistance to tens of thousands of low-income women,
infants, and children; and no extra help to almost 10,000
children learning to read:
We value a clean environment, but the budget
Congress has passed would roll back important
environmental protections.
We value the safety of our families, but their budget
fails to put 50,00 new community police officers in our
neighborhoods to keep the crime rate going down.
5
We value peace, freedom, and the security of our
nation, but their budget would undermine America's ability
to lead the world in pursuit of those goals. Some members
of Congress have said they are willing to restore funding for
one critical effort they left out of the bill they passed: our
commitment to the Middle East peace process. That is
good, but not good enough. We need a budget that will
enable America to advance all its critical interests around
the world.
Congress is now more than a month behind schedule
and I know many members want to leave town. But the
American people want Congress to lead, and there are a lot
of important matters that remain unfinished.
6
Our nation continues to be reminded of the horrors of gun
violence. Congress needs to send me common-sense gun
safety legislation.
To ensure that every American in every health plan has
the protections they need, Congress needs to send me a
strong, enforceable Patients Bill of Rights.
To meet the challenge of an aging America, Congress
should act on my plan to extend the life of Social Security
until 2050. And it should act on my plan to strengthen
Medicare and add a prescription drug benefit.
7
To ensure the financial health of our hospitals, nursing
homes and other health care providers, Congress must
moderate the cuts that resulted from the balanced budget act
of 1997.
To give millions of people with disabilities a chance to
experience the dignity of work without losing their health
care, Congress must send me the Work Incentives
Improvement Act.
To give hard working families a chance to share in our
growing prosperity, Congress must raise the minimum
wage.
8
To keep our economy on the cutting edge of scientific
and technological change, Congress must extend the
research and development tax credit, and it should extend
other vital tax credits, such as our Welfare-to-Work tax
credit.
To provide all of our children with the schools they
need, Congress must pass tax credits to build or fix 6,000
schools.
To shine the light of prosperity on communities in the
economic shadows, Congress must pass our new markets
tax credits, that would give investors the same incentives to
invest in new markets here at home that we give them to
invest in new markets overseas.
9
The budget that I sent Congress shows that we can do
all of this in way that is paid for, that does not spend the
Social Security surplus, and that allows us to pay down the
debt over the next 15 years so that America can be debt free
for the first time since 1835. So, I urge the Congress to put
partisanship aside and work with me to complete the work
of the American people. If we do that, we can make this a
season of progress and begin a new century of promise for
America.
Thank you.
10
INSERT
Before I begin, I want to join with all Americans
in expressing my shock and profound sorrow at the
shootings that have occurred over the last two days in
Honolulu and Seattle. I have been briefed on the
situation, and the federal government has offered all
appropriate assistance to local authorities. Our
thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their
families.
I know the American people have seen enough
of these senseless killings. We can no longer sit back
and pretend that there is nothing we can do.
So I am asking the members of the Congress
responsible for finishing the work on our juvenile
justice bill to meet here in the White House tomorrow
with my Chief of Staff and other members of my
administration to settle our differences and give the
American people common-sense gun legislation.
INSERT
Before I begin, I want to join with all Americans
in expressing my shock and profound sorrow at the
shootings that have occurred over the last two days in
Honolulu and Seattle. I have been briefed on the
situation, and the federal government has offered all
appropriate assistance to local authorities. Our
thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their
families.
I know the American people have seen enough
of these senseless killings. We can no longer sit back
and pretend that there is nothing we can do.
So I am asking the members of the Congress
responsible for finishing the work on our juvenile
justice bill to meet here in the White House tomorrow
with my Chief of Staff and other members of my
administration to settle our differences and give the
American people common-sense gun legislation.
Draft 11/3/99 3:05 p.m.
Glastris/Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS ON BUDGET
AND VETO OF LABOR/HHS APPROPRIATION
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, DC
November 3, 1999
Yesterday, I returned from Oslo, Norway, where, with
American support, leaders of the Israeli and Palestinian
people entered a critical new phase in the resolution of an
ancient conflict, which once seemed intractable.
Tomorrow, I begin a journey to places here in America that
have are only just beginning to feel the benefits of our
current economic expansion-an expansion which, this
February, will be the longest in U.S. history. I will
highlight new ideas and efforts that can bring more of these
kinds of communities into the winner's circle.
1
This is truly a moment of great promise for America.
But to truly fulfill that promise, Congress must produce the
right kind of budget. A budget that reflects the values of
the American people, respects the need for government to
live within its means, and looks towards the future.
Moments ago, I vetoed a bill that does not meet
these criteria-a labor, health, and education spending bill
that Congress sent me yesterday. This bill is a catalogue of
missed opportunities, misguided priorities, and mindless
cuts in everything from education to national defense to the
environment. It forces school children to pay for Congress'
failure to make responsible choices. And it fails to reflect
our deepest values.
2
We value education, yet this bill fails to invest the right
way in education. It reneges on last year's bipartisan
commitment to fund 100,000 new, highly-trained teachers
to reduce class size in the early grades. It fails to include
my initiative to demand accountability by helping turn
around or shut down failing schools. And it shortchanges
other priorities, from enhancing worker safety, to
expanding child-care, to protecting Americans from the
threat of bio-terrorism.
We value fiscal responsibility, yet this bill abdicates
that responsibility. It demands mindless, across-the-board
cuts that will damage vital priorities, even as the
Republican majority has larded the budget with wasteful
spending.
3
Congress would spend hundreds of millions of dollars
for a ship the Pentagon didn't ask for. Yet this bill would
force the military to cut jobs for tens of thousands of
soldiers and other military personnel. It would mean fewer
FBI agents to fight crime; no food assistance to tens of
thousands of low-income women, infants, and children; and
no extra help to almost 10,000 children learning to read.
We value a clean environment, but the budget
Congress has passed would roll back important
environmental protections.
4
We value the safety of our families, but their budget
fails to put 50,00 new community police officers in our
neighborhoods to keep the crime rate going down.
We value peace, freedom, and the security of our
nation, but their budget would undermine America's ability
to lead the world in pursuit of those goals. Some members
of Congress have said they are willing to restore funding for
one critical effort they left out of the bill they passed: our
commitment to the Middle East peace process. That is
good, but not good enough. We need a budget that will
enable America to advance all its critical interests around
the world.
5
Congress is now more than a month behind schedule
and I know many members want to leave town. But the
American people want Congress to lead, and there are a lot
of important matters that remain unfinished. Our nation
continues to be reminded of the horrors of gun violence.
Congress needs to send me common-sense gun safety
legislation.
To ensure that every American in every health plan has
the protections they need, Congress needs to send me a
strong, enforceable Patients Bill of Rights.
To meet the challenge of an aging America, Congress
should act on my plan to extend the life of Social Security
until 2050. And it should act on my plan to strengthen
Medicare and add a prescription drug benefit.
6
To ensure the financial health of our hospitals, nursing
homes and other health care providers, Congress must
moderate the cuts that resulted from the balanced budget act
of 1997.
To give millions of people with disabilities a chance to
experience the dignity of work without losing their health
care, Congress must send me the Work Incentives
Improvement Act.
To give hard working families a chance to share in our
growing prosperity, Congress must raise the minimum
wage.
7
To keep our economy on the cutting edge of scientific
and technological change, Congress must extend the
research and development tax credit, and it should extend
other vital tax credits, such as our Welfare-to-Work tax
credit.
To provide all of our children with the schools they
need, Congress must pass tax credits to build or fix
6,000 schools.
To shine the light of prosperity on communities in the
economic shadows, Congress must pass our new markets
tax credits, that would give investors the same incentives to
invest in new markets here at home that we give them to
invest in new markets overseas.
8
The budget that I sent Congress shows that we can do
all of this in way that is paid for, that does not spend the
Social Security Krust purplus Fund, and that allows us to pay down
the debt over the next 15 years so that America can be debt
free for the first time since 1835. So, I urge the Congress to
work with meto
put partisanship aside and stay here as long as it takes to
complete the work of the American people. If we do that,
we can make this a season of progress and begin a new
century of promise for America.
Thank you.
9
Jason H. Schechter
11/02/99 03:26:36 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: Statement by the President: Labor/Health and Human Services/Education Appropriations
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Oslo, Norway)
For Immediate Release
November 2, 1999
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Today, by a narrow margin, Congress completed action on a deeply flawed spending
bill that I will veto. This bill is a catalog of missed opportunities, misguided priorities, and
mindless cuts. It forces America's schoolchildren to pay the price for Congress's failure to
make responsible choices. I will not let it become law.
The bill -- which includes the Labor/Health and Human Services/Education
appropriations measure -- makes a blind, across-the-board cut that will hurt everything from
national defense to veterans' programs, from education to the environment. It reneges on last
year's bipartisan commitment to fund 100,000 teachers and reduce class size in the early
grades, replacing this proven approach with a risky block grant that opens the door to private
school vouchers. It fails to include a key accountability initiative to help turn around failing
schools. And it shortchanges many other priorities, including efforts to enhance worker
safety, expand child care, detect emerging infectious diseases, and protect Americans from the
threat of bioterrorism.
This debate is not just about how much we spend but also how wisely we spend. I sent
Congress a budget for education, health care, and other programs that invests in results and is
fully paid for. But Congress continues to pursue an agenda of irresponsible cuts and
ill-conceived allocations. The patience of the American public is wearing thin. It is time for
Congress to put aside partisanship and make the targeted investments our nation's future
demands.
30-30-30
Draft 11/3/99 1:35 am
Glastris/Edmonds
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
DEPARTURE REMARKS
ON BUDGET AND VETO OF LABOR/HHS APPROPRIATION
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, DC
November 3, 1999
Acknowledgements:
I speak to you today at a moment of great promise for America. Yesterday, I returned
from Oslo, Norway, where, with vital American support, leaders of the Israeli and Palestinian
people took important new steps towards resolving an ancient conflict, which once seemed
insoluble. Tomorrow, I begin a journey to several places here in the America that have not fully
felt the benefits of our current economic expansion-an expansion which, this February, will be
the longest in U.S. history. I will highlight new ideas and efforts that can bring these
communities-and the people who live there-into the winner's circle.
But to truly fulfill the promise of this moment, Congress must produce the right kind of
budget. A budget that reflects the values the American people, respects the need for government
to live within its means, and looks towards the future.
Moments ago, I vetoed a bill that does not meet these criteria-a labor, health, and
education spending bill that Congress sent me yesterday. This bill is a catalogue of missed
opportunities, misguided priorities, and mindless cuts. It forces school children to pay for
Congress' failure to make responsible choices. And it fails to reflect our deepest values.
We value education, yet this bill fails to invest the right way in education. It reneges on
last year's bipartisan commitment to fund 100,000 new, highly-trained teachers to reduce class
size in the early grades. It fails to include my initiative to demand accountability by helping turn
around or shut down failing schools. And it shortchanges other priorities, from enhancing
worker safety, to expanding child-care, to protecting Americans from the threat of bio-terrorism.
We value fiscal responsibility, yet this bill abdicates that responsibility. It demands
mindless, across-the-board cuts that will damage vital priorities, even as the Republican majority
has larded the budget with waste. Congress would spend hundreds of millions of dollars for a
ship the Pentagon didn't ask for. Yet this bill would force the military to cut jobs for tens of
thousands of soldiers and other military personnel. It would mean fewer FBI agents to fight
crime; no food assistance to tens of thousands of low-income women and children; and no extra
help to almost 10,000 children learning to read.
broader
We value a clean environment, but the budget Congress has passed would roll back
important environmental protections.