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From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:jcma@REAGAN.AI.MIT.EDU Wed May 5 22:25:36 1993
Date: Wed, 5 May 1993 16:31-0400
From: The White House <75300.3115@compuserve.com>
To: Clinton-News-Distribution@campaign92.org
Subject: Press Briefing by George Stephanopoulos 5.5.93
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release May 5, 1993
PRESS BRIEFING
BY GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS
The Briefing Room
1:24 P.M. EDT
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: First of all, Dee Dee left out the
most important factor in Don Steinberg's resume. He also did a stint
with Congressman Gephardt, which is good service in this
administration.
Questions.
Q On Bosnia what are you hearing?
Q And what do you know?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: And when did I know it. There's
nothing new. We have no new information from --. The President had
a good meeting with the congressional leaders earlier today. The
entire meeting was devoted to Bosnia. The President outlined, gave a
review of Secretary Christopher's trip, a review of his meetings in
Moscow today; said that he would continue to consult with the
congressional leaders over the course of the next days and weeks.
Q Does the President believe there should be a debate
if not a formal resolution in Congress so that the American people
can better understand what is at stake?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, the President clearly
believes that the American people have to understand what's at stake
here and he will explain that, explain our goals, explain our
objectives and explain how we intend to meet them. At the same time,
if the action requires congressional authorization, the President
will certainly go forward with that.
Q Does he believe there should be a debate and
congressional authorization prior to peacekeepers going as well as
prior to any military action, or are those two very different things?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think that we have to wait and
see exactly what action is contemplated. We don't have a set action
yet. We have no decisions yet. But, clearly, the President will go
to the Congress if it is required, and we clearly, if he goes to the
Congress, will have a full debate.
Q George, you keep saying, "if it is required." Are
you making a distinction here?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: No. What I'm trying to do --
Q would he go to the Congress in any case in order
to rally the public?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think what we're trying -- I'm
trying not to prejudge the President's decision. I mean, the
President has not made a decision, we have not taken any action yet.
If he takes an action which requires congressional authorization,
certainly we'll get it.
Q What would require congressional --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not going to get into going
down hypothetical roads on what the President may or may not decide.
Q Peacekeepers. He's committed himself to
peacekeepers if the ratification --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The President has not made any
final decisions. Certainly, planning is going on. When he makes the
final decisions, we will certainly move forward on the appropriate
methods of congressional consultation. I would also add, as the
President said earlier today, we have consulted with the Congress, he
will continue to consult with Congress before any action is taken.
He pledged that at the end of the congressional meeting today.
Q Would any of the options before him now require
congressional authorization?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I cannot comment on the options
before the President until he makes a decision.
Q how the President will communicate, will try to
sell the plan?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, I think it depends on what
the decision is. I mean, we have to wait and see. We'll review that
over the coming days.
Q Would it be fair, George, to say that some kind of
military intervention appears less likely now since -- during
Christopher's rounds of talks, all the allies are reluctant to sign
on that; the Russians were reluctant to sign onto that, yet they also
seem to be pushing this toward a peacekeeping mission as opposed to
peacemaking.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Both the Russians and the French
said quite specifically that no options had been excluded, and I
think that that is true; no options have been excluded. The
discussions did focus on a wide array of options if a peace agreement
were not reached, including military options, and there was
discussion on that. And we believe we're going to come up with a
common approach. So we just wouldn't take your assumption.
Q Does the President believe that under the
Constitution Congress has the power to bar him from sending troops
for peacekeeping purpose?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, the President is reviewing
the War Powers Act at this time. That is under review by the
National Security Council and the Counsel's Office, and we have not
had a completion of that review yet. He has said that he will act
consistent with the War Powers Act if necessary.
Q But you have not yet determined your position about
what the War Powers Act --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not the final position, no.
Q George, do you have any independent reports yet
from Zepa on the situation there? Is it under attack?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We have no independent reports.
Q George, how worried are you that the various
Serbian militia are really not under any political control and it
kind of doesn't make any difference at all what the President and the
parliament do.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, obviously, we're worried
about the issues of command and control, and we've made that clear.
At the same time, we can't be sure about every single militia, but we
believe that the Serbs can be held responsible -- largely responsible
for the control of their forces. Obviously not -- probably not
entirely for every single soldier in every single area, but we
certainly think that they should be held overall responsible.
Q How will you go about enforcing that political
control?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, I think that that is
something to be determined after we see the situation on the ground
and after we make our decisions.
Q George, are you waiting to complete that review of
the War Powers Act before responding to that letter from the 91
members of Congress?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not certain that we'd have to
wait for the final review, but I think that -- we hope that it will
be completed relatively soon, and we'll certainly be consulting with
the members of Congress on this particular potential action in
Bosnia.
Q Do you have anything today, George, on the Middle
East negotiators -- when they're going to come to the White House?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Nothing new, no.
Q Any statements on the fact that they have agreed to
extend the talks?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We're pleased that they've agreed
to extend the talks and we continue to hope that they'll go well.
Q Does the President support the Wellstone amendment,
which would require full disclosure -- itemized disclosure by
lobbyists similar to what I believe was the case in Arkansas and
which I believe is going to go to the floor this afternoon?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't know if we have a position
on that. We certainly support the overall thrust of the lobbying
bill before the Congress today. And we support the ethics
requirements as they apply to the White House. I think that's a
matter for the House to decide, though.
Q But the Wellstone amendment would require an
itemized disclosure of what each lobbyist spends on each member or
senator contrary to the overall bill, which would not require such
disclosure.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: As you know, we have that same
disclosure for the White House officials. But I believe that's a
matter for the House to decide. I don't know that we have an
official position. If we do, I'll get back to you.
Q The President supported that in Arkansas, and if he
supports it for White House workers, why wouldn't he lend support to
a Democratic senator trying to make that the law of the land for
Congress?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We generally don't get involved in
matters involving the Senate and House internal matters. But the
President does support it for the White House.
Q Will the President name Roy Neel as Deputy Chief of
Staff?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We haven't made any decisions yet.
Q George, wouldn't you say that that's an internal
matter for the Senate and House to decide? The President's going to
have a position on lobbying registration and lobbying disclosure, and
he's talked about that a lot. I don't understand how that --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: And we do support the general
thrust. I just don't have a specific position on that amendment, and
I don't know that we will. If we do we'll let you know.
Q But is your argument that on the details of
whatever should happen on lobbyists and their registration with the
House and Senate that that's a sort of internal housekeeping matter
-- the details of it in Congress, and the President's not going to
come up with specific positions, because I was under the impression
that you all were developing a very specific package on that?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, I don't know that we have a
specific package on that or that we're going to have a specific
position on every amendment, but we do support the thrust of the
bill.
Q Are you still planning to do campaign finance
tomorrow?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think probably Friday.
Q Another Bosnia question. Since you won't talk
about hypotheticals down the road, can you tell us whether or not the
President believes the War Powers Act would have applied in sending
troops to Kuwait or sending troops to Somalia?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, I don't know that he had a
position on that. He was a governor at the time. He did support the
Bush decision on Somalia, which was done consistent with the War
Powers Act, and he said that he would take action consistent with the
War Powers Act as well.
Q What about Somalia, which is --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Somalia was what I was referring
to. I'm sorry.
Q What will be the format of the campaign finances
announcement?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We don't have it set yet.
Q Will it be in town, though?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Oh, I think so, yes.
Q George, do you have an agenda for the visit from
Delors on Friday, is that about Bosnia or is that about trade?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: There will probably be some
discussion of Bosnia ,but I think the focus will be on trade matters.
Q George, what's the status of contact with North
Korea on their nuclear program?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't have any new update on that
today. I can take the question and see if there's been any change in
the situation.
Q He's aware -- meetings are about to start.
Q There have been some stories that the
administration or at least over at the State Department they are
laying the groundwork for high level talks with them.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'd have to check. I'll have to
take the question.
Q George, does the President have a position on
whether states should be allowed, as the Republicans are proposing,
to require that welfare mothers get their kids immunized before they
get their payments?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'd have to take that question as
well. I'm not certain that he's taken a position on that yet.
Q When do you expect a decision on a deputy chief of
staff or other staff changes?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think relatively soon. I just
don't have an exact timetable.
Q This week?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't want to lock it in but I
think it will be soon.
Q Not today?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not saying that it won't be
today, I just don't have a decision.
Q George, a financial question. There are some
allegations that the civil service retirement fund -- the system is
enormously underfunded by $864 billion. What, if anything, is the
administration doing about this?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Boy, we've got a lot of stumpers
today. (Laughter.)
Q is the administration dealing with it? And is
the President's call for eliminating the cost of living allowance
connected with this?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I would have to take the question.
I don't believe there's any connection, but we'll check into the
funding of the fund -- the relative funding of the fund, the level of
funding of the fund.
Q I want to see that in the transcript.
Q Did the President happen to see that story about
the husband of the general counsel of the CFTC --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Where are these questions coming
from today? (Laughter.)
Q business section. This guy was doing a job
search in his wife's office at the CFTC. She is a Bush holdover and
the general counsel to the CFTC, and he was having all of his
potential employers call him in his wife's office at this federal
agency. Are you aware of that or --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not aware of it. As you know, our
ethics regulations prohibit the use of government work for personal
matters, so it's something that would be a matter of concern.
Q There was a story in Newsweek about a guy --
Q Can I just follow up on that?
Q who is said to be one of the few cases of
something called foreign language syndrome who was in an automobile
accident and ever since then he's been speaking with a French accent.
(Laughter.) Will the President have a -- program to get to the root
cause of this disease. (Laughter.)
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: No, but we'll take it under --
Q There's no discrimination against hiring any --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: With French accents, no.
Q Should action be taken against this general counsel
of this agency was using her office as an employment office --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We'll have to check. All I can do
is point out to you the regulations that we live under, which is to
prohibit the use of offices for personal use. And if that, indeed,
happened, then we'll take a look at it.
Q What ever happened to the bonus review? The bonus
review?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: That was released an awful long
time ago, yes.
Q A long time ago.
Q The lunches on health care today and tomorrow, what
is the President talking to the leaders about? Is he laying out the
plan where they're at so far?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think he's just giving a general
update of where we are and starting the consultation process again.
The President does not have a final plan ready to present to the
Congress, but he's giving a general update of where we are.
Q How about the schedule? Are we still on track for
a public announcement at the end of May or it may slide a little bit
--
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We're trying to -- we don't have a
specific date for the announcement. We're still on the general track
we've been on.
Q are you still -- Senator Rockefeller said Sunday
that he expects that it would be enacted by December. Is that still
realistic?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We'd like to get it done this year.
Q Can you tell me about tomorrow's event -- Import-
Export? When is that, and where is it at?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think it's going to be at the Ex-
Im Bank, and there's a conference of U.S. exporters, and the
President's going to be addressing trade and economic matters.
Q Do you know what time?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: In the morning. I believe 10:00
a.m., but I'm not positive.
Q Is the President going to press for CEADAW
ratification, and with or without reservations?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm sorry, can you repeat the
question?
Q Is the President going to press for CEADAW
ratification and with or without reservations?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm going to get like a D-minus
today. Can you --
Q Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women a 120 nations have ratified; we haven't.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I will have to take the question.
That's the first I've heard of it. (Laughter.)
Q 1996? (Laughter.)
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Seem you give them a little
chocolate, they get hyperactive. (Laughter.)
Q Is there any change, any update on what's going on
with introducing a new version of the jobs bill?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We are still consulting with the
Congress. It didn't come up in the meeting today. But we've had
consultations with the various appropriations committees, and I
expect that we'll have an announcement relatively soon on a
supplemental.
Q One other thing. How much impact has Bosnia had on
his schedule, forcing him to -- I mean, you had the urban
announcement yesterday that in another time maybe he might have gone
on the road to announce. Has it forced you to keep him in town or
cancel --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not really. Not at all. And I
wouldn't take -- say that the reason he was here yesterday is because
of Bosnia at all. And he is obviously working on it, but it hasn't
kept him here. Tomorrow he is going to be addressing trade matters.
He will also be introducing campaign finance this week. So we're on
track.
Q How was the atmosphere between the President and
Dole?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Fine.
Q Can you give us any color or what happened or --
Q Any jokes? (Laughter.)
Q Did he say anything? (Laughter.)
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: None that I can remember.
Q Was there a personal apology?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: No. I mean, it was -- in fact,
people just -- and went right to work, frankly, today. And there was
an awful lot to discuss and we did. The President did serve cookies,
which was something Senator Dole had noted at the first joint meeting
-- that there wasn't enough food. (Laughter.)
Q cookies?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We've had food ever since.
Q Has it done any good? (Laughter.)
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think we've had enough today.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END1:39 P.M. EDT