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From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:jcma@REAGAN.AI.MIT.EDU Wed Apr 14 06:14:08 1993
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1993 22:08-0400
From: The White House <75300.3115@compuserve.com>
Subject: Press Briefing by George Stephanopoulos 4.13.93
To: Clinton-News-Distribution@campaign92.org
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release April 13, 1993
PRESS BRIEFING
BY GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS
The Briefing Room
2:10 P.M. EDT
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Good afternoon. As you all know,
the President took a detour on his way home from the Jefferson
Memorial, and he went to the Especially Arkansas exhibit at the
Willard Hotel. I think he's enjoying it and will be back shortly.
Q What kind of exhibit is it?
Q Food.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Arkansas food, handicrafts.
(Laughter.) Would you like to speak up? Andrea Mitchell speaking
for the President today.
Any questions?
Q George, on the latest retail sales figures, Senator
Dole says that you guys are trying to mislead the American public by
suggesting this has anything to do with the stimulus package, that
the downward numbers are the result of the blizzard, the bad weather,
and it underscores the need to delay the stimulus package, not to
support the stimulus package.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me take that all in for a
second. Well, I think you can always find an excuse to do nothing.
And the Senate Republicans have, time and time again, come up with
excuses to do nothing. But for 12 years we did nothing as this
economy did not grow, did not create jobs, and now we're going to
continue to -- now we're going to move forward.
Q What? Are you saying the economy didn't create any
jobs for 12 years?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Excuse me -- for the last three and
a half years we had no growth, probably the lowest growth in this
century. But I would add that this morning's figures were the
largest monthly decline in retail sales since January of 1991 when we
were in a full-fledged recession. That is not something that
President Clinton is complacent about. That is not something he is
going to stand by as it goes on. And it's one of the reasons that we
need a jobs package now, to make sure that this recovery does happen,
to make sure that this economy creates jobs.
I would also point out that the real benefits of this
jobs package -- right now the gridlock in the Senate is blocking the
creation of 50,000 summer jobs in New York, 22,500 summer jobs in
Pennsylvania. The gridlock is preventing the city of Milwaukee from
receiving waste water treatment funds it needs to clean up the
contamination in its water system. The gridlock is preventing the
rehabilitation of 100 low income housing units in Duluth, Minnesota,
and stopping the construction of a new fire station in Kansas City,
Kansas.
Q Does that sound like it is going to do much for
retail sales?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Anything that gets the economy
moving again and gets people back to work so they can spend money and
buy products is going to be helpful.
Q Why do you think that $16 billion is going to have
any effect on a $6-trillion economy?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think that 500,000 jobs right
now, this summer, this year is going to make a difference.
Q Have we reached a point where it's too late to get
those jobs?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not at all. This bill -- we can
pass it. We have a vote scheduled for April 20th and we can get
these funds into the cities and states in time to create summer jobs,
and it will make a real difference.
Q Why are a fire house in Kansas City and Milwaukee
water problems economic emergencies?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: These will create jobs. These are
projects that have been put forward by the cities --
Q But anything the government spends money on will
create jobs by implication. Any project across the country that the
government would spend money -- why these particular projects are
considered enough of an economic emergency to waive the Budget Act
and --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: These projects have been put
forward by the cities and states, as you know. The President's
package is going to create summer jobs, it's going to create highway
jobs, it's going to put real investments in immunization and Head
Start and other important programs. And it's going to create, as
we've said time and time again, 500,000 jobs. We think that's an
important investment.
Q As good as 500,000 jobs would be, George, for the
people who get them, the opposition is saying that they really amount
to a drop in the bucket and that you have to depend on the economy to
generate far more jobs than that to really have any effect.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: That's what we've been doing for
the last three and a half years and it hasn't been working. We've
had a recovery without jobs. And right now the President is
committed to getting a recovery that creates jobs. That's why he's
pushing for this package now. That's why he wants a vote. That's
why he thinks it should pass.
Q George, if the package is that important, why
didn't the President ask Mitchell to keep the Senate in session until
he could get a vote?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, as you know, the President
did -- the Senate did stay in session past its scheduled break. He
would like a vote as quickly as possible. And he's going to take
this time to push for the package.
Q My question is, did the President make any effort
to keep the Senate in session until he finally got a vote?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The Senate did stay in session, and
I don't know that staying any longer would have made a difference.
They've scheduled a vote, we have a vote on Tuesday and we're looking
forward to it.
Q Is there any thought in the White House that it
might have been better for your purposes to have kept the Senate
going instead of letting these guys go on junkets and enjoy two weeks
of doing nothing?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: No.
Q George, apropos of the Tokyo meeting in the next
couple of days, we were told in Vancouver that some of the initial
U.S. package could be and would be delivered starting tomorrow, I
think was the way the background briefer put it. Can you tell us
what aspects of that Vancouver Russia aid package have actually been
implemented to date?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: They were all ready to go
immediately upon the announcement. I don't know exactly the status
of the pipeline. I'm going to have to send you to State on that. I
don't have the figures on what funds are actually flowing now, but I
know that since they had all gone through the congressional process,
they were all available for that. I just don't have that available,
and I'll have to send you to State.
Q Are there specific projects that had maybe a little
higher priority than some of the others that you'd like to see move
--
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, I just don't -- we would
like to get as much of it done as quickly as possible. We think that
it's important to show a tangible difference right away to the
Russian people. But I don't have the specifics.
Q Has the President spoken with Boris Yeltsin since
the summit? Does he plan to do it in the next couple of days?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: He has not spoken yet to President
Yeltsin. I believe there was an exchange of letters this weekend;
they were exchanged between Foreign Minister Kozyrev and Secretary of
State Christopher. I would expect that they would probably talk
sometime soon, but I don't have a set time.
Q What about the next aid package, due by tomorrow if
his timetable is --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: As you know, Secretary Bentsen and
Secretary Christopher are in Tokyo now, and I know they're in
discussions on that, but we have nothing to announce yet.
Q What is the purpose of the Chamber meeting tonight,
the town meeting? And, also, how important are good relations with
the Chamber and the White House, and how would you describe that
relationship?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think we've had a real productive
relationship with the Chamber of Commerce so far this year. I think
most members of the Chamber know that it's time to invest in our
economy again, know that it's time to do something serious about
getting the deficit down and know that we have to get the economy
moving, and they're willing to work with the President to make those
investments, to make sure that we have the kinds of investments in
small businesses that we need. And the President is looking forward
to meeting with them tonight, taking to them about his economic
plans, and hearing what's on their mind.
Q Is the President concerned that several thousand
members, apparently, of the Chamber have quit in protest of the
Chamber's friendly overtures to the President and its praise for his
economic programs?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, I think what the President
has welcomed is the overwhelming support of the bulk of the Chamber,
and how helpful they've been so far. I don't know what's happening
internally in the Chamber, but we welcome their support.
Q Congressman Gephardt was quoted today as saying
that the money to pay for the second -- the fiscal `94 Russia package
should come or would come from foreign aid to Israel and Egypt.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't know if that's exactly what
he said. I think what he might have said is that we should do a full
review for how to pay for programs before they're done. But I can
just talk about the President's position. The President does not
believe, as he's said time and time again, that we should cut aid to
Israel and Egypt at this time, and he intends to go forward with the
budget numbers.
Q So he is going to go forward with Israel and Egypt
having what amounts to 85 percent of the foreign aid budget, right?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: He's going to go forward with the
budget he's put forward, yes.
Q Well, that doesn't -- does that necessarily break
down Israel and Egypt's money? I mean, that's the whole foreign aid
money, but have you -- I'm not aware of whether or not you've done --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: There will be no change in the aid
levels to Israel and Egypt. The President is committed to going
forward with the funding as planned.
Q Well, just to follow, Gephardt did -- at least was
quoted as saying --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: He wasn't -- well, I've seen that.
That wasn't a quote, it was a report. And I'm saying that he has --
he clearly did say that everything should be under review. The
President does not believe that aid to Israel and Egypt should be
under review.
Q conversation between the President and Gephardt
about this issue since he's returned?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not that I know of, no.
Q How about between you and Gephardt?
Q Are you just talking about next year or after that?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, the President has said that
he's going to move forward with the package for next year, and do his
best efforts after that.
Q George, Christopher said to reporters yesterday on
his way out that there were some final details of the aid package
that he wanted to talk to the President about before presenting them
at the G-7 meeting. Has he talked to the President yet? Where does
that stand?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not sure. They might have
talked last night or this morning; I just don't know if there's been
a direct phone call. I'm certain there will be before the end of the
meeting.
Q The Speaker of the House and the bipartisan
leadership have written a letter to the Court here in Washington
notifying them of their intent to file an amicus curiae brief on the
side opposite the White House contention that the FACA law is
unconstitutional. I wonder if you've discussed that with them or if
you have any feeling about reassessing your position in this case.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: It's the first I've heard of it,
but we'd be happy to take a look.
Q Can you get back to me?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Sure.
Q Is the administration considering using U.S. troops
to provide humanitarian assistance to Haiti?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: As you know, the U.N. and the OAS
have been looking at ways to professionalize the Haitian military and
the police, and the U.S. has looked in -- may participate in this
effort as part of a global political solution to the crisis. But I
think this is all very premature. The professionalization in and of
itself was included in the terms of reference for the international
civilian observer mission and President Aristide's letter to the U.N.
and OAS Secretaries General.
Q Could you go a little slower? You're saying
something very important.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Thank you. (Laughter.)
Q You're going to commit American troops --
Q The rest of the time talk fast. (Laughter.)
Q Can you give us some ideas what you're thinking
about doing?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, first of all, let's get
something -- the Pentagon has not announced any plans to send U.S.
troops. We are not sending U.S. troops now.
Q Now.
Q Would this be training, is that what you're saying?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Professionalization training --
Q And it might happen when, under what circumstance?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Pursuant to an agreement. But this
is all very premature. Our special representative, Pezzullo, is here
meeting with the principals in the National Security Council today
and reporting to Tony Lake. And this was something that was always
contemplated as part of a possible agreement. But there are no plans
to send troops at this time.
Q Would it be multilateral?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Absolutely.
Q Is the professionalizing military or --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Training, professionalization of
military. I'm not sure about law enforcement.
Q How close are you to an agreement on Haiti?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, Mr. Caputo is returning to
Haiti. Mr. Pezzullo is here. We're in discussions now. We're
hopeful that the negotiation will continue and be successful.
Q There are reports that it's expected to work out --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't know about the timing, but
we're hopeful that we can get a conclusion to this, a peaceful
conclusion.
Q This is with the junta? You're negotiating with
them? Is that --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: It's being led by the U.N. He's
negotiating with all sides.
Q Dee Dee this morning, George, said you might be
able to tell us what the President's role is in the strategy on Waco,
whether or not the President has directed that he sign off on any
plan to assault the compound.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The President, as Dee Dee said this
morning, is briefed on Waco, but the operational responsibility here
rests with the Attorney General; the FBI; and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms. I would assume he's informed of developments,
but he does not have operational control.
Q And he hasn't asked for veto authority?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: He has not, no.
Q What about the Treasury Secretary? He seemed to
suggest over the weekend that he has ordered that he be informed
before any move is made.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think you would have to ask him.
I think he would like to be informed. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms comes under the Department of the Treasury. I'd assume
he would want to know what's happening. But the operational
responsibility rests with the FBI and the ATF.
Q Do you know if the Justice Department has made a
command decision not to assault the compound?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not going to talk about those
kinds of details.
Q Some of the FBI and ATF agents in Waco are alleging
that the Clinton administration is micromanaging their operational
details, that they can't organize some sort of operation because
Washington won't let it happen.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: That's not true.
Q On two more trouble spots. Today there was more
killing in Israel. Does the administration still expect the talks to
start next week, and do you have any general comments on this?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, as we've done continually, we
deplore the violence as it happens. We recognize Israel's need to
protect its own security, but we remain hopeful that we will have
both sides -- all sides come to the table next week.
Q And also, on the question I asked about Haiti, has
the President -- I'm sorry -- about South Africa, has the President
contacted the family --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not to my knowledge.
Q The Washington Times today says that the stimulus
package includes $1.4 million that was supposed to be for the IRS but
got shifted over to White House. Can you tell us, A, is that
correct? And, B, what possible economic stimulus could there come
out of money going to the IRS and not the White House?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, first of all, the
supplemental appropriation for the White House is not part of the
stimulus bill, it's completely separate. And the funds from the
Treasury Department are from money for the rental of facilities that
was appropriated last year for FY 1993 that the Treasury has
determined will not be needed. And this was determined a number of
weeks ago. It falls into three IRS areas: processing tax returns
and assistance, tax law enforcement information systems. This is
rental money that is not needed. It's nothing else. It will have no
impact on law enforcement, nor will it have an effect on the
stimulus.
Q Is it not, therefore, included in the stimulus?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: No. The White House money is
separate. It was in the budget.
Q No, it's included in a separate supplemental,
right?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Separate supplemental, right.
That's different.
Q You're saying absolutely not part of the stimulus?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: It's a separate supplemental that
was sent up last week as part of it -- right.
Q None of it, not one penny of it?
Q George, another quick Russia-related question. Is
the President going to meet with Gorbachev at all while he's here in
the country?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not that I know of.
Q Why not?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: It's just not scheduled. He met
with President Yeltsin last week and he's got a lot of things to do.
Q Can you tell us something about the summer jobs
event tomorrow with Reich and Riley, whether the President -- in
Crystal City?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: They're doing a conference on the
summer jobs program on how to implement it. And it's the various
parts of the summer jobs program. The President will participate, I
believe, at the top.
Q He's just coming in for remarks?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Yes.
Q What time?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not sure. We'll get back to
you.
Q Mentioned the exchange of letters over the weekend
between Kozyrov and Christopher. Can you tell us anything about what
was in the exchange of letters?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think it was related to the issue
of Russia's efforts on Serbia and trying to get Serbia to come to the
negotiating table.
QQ Can I follow on the summer jobs with the figures
you were talking about earlier today about summer jobs? We've had a
lot of figures tossed around about summer jobs. The President has
said at one point 700,000. I think somebody once said 1 million.
There has been a lot of talk about 500,000. How many summer jobs are
actually to be created under Clinton administration programs? And
then how many total federal government summer jobs are there,
including what was established last year by the Bush administration?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The total of summer jobs is
700,000. The 500,000 figure is overall jobs over time from the
entire jobs package. But the figure for summer jobs, I believe, is
700,000.
Q Of which that would include the Bush administration
or past years programs?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, no, it includes what is
passed in this program. I don't know how it backs up, but if this
program is passed we'll have 700,000 summer jobs.
Q Beyond that, including programs already in
existence, do you know how many summer jobs the federal government
would be creating?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't.
Q How many summer jobs will there be if the program
doesn't pass? The 700,000, you say -- are all 700,000 of those
directly related to this bill?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I believe it is, but I'll have to
get back to you. I don't know about current programs.
Q Any response to Dole's acid remarks yesterday about
the President on the stimulus package?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The President's words speak for
themselves. The President believes his package is important and he
believes that the Republicans in the Senate have been making a
mistake to block the will of the majority and to pass this jobs
program.
Q? There's a report in The Journal today that the
White House has denied another member of Congress White House tour
tickets in order to get some sort of resolution. Has this White
House ever denied any member of Congress access to the normal number
of tour tickets?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The tour tickets is a nonpolitical
process and its just going forward.
Q Whoa.
Q Hold on. Not so fast, George. (Laughter.)
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: What? (Laughter.)
Q Is this the first administration in recorded
history not to use them as a political --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We have honored lots and lots of
requests from different members of Congress from both sides of the
aisle. We will continue to do that.
Q Let's get back to the question now. Has anybody
ever been denied them?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not to my knowledge.
Q If the fire station in Kansas City, Kansas isn't
built -- (laughter.)
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The people of Kansas City, Kansas
will be sorry.
Q Will the people in Kansas have Bob Dole to blame
for that? Will the people of Kansas City, Kansas, be able to blame
Bob Dole for that? (Laughter.)
Q if their house burns down. (Laughter.)
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: That depends on what he does April
20th.
Q Where is the process now? Are you beginning to
deal, compromise?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The President has said time and
time again that he's willing to make adjustments if necessary to pass
the program. He doesn't want to. He wants the program to pass as
quickly as possible. But if the minority is determined to block
action, he's going to move forward with the adjustments that it will
take to get the package going.
Q Has the President talked --
Q What do you mean?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: No, not any adjustments -- we'll be
in discussions on it.
Q Have any Republicans come to you yet with
adjustments?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: There have been lots of discussions
with Republicans.
Q Specifically, has the President talked with some of
the so-called moderate Republicans who might be inclined to support a
compromise this week? Has he talked to them?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't know if the President has,
but there's been a lot of contact between the White House and Senate
Republicans, sure.
Q Is there any relationship between the contacts
you've had and the states that you read off at the top --
Pennsylvania, New York --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not necessarily. We have figures
on a lot of states. We're talking to a lot of members. That's what
I was given, you know.
Q Who did you mention -- Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New
York?
Q George, all sides on the stimulus have until 6:00
a.m. on Monday to put their amendments down on the table if they
intend to do so. Is the President going to have an amendment on the
stimulus to put down on the table in the Senate by Monday evening?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't know if the President will,
but I assume that there will be a Democratic package and amendment.
Q But it's going to represent the President's
particular --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We're going to be in discussions
this week, and we expect to have a package that the President
supports voted on.
Q When?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Tuesday.
Q George are you aware that all the parties of the
Middle East negotiations are actually arriving today and tomorrow?
Is that part of a prenegotiation that the administration is planning?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not aware of that. I'd refer
you to State. It's the first I've heard of it.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END 2:30 P.M. EDT
#055-04/13
