pd25de95 Message to the House of Representatives Returning Without Approval the...

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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page i-ii]
 
Monday, December 25, 1995
 
Volume 31--Number 51
Pages 2191-2221
 
Contents

Weekly Compilation of

Presidential

Documents

[[Page i]]

[[Page ii]]

Addresses and Remarks

    See also Bill Signings; Bill Vetoes
    Budget negotiations--2191, 2217
    Democratic Members of Congress, meeting--2194
    Federal arrestee drug testing--2200
    Radio address--2192

Appointments and Nominations

    Defense Department, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Vice Chairman--2192

Bill Signings

    Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
        Remarks--2203
        Statement--2205

Bill Vetoes

    Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State,
          the Judiciary, and Related Agencies
          Appropriations Act, 1996
        Message--2208
        Remarks--2206
    Department of the Interior and Related
          Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996
        Message--2198
        Remarks--2195
    Departments of Veterans Affairs, and Housing
          and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations 
            Act, 1996
        Message--2199
        Remarks--2195
    Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, message--2210

Communications to Congress

    See also Bill Vetoes
    Bosnia-Herzegovina, letter reporting--2215

Communications to Federal Agencies

    Federal arrestee drug testing, memorandum--2202

Executive Orders

    Amendment to Executive Order 12871 on labor-management 
        partnerships--2215

Interviews With the News Media

    Exchanges with reporters
        Cabinet Room--2217
        Oval Office--2195, 2200, 2206
        Pentagon, Arlington, VA--2217
        Roosevelt Room--2203
    News conference, December 20 (No. 111)--2211

Letters and Messages

    Christmas, message--2214
    Hanukkah, message--2192
    Kwanzaa, message--2216

Statements by the President

    See also Appointments and Nominations; Bill Signings
    Budget negotiations with congressional leaders--2218
    Welfare reform and budget negotiations--2214

Supplementary Materials

    Acts approved by the President--2221
    Checklist of White House press releases--2220
    Digest of other White House announcements--2218
    Nominations submitted to the Senate--2219


              WEEKLY COMPILATION OF
          ------------------------------
              PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS

Published every Monday by the Office of the Federal Register, National 
Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC 20408, the Weekly 
Compilation of Presidential Documents contains statements, messages, and
other Presidential materials released by the White House during the 
preceding week.

The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is published pursuant to
the authority contained in the Federal Register Act (49 Stat. 500, as 
amended; 44 U.S.C. Ch. 15), under regulations prescribed by the 
Administrative Committee of the Federal Register, approved by the 
President (37 FR 23607; 1 CFR Part 10).

Distribution is made only by the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The Weekly Compilation of 
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There are no restrictions on the republication of material appearing in 
the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents.

[[Page 2191]]

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[Page 2191]
 
Monday, December 25, 1995
 
Volume 31--Number 51
Pages 2191-2221
 
Week Ending Friday, December 22, 1995
 
Remarks on Budget Negotiations


December 15, 1995

    As all of you know, today the Republicans in Congress broke off our 
negotiations on how best to balance the budget in 7 years. They said 
they would not even continue to talk unless we agreed right now to make 
deep and unconscionable cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. That's 
unacceptable. The cuts they propose would deprive millions of people of 
health care: poor children, pregnant women, the disabled, seniors in 
nursing homes. They would let Medicare wither on the vine into a second-
class system. And these things simply are not necessary to balance the 
budget.
    You know, I don't agree with their very large tax cuts for wealthy 
Americans and for all the special interests that get help in their bill. 
But I did not require them to drop those provisions as a condition of 
just talking. But they wanted us to agree to big cuts in Medicare and 
Medicaid simply to talk.
    Last week, before these talks even began, I forwarded to Congress a 
detailed plan to balance the budget in 7 years without violating our 
values. That plan contained a large amount of deficit reduction over and 
above our original proposal. Today, we made yet another good-faith 
effort to resolve our differences. I have sought reasonable discussions 
and honest compromise to balance the budget.
    Now the Republicans in Congress are not only refusing to talk; once 
again they're threatening to shut the Government down if I do not accept 
their deep cuts in health care, education, the environment, and their 
tax increases on working families. I would not give in to such a threat 
last month, and I will not give in today.
    I would remind you when we signed the last resolution we said we 
would work in good faith to balance the budget in 7 years without 
harmful cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, education, the environment, 
agriculture, veterans benefits, and without raising taxes on working 
families.
    So let me say again--and all Americans must understand this--the 
decision by the Republican congressional majority to shut the Government 
down has nothing, nothing, to do with the discussion over the 7-year 
balanced budget plan. Congress has simply refused to pass this year's 
budgets and has forced the Government to operate on a series of 
temporary approvals so that they can use the threat of a shutdown to 
pressure me and the congressional Democrats into approving long-term 
reductions in Medicare, Medicaid, education, and the environment that we 
believe strongly are not good for America.
    It is wrong, it is simply wrong, for the congressional Republicans 
to insist that I make deep cuts in Medicare and Medicaid or they will 
not even talk, and furthermore, they will shut the Government down again 
just before Christmas.
    The Congress should simply pass straightforward legislation to keep 
the Government open. And then our negotiators should return to the table 
without threats, without ultimatums, to discuss how we can find common 
ground on balancing the budget. That is what we ought to do. That is 
what I am willing to do. And the idea that we should abandon the 
commitment we made and they agreed to just a few days ago in not having 
unacceptable cuts in Medicare and Medicaid as a condition of talking is 
wrong--is wrong--and we should not do that.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 5:39 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.

[[Page 2192]]


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[Page 2192]
 
Monday, December 25, 1995
 
Volume 31--Number 51
Pages 2191-2221
 
Week Ending Friday, December 22, 1995
 
Message on the Observance of Hanukkah

December 15, 1995

    Warm greetings to all who are celebrating Hanukkah.
    Each year, as the days grow shorter and the nights colder, we 
welcome the return of this Festival of Lights, and each year we find 
fresh meaning in its ageless story of the triumph of the Maccabees. We 
are reminded of God's powerful presence in our lives, strengthening and 
sustaining us in times of struggle. We are inspired to reflect upon the 
meaning of courage, commitment, and faith. We are encouraged to 
acknowledge our blessings--the love of family, the strength of 
community, the hope of peace. We rediscover the wisdom of pausing, in 
the rush and hurry of everyday life, to give joyful thanks for these 
blessings.
    This year, especially, we need such reminders, for with the death of 
Yitzhak Rabin, a great man, a true friend, and a peacemaker was taken 
from our midst. But as families throughout our nation and around the 
world gather to rekindle the flames of the menorah, let us renew our 
faith that God will continue to guide our steps through adversity until 
we can all rejoice in the light of peace.
    Hillary and I extend best wishes for a joyous Hanukkah and a 
wonderful holiday season.
                                            William J. Clinton

Note: This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.


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[Page 2192]
 
Monday, December 25, 1995
 
Volume 31--Number 51
Pages 2191-2221
 
Week Ending Friday, December 22, 1995
 
Statement on the Nomination of General Joseph W. Ralston to be Vice 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

December 15, 1995

    I am pleased to announce that I have nominated Gen. Joseph W. 
Ralston, U.S. Air Force, for assignment as Vice Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, succeeding Adm. William A. Owens, who is retiring.
    General Ralston currently serves as the Commander, Air Combat 
Command. In this capacity, he is responsible for training and equipping 
all active Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve combat 
wings and squadrons in the United States and Panama. During his 
distinguished career, General Ralston flew more than 2,500 flying hours, 
including 147 combat missions over Laos and North Vietnam. He also 
served as the Air Force's Director for Tactical Programs and its 
Director for Operational Requirements. In the latter capacity, his 
championing of the rapid transition of advanced technology to the 
battlefield was instrumental in determining the shape and force 
structure of tomorrow's Air Force. General Ralston brings to the job of 
Vice Chairman a wealth of experience in the development of military 
requirements and an indepth knowledge of the defense acquisition 
process. These and other attributes provide General Ralston the 
requisite leadership and management necessary for the post of Vice 
Chairman at a critical time in the history of the Armed Forces.
    I will depend upon General Ralston to continue the initiatives of 
Admiral Owens which are designed to ensure that our Armed Forces best 
determine their warfighting requirements and capabilities. I commend 
Admiral Owens for his exemplary service to his Nation. His sound 
military advice on the use of military power to back U.S. diplomacy, his 
crucial role in shaping our forces to fight as a joint team, and the 
superlative leadership he provided in harnessing the information and 
technological revolution to our current and future defense posture will 

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