[House Document 104-134]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





        104th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House 
Document 104-134


 
                         VETO OF H.J. RES. 115

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

HIS VETO OF H.J. RES. 115, A JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING FURTHER CONTINUING 
    APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1996, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES




 November 14, 1995.--Message and accompanying joint resolution ordered 
                             to be printed
To the House of Representatives:
    I am returning herewith without my approval H.J. Res. 115, 
the Second Continuing Resolution for fiscal year 1996.
    This legislation would raise Medicare premiums on senior 
citizens, and deeply cut education and environmental 
protection, as the cost for keeping the government running. 
Those are conditions that are not necessary to meet my goal of 
balancing the budget.
    If I signed my name to this bill now, millions of elderly 
couples all across this country would be forced to sign away 
$264 more in Medicare premiums next year, premium hikes that 
are not necessary to balance the budget. If America must close 
down access to quality education, a clean environment and 
affordable health care for our seniors, in order to keep the 
government open, then that price is too high.
    We don't need these cuts to balance the budget. And we do 
not need big cuts in education and the environment to balance 
the budget. I have proposed a balanced budget without these 
cuts.
    I will continue to fight for my principles: a balanced 
budget that does not undermine Medicare, education or the 
environment, and that does not raise taxes on working families. 
I will not take steps that I believe will weaken our nation, 
harm our people and limit our future as the cost of temporarily 
keeping the government open.
    I continue to be hopeful that we can find common ground on 
balancing the budget. With this veto, it is now up to the 
Congress to take the reasonable and responsible course. They 
can still avoid a government shutdown.
    Congress still has the opportunity to pass clean continuing 
resolution and debt ceiling bills. These straightforward 
measures would allow the United States government to keep 
functioning and meet its obligations, without attempting to 
force the acceptance of Republican budget priorities.
    Indeed, when Congress did not pass the 13 appropriations 
bills to fund the government for fiscal year 1996 by September 
30, we agreed on a fair continuing resolution that kept the 
Government operating and established a level playing field 
while Congress completed its work.
    Now, more than six weeks later, Congress still has sent me 
only three bills that I have been able to sign. Indeed, I am 
pleased to be signing the Energy and Water bill today. This 
bill is the result of a cooperative effort between my 
Administration and the Congress. It shows that when we work 
together, we can produce good legislation.
    We can have a fair and open debate about the best way to 
balance the budget. America can balance the budget without 
extreme cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, education or the 
environment--and that is what we must do.

                                                William J. Clinton.
    The White House, November 13, 1995.
H.J. RES. 115

  One Hundred Fourth Congress of the United States of America, at the 
 First Session, Begun and Held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, 
  the Fourth Day of January, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-five




                                   Newt Gingrich,
                           Speaker of the House of Representatives.
                                   Strom Thurmond,
                               President of the Senate pro tempore.
    [Endorsement on back of bill:]
    I certify that this Act originated in the House of 
Representatives.
                                             Robin H. Carle, Clerk.

                                
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