[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 22 (Thursday, March 3, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           PRESIDENT CLINTON

  Mr. DORGAN. I have listened today at some length to discussion on the 
floor about a number of things. I wanted to come over and say a few 
words about President Clinton.
  It is interesting that we have so many people running for President 
this early in the season that they are bumping into each other, driving 
these political cement trucks, careening from side to side of the road, 
not caring who or what they run into: Health care, Whitewater.
  Let me say first about Whitewater, I do not know all the facts about 
Whitewater, but I know many of the facts about Presidential ambition. 
We are told that Whitewater is a massive scandal of some sort.
  There is no alleged criminal impropriety by the President in 
Whitewater that I am aware of. These were not actions that were 
involved with the term of Mr. Clinton's Presidency. We were told by 
those who continue to raise this on the floor that there should be a 
special prosecutor; so there was a special prosecutor named. Now we are 
told that is not enough, there should be congressional committees 
investigating it.
  I just wonder, as I listen to all of this, whether any helping of 
information or facts would satisfy the political appetites of those out 
here on the floor of the Senate with respect to Whitewater.
  Next let me mention health care. I have not been a cosponsor of the 
Clinton health care plan. There are parts of that plan I do not agree 
with. But I will say this. This President has stepped forward and said 
this health care system needs fixing and I am going to lead the effort 
to fix it. I credit him for that, as opposed to previous Presidents who 
say: ``What problem? There is no problem? Everything is just fine,'' 
while health care prices are increasing double and triple the rate of 
inflation every year, pricing American families out of the ability to 
get health care for their children.
  Things are just fine?
  They are not fine. We do have a crisis in health care for too many 
American families. I credit this President for saying this is an issue 
this Congress must address. Good for him.
  For those who are having what is called a retreat this afternoon, I 
would say that is probably an apt description of where they are 
heading, a retreat. Because finally, this President through his 
leadership is bringing them, as well, into the discussion about how to 
fix this difficult problem.

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