[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[June 3, 1992]
[Pages 884-885]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Leaders of the House of Representatives

June 3, 1992
    Q. Mr. President, why is it that so many people like Mr. Perot?
    The President. Let me tell you what we're talking about today. We're 
talking about the balanced budget amendment. Going over a little 
history, the balanced budget amendment proposal is the first one as 
President that I sent up to the Congress, and it is time to pass it. I 
think here's something that we can do.
    This is a bipartisan meeting, and I am grateful to the Members here 
who support this balanced budget amendment. We've got to stop spending 
more than we take in, and that's the theory behind this amendment. The 
time has come to pass it. I understand that some in the Congress are 
starting to fight us on this, but I think the American people want it 
done.
    What we're going to talk about here is how do we get something done 
for the taxpayer, and that is to stop spending more than we take in. It 
will discipline all branches of Government, and the time has come to 
pass it. I'm going to hear from Charles Stenholm, Bill Gradison, and 
others here as to how they feel that can be done.
    So that's what we're talking about today. Thank you for your 
interest in this other----
    Q. Aren't you only preaching to the choir, Mr. President? Day after 
day you only meet with people who agree with you.
    The President. We're finished here. We're

[[Page 885]]

going to try--thank you, Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press 
International], for your input on this. But we are going to keep on 
talking about this now in substance. We've got to get going because we 
only have, I'm told, 30 minutes. We've got stuff to do. Thank you for 
your interest, however.

                    Note: The President spoke at 10:05 a.m. in the 
                        Cabinet Room at the White House. A tape was not 
                        available for verification of the content of 
                        these remarks.