[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
[February 15, 1993]
[Page 104]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Prior to a Meeting With Democratic Congressional 
Leaders
February 15, 1993

Energy Tax

    Q. Mr. President, if I could ask a specific question. What is----
    The President. I may not give you a specific answer. [Laughter]
    Q. You don't have to get into too much detail, but from your 
perspective what's more progressive, a broad-based energy tax based on 
Btu's or an ad valorem type of energy tax? What would be more 
progressive for the middle class?
    The President. Well, I think, first of all, you can't evaluate one 
of these things without seeing the whole package. But I think a Btu tax 
is, because an ad valorem tax reinforces price changes. In other words, 
if you have an ad valorem tax and the price of one fuel goes up, then 
the tax rate goes up. So, it would aggravate whatever price changes are 
out there in the market, and that would hurt the consumers more.
     Q.  Have you settled on a Btu tax?
    The President. I answered a very specific question in a photo op. 
[Laughter]

Note: The exchange began at 1:45 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the White 
House.