[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
[June 16, 1993]
[Pages 863-864]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters During a Luncheon With Business 
Leaders
June 16, 1993

Economic Program

    The President. I'd just like to make one comment to reinforce the 
importance of passing this economic plan. We've got interest rates now 
down to a 20-year low and home mortgage rates. And this new headline, 
``Inflation Slows, Rates Holding,'' that's the direction we want. We 
want a steady recovery. And we have got to pass this economic plan and 
do it in the near future to ensure that that goes on.
    Let me just mention one statistic. In the first 4 months of this 
administration, we had 130,000 new construction jobs in this country 
because of low interest rates. That is the largest increase in 9 years 
in a 4-month period. We can bring this economy back if we pass the plan, 
get the deficit down, keep the interest rates down, and keep the 
investment flowing to create jobs in the country. And I think it is 
terribly important. And I just wanted to emphasize that, to impress upon 
the country the importance of what the United States Senate is grappling 
with now.

[[Page 864]]

They simply have to pass this plan and go forward.
    Q. Do you think that there will be a deal? And will it have a 
significant enough----
    The President.  I'm encouraged.
    Q. ----energy tax to make it worthwhile?
    The President. Well, it depends on what the--let's look at the final 
plan. You know, the Senate is going to change the energy tax, but if 
they have enough deficit reduction and they go to the conference 
committee, I think that they will come out ultimately with a bill that 
I'll feel good about.

Supreme Court Nominee

    Q. Mr. President, on another subject, were you influenced by the 
letter writing campaign on behalf of Judge Ginsburg? Did that help 
persuade you to take another look at her?
    The President.  No.
    Q. Did you read any of the letters?
    The President. I read some of the letters that came in on behalf of 
many candidates. But I was unaware of any big letter writing campaign. I 
saw seven or eight letters for her.
    Q. [Inaudible]--influence your decision at all?
    The President. No, only that a lot of people thought a lot of her. 
There were also good letters for, I would say, 10 candidates that I 
read. I read a lot of letters that came in----
    Q. The Marines that are now heading----

Campaign Finance Reform

    Q. [Inaudible]--campaign financing--the vote on the Hill?
    The President. Excuse me?
    Q. On the campaign financing, have you heard any more about a 
possible compromise?
    The President. Just what you have, that they're working on it and 
that they may adopt one which we would find acceptable. But I want to 
see what they do----
    Q. [Inaudible]--been in communication with----
    The President. A little bit. We know they're trying to work it out. 
And I'm encouraged. What I said in response, I think, to Andrea's 
[Andrea Mitchell, NBC News] question this morning, is that I think those 
five Republican Senators who voted for campaign finance reform last year 
must surely want to do it again. They know that special interests, 
financing, and excessive spending have really undermined the public's 
faith in the political process. So I think we've got a chance to get 
one.
    Q. Mr. President, 2,200 Marines en route to the Somali coast. Can 
you shed any light on that?
    Q. Thank you.
    Q. Enjoy your lunch.
    The President. Lunchtime.
    Q. We don't get any.
    The President. You know, I don't believe that. [Laughter]

Note: The President spoke at 12:40 p.m. in the Old Family Dining Room at 
the White House. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of these remarks.