    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [October 23, 1994]
    [Pages 1846-1847]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Office of Management and Budget Memorandum in Seattle
    October 23, 1994

        I'd like to make a very brief statement about the Alice Rivlin memo
    on the options for deficit reduction.
        First of all, my position is what it was in the campaign of '92 and
    what it has been through the first 2 budget years. I do not support cuts
    in Social Security, and I believe any savings we achieve in the Medicare
    program should be used in health care. That has always been my position.
        The memo was a list of options that grew out of a consideration of
    what might be the recommendations of the Kerrey commission, what might
    come out of the budgeting process next year, and the kinds of problems
    that might be created if the Republican contract that the Republican
    House leader and the Senate leader and others have embraced. We have
    serious problems with the deficit still, in the future because of the
    escalating costs of health care. And if they were to have a huge tax cut
    for the wealthy, increase defense, increase Star Wars, we would be
    looking at an explosion in the deficit that could only be dealt with
    with massive cuts in other programs, all other programs.

    [[Page 1847]]

        But there is nothing in that memo and nothing in the record which
    should indicate that I have changed my position on these two fundamental
    issues.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:13 p.m. at the Seattle Center.