    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [February 22, 1995]
    [Pages 241-242]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Congressional Leaders and an Exchange
    With Reporters
    February 22, 1995

        The President. Good morning. Everyone here? I had an excellent
    meeting this morning with the House Democratic Caucus. We discussed a
    wide range of issues. I complimented them; I compliment them again on
    the work they are doing to remain unified in pursuit of the best
    interests of the people of this country.
        I reaffirmed my willingness and desire to work with the Republican
    leadership in the Congress to advance the cause of the American people
    but that there are things which we simply disagree on and where we feel
    very strongly. I think it is ironic that here, on the 50th day of this
    100-day effort that they are making to put in their contract, the single
    most important issue in the world to them seems to be to cut the School
    Lunch Program and end it.
        An old conservative adage used to be, ``If it ain't broke, don't fix
    it.'' Here's a program that isn't broke, that's done a world of good for
    millions and millions of children of all races and backgrounds all
    across our country, and I think it would be a terrible mistake to put an
    end to it, to gut it, to undermine it. And I hope that my party will
    stand against this. I do not agree with it. I do not think it is right,
    and it seems to me that this is one of the things that we hired on to
    do, to stick up for the interest of children, for the vast middle class,
    and for our future. And I intend to do that, and I believe the Congress
    will, as well--at least those in our party will, as well.
        Mr. Leader.

    [At this point, Representative Richard A. Gephardt made brief remarks.]

    Tax Cuts

        Q. Mr. President, as Republicans look at balancing the books now,
    support for a big tax cut is supposedly softening and may very well
    wither and die on the Senate vine. Do you still feel that it's
    responsible to have some kind of tax cut?
        The President. Yes, I didn't--of course, I always thought their tax
    cuts were too big and couldn't be paid for. The one that I offered was,
    I think, roughly less than a third in aggregate costs of what theirs
    was. And of course, in the second 5 years, if theirs had passed, it
    would have been much greater. So I'm glad to see a sobering of attitudes
    about that.
        But I do believe, again, that our main mission here has to be to try
    to advance the cause of the American people. And we have to continue to
    bring the deficit down, but we also have to recognize that there is out
    there in this country what Secretary Reich has called an anxious class,
    people who are working harder and for whom more jobs in the American
    economy have not meant more security.
        If we allow a deduction of the cost of education after high school,
    especially if we couple that with a minimum wage increase, and
    continuing to increase the college loans and the investments in
    education, we will increase those folks' incomes in the short run in
    ways that will increase their incomes in the long run, increase their
    ability to pay taxes, and strengthen the American economy.
        So I believe a carefully targeted tax relief to the middle class,
    tied to education in ways that will grow the economy and grow jobs, is

    [[Page 242]]

    an appropriate thing to do. I'm glad to hear the talk of abandoning tax
    cuts of the size that were being proposed. I tried to tell the American
    people in the campaign there was no way in the wide world that could be
    done, and I welcome that talk.

    Democratic Congressional Support

        Q. Does this 50-day point mark some sort of turning point for you in
    terms of shoring up, taking a firm stand on things, trying to present
    the Democratic side as a unified side against the Republicans?

        The President. Well, I think they've been doing a good job on that.
    There have been two or three issues here lately where the Democrats have
    really rallied: first, in the national security area, where they
    basically were responsible for not going back to Star Wars, which would
    have been a big mistake and, secondly, where they voted against
    abandoning our commitment to the American people to put 100,000 more
    police officers on the street. And I believe they will be even more
    unified against an attempt to destroy the School Lunch Program. So I
    feel good about that.

        But I also think we have been willing to work with the Republicans.
    You know, the bill to apply to Congress the laws that applies to the
    private sector passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives
    with the same level of Democratic support as Republicans support. The
    bill to reduce the burden of unfunded mandates on State and local
    governments received large Democratic support.

        So we want to work with the Republicans. But we have no intention of
    abandoning the American people to unproven theories and extreme
    positions. We're the people party, and we're going to stick up for the
    people. And when we can do that in good conscience by working with them
    to reduce the burden of Government, we want to do that, and we should do
    that. But I'm excited by the opportunity that this new period offers us
    to stand up for what we believe in.

        Q. Where will you draw the line?

        Deputy Press Secretary Ginny Terzano. Thank you.

        The President. What did you say? Thank you? You want me to quit?
    [Laughter]

        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:50 a.m. at the Capitol.