    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [December 30, 1995]
    [Pages 1935-1936]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Budget Negotiations and an Exchange With Reporters
    December 30, 1995

        The President. I want to be brief today because we're getting off to
    a little late start. We've got a lot to do. I have three things to say:
    I think we made a good start yesterday; we're making progress; and I
    believe we need to open the Government. I hope we can agree to do all
    that.

    Bosnia

        Q. Sir, do you know any more information on the soldier who was
    wounded in Bosnia?
        The President. Our reports are sketchy, and I have tried to get an
    update, but what I do know is that there were apparently two vehicles
    and four soldiers involved. Only one was seri-

    [[Page 1936]]

    ously hurt, and he has been med-evac'd to Croatia, in a hospital there,
    and we understand he's in stable condition.
        But mines have always been our biggest concern, and we're working
    very hard on it, but that's what happened. And we'll continue to monitor
    it and do the best we can. The mission itself is going very well. The
    people have received our soldiers very well, and I'm very well satisfied
    with the progress. And I'm obviously very sorry this happened, but
    they're making good progress on the mine problem, but it's going to be
    difficult to get rid of them all.

    Budget Negotiations

        Q. [Inaudible]--the measure to get the workers back that's going to
    get through Congress?
        Senator Dole. Well, it passed the House. We hope we can pass it in
    the Senate today, so make some progress.
        Senator Daschle. We tried to pass a clean CR, one without any
    conditions. And that was objected to, but I hope we can work something
    out.
        Q. But isn't the fact now that the Democrats are holding things up?
        Senator Daschle. Not at all. As a matter of fact, as I said, we
    passed a continuing resolution--we had no conditions. It sent people
    back to work, and that was objected to. So we're not trying to hold
    anything up here. We hope we can get some sort of an agreement as early
    as today.
        Q. Well, what's it going to take to get a deal?
        Speaker Gingrich. Well, let me just say something. I think the
    President had a right--we're glad to have you all in. We have a lot of
    work to do. We made, I thought, real progress last night. It is not
    easy. We have very significant areas we have to work on, but I thought
    the spirit was very positive. We don't just want to get the Federal
    workers back, we want to get them paid. And in order to do that, I think
    we've got to get this whole thing worked out. But I thought we had a
    great start last night. And with you all's permission, I think we can
    get a lot more done in the next few hours.
        Q. Mr. President, is the message from the Democrats basically that
    they don't trust you?
        The President. We've got to go to work.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:35 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House, prior to a meeting with congressional leaders. In his remarks, he
    referred to Spec. Martin J. Begosh, USA, whose vehicle hit a landmine in
    Bosnia on December 30. A tape was not available for verification of the
    content of these remarks.