    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [November 13, 1995]
    [Page 1755]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1755]]

    Message to the House of Representatives Returning Without Approval
    Continuing Resolution Legislation
    November 13, 1995

    To the House of Representatives:
        I am returning herewith without my approval H.J. 115, the Second
    Continuing Resolution for fiscal year 1996.
        This legislation would raise Medicare premiums on senior citizens,
    and deeply cut education and environmental protection, as the cost for
    keeping the government running. Those are conditions that are not
    necessary to meet my goal of balancing the budget.
        If I signed my name to this bill now, millions of elderly couples
    all across this country would be forced to sign away $264 more in
    Medicare premiums next year, premium hikes that are not necessary to
    balance the budget. If America must close down access to quality
    education, a clean environment and affordable health care for our
    seniors, in order to keep the government open, then that price is too
    high.
        We don't need these cuts to balance the budget. And we do not need
    big cuts in education and the environment to balance the budget. I have
    proposed a balanced budget without these cuts.
        I will continue to fight for my principles: a balanced budget that
    does not undermine Medicare, education or the environment, and that does
    not raise taxes on working families. I will not take steps that I
    believe will weaken our nation, harm our people and limit our future as
    the cost of temporarily keeping the government open.
        I continue to be hopeful that we can find common ground on balancing
    the budget. With this veto, it is now up to the Congress to take the
    reasonable and responsible course. They can still avoid a government
    shutdown.
        Congress still has the opportunity to pass clean continuing
    resolution and debt ceiling bills. These straightforward measures would
    allow the United States government to keep functioning and meet its
    obligations, without attempting to force the acceptance of Republican
    budget priorities.
        Indeed, when Congress did not pass the 13 appropriations bills to
    fund the government for fiscal year 1996 by September 30, we agreed on a
    fair continuing resolution that kept the Government operating and
    established a level playing field while Congress completed its work.
        Now, more than six weeks later, Congress still has sent me only
    three bills that I have been able to sign. Indeed, I am pleased to be
    signing the Energy and Water bill today. This bill is the result of a
    cooperative effort between my Administration and the Congress. It shows
    that when we work together, we can produce good legislation.
        We can have a fair and open debate about the best way to balance the
    budget. America can balance the budget without extreme cuts in Medicare,
    Medicaid, education or the environment--and that is what we must do.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    November 13, 1995.