    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [December 7, 1995]
    [Pages 1857-1858]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Congressional Leaders and an Exchange
    With Reporters
    December 7, 1995

    Bosnia and the Budget

        The President. I'd like to just say a couple of opening words.
    First, I want to welcome the bipartisan delegation of House Members who
    are here and thank them for coming as we continue to discuss the
    question of our mission in Bosnia and search for unity on that.
        I also want to say that I took a step today which I hope will help
    us to find unity on the budget. I presented a budget that is a 7-year
    balanced budget that protects Medicare, Medicaid, education, and the
    environment, doesn't raise taxes on working families, and meets the
    conditions that were set out in the resolution to which we all agreed.
    And I hope it will be taken as a gesture in good faith that will start
    us on the road to real negotiations over this budget and that will bring
    about a constructive resolution for the American people.
        So I'm very hopeful about that, and I'm looking forward to having
    the opportunity to have a discussion about Bosnia with the Members who
    are here present. And some of them I think have recently returned from a
    trip of their own to Bosnia, so I think we'll have a lot to discuss. And
    I thank you for being here. And I thank you for being here.
        Q. Mr. President, Chairman Kasich said late today your budget came
    up there 400 in the hole. And he said by submitting this document

    [[Page 1858]]

    you have breached the contract you signed with them a few days ago.
        The President. Well, I disagree with that. You know, if you look
    at--we thought there would be new budget estimates coming out of the
    Congressional Budget Office by now, but they haven't been. That's fine,
    and I haven't attacked them for not doing it, even though they said they
    would. And I don't think that's very constructive.
        Our budget--let me point out two things. All this is is a--the
    balanced budget plan is a plan over 7 years. No one can know what will
    happen between now and then, but we do know what's happened for the last
    3 years. For the last 3 years, both the Congressional Budget Office and
    the Office of Management and Budget have underestimated the deficit
    reduction as a result of the 1993 economic plan, although we have been
    closer to accurate than the CBO.
        We know that our plan was submitted based on basically splitting the
    difference of all the experts in America who predict what the economy
    will do. And therefore, it is mainstream, and it's good, and it's a good
    place to start discussions. And I think that's the attitude they ought
    to take. And if they have a--I've made a proposal; now I'd like to see
    what theirs is.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:05 p.m. in the Indian Treaty Room at the
    Old Executive Office Building.