    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [December 22, 1995]
    [Pages 1923-1924]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Budget Negotiations and an Exchange With Reporters
    December 22, 1995

        The President. I hope--as you see, we're running a little behind
    today, so I hope you'll forgive us if we don't do a lot of questions; we
    have a lot of work to do. But let me just say from my point of view, I
    am pleased that our representatives met yesterday. They did make some
    progress. Obviously, a lot of the biggest issues remain. But the process
    seems to be working, and I'm encouraged. And I want to continue to do it
    until we reach agreement on a balanced budget. That's what I think
    clearly we all want.
        I would say here that 2 days before Christmas I hope some way can be
    found to get the checks for the 3\1/2\ million veterans and the aid to
    the 8 million children who need it just to exist. And there are almost
    half a million Federal workers who have been working who won't get

    [[Page 1924]]

    their paychecks today that they would otherwise get. So I think those
    problems need to be addressed.
        But on the other issue, I at least believe that we made some good
    progress yesterday, and I'm looking forward to the report today and
    continuing this process until we succeed, until we get this job done.
        Q. Can we ask the leaders, Mr. President, if they will get the
    checks out and----
        Q. Do you think the Congress should go home when millions are denied
    subsistence checks over Christmas?
        Speaker Gingrich. Well, let me just say, if I could for a second,
    Mr. President, I think both the House and Senate hope to get those bills
    down here today so that the--the AFDC and the--as the President
    mentioned the other day on television.
        Q. What are the chances of reopening the Government, Mr. Speaker?
        Speaker Gingrich. I think we're going to talk about that now.
        Q. Mr. Speaker, do you feel like a dog being wagged by its tail?
    [Laughter]
        Speaker Gingrich. It's amazing you guys get paid for some of these
    questions, on the eve of Christmas. Merry Christmas.
        Q. No, it's not my expression; it's the President's analysis.
        The President. I never called the Speaker a dog. [Laughter]
        Q. No, I know you didn't.
        Speaker Gingrich. And I'm deeply grateful. [Laughter]
        Q. Mr. President, do you think you can get a framework of a deal by
    Christmas?
        The President. I'm prepared to--let me just say, I'm prepared to
    just keep working. I think all of us want to have Christmas with our
    families, but beyond that, I'm prepared to keep working. And I'm going
    to do everything I can to succeed, and that's what we're going to talk
    about.
        Q. Mr. Speaker----
        The President. Thank you. We really need to go to work.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:52 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House, prior to a meeting with congressional leaders. A tape was not
    available for verification of the content of these remarks.