    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [March 7, 1997]
    [Page 262]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the National Economy
    March 7, 1997

        Today we learned that the economy is continuing to generate good
    jobs, almost 600,000 jobs in the first 2 months of this year alone.
    That's good news for American workers and their families. The American
    economy has now created nearly 12 million new jobs since I took office.
    Now it's time to keep this American job engine on the move by passing a
    balanced budget plan that invests in education and our future.
        Our 1993 economic plan has helped spur this strong job growth, while
    cutting the deficit by 63 percent, from $290 billion in 1992 to $107
    billion in 1996. Now we must cut the deficit to zero while investing in
    our people. My budget will do just that. I look forward to working with
    the Congress to get the job done by passing a balanced budget plan.