[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
[July 12, 1997]
[Pages 951-952]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 951]]


The President's Radio Address
July 12, 1997

    Good morning. I'm speaking to you from Copenhagen, Denmark, on the 
last day of what has been an historic week in Europe. For nearly 50 
years, the NATO alliance has kept America and Western Europe secure in 
its peace. This week, we made NATO stronger to help keep America and all 
of Europe secure and at peace for the next 50 years by preparing NATO to 
take on new security challenges, reaching out to new partners like 
Russia and Ukraine, and inviting in new members, starting with Poland, 
Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
    Enlarging NATO will not be cost-free, but it will cost far less in 
lives and money to broaden our alliance than to fight another war in 
Europe. These new members will add to NATO's strength. Membership will 
help them lock in democracy and free markets. Their example will 
encourage other new democracies in Central Europe to stay on the path of 
reform and settle the kinds of disputes that have sparked two World 
Wars. And enlarging NATO will help to erase the artificial line drawn by 
Stalin that has divided Europe for nearly 50 years.
    Next year, I will ask the Senate to ratify changes to the NATO 
treaty so that we can welcome in the first new members by 1999. This is 
a serious step. It requires a full discussion I intend to lead with the 
American people. I firmly believe enlarging NATO is in America's 
interest. The countries we want to add to NATO are ready to help us 
defend freedom because they know the price of losing freedom.
    My trip to Europe has been about building American security for the 
21st century. In the weeks to come, we have an opportunity at home to 
better prepare our families for that 21st century, to build greater 
security from the inside out. Our expanding economy and declining 
deficit provide us the chance both to balance the budget and to give the 
middle class a responsible tax cut targeted to education, children, and 
families. Today I want to discuss the right way and the wrong way to cut 
taxes.
    When I became President, our economy was stagnant, with high 
unemployment, low job growth, and an out-of-control deficit. In 1993 we 
put in place a new economic strategy--what I call invest-and-grow 
economics--a strategy to prepare our people for the 21st century. It had 
three principal elements. First, we reduced the deficit, which led to 
lower interest rates and greater investment. Second, we invested in 
education, training, and technology and made special efforts for high 
unemployment areas so that all our people can reap the rewards of 
growth. And third, we've worked hard to make the global economy work for 
us, tearing down foreign barriers and opening new markets to American 
products.
    Four years later, our economic strategy is working. The deficit has 
fallen by over 77 percent. More than 12 million jobs have been created. 
And millions of Americans who once were dependent on welfare now have 
the dignity and security of the paycheck. Exports have surged to a 
record level. Unemployment is the lowest in 24 years, inflation the 
lowest in 30 years. We've had the biggest drop in inequality among 
working families in 27 years.
    Our prosperity is real. It's based on investment, not debt. More 
Americans than ever are living the American dream of a good job, a home 
of their own, a better life for their children. This progress was not 
predestined; it was earned with the right strategy and the right 
choices, including tough budget cuts. And while we can be pleased with 
our progress, we can do better, and we must, because our work is not 
finished.
    First, we must finish the job of balancing the budget. I'm pleased 
that our balanced budget agreement, which is in balance with our values 
as it invests in education, science and technology, research, and health 
care for our children, is moving through Congress with strong majorities 
in both parties. The balanced budget plan also sets aside funds for a 
tax cut. If done properly, the tax cut will increase economic growth, 
help working families to improve their lives and educate their children, 
and enable us to keep the budget in balance, unlike the tax cuts of the 
early 1980's, which increased our deficit by 4 times and crippled our 
economy.

[[Page 952]]

    That kind of good tax cut is the one our balanced budget agreement 
promised the American people in quite specific terms. Unfortunately, the 
tax plan recommended by the Congress offers too little relief to the 
middle class and fails to live up to the budget agreement.
    Before I left for Europe I put forward my own tax cut plan, which I 
believe is the right one for America. It focuses on higher education--
the key to opportunity in the new economy--with $35 billion in tax cuts, 
as called for in the budget agreement, with the biggest increase in 
college aid since the GI bill 50 years ago. The congressional plan would 
deny 7 million students tuition tax credits. And Congress' plan gives 
families little help to pay for the last 2 years of college or graduate 
school or training throughout a career. My tax cut will keep the budget 
balanced. But tucked away in the congressional plan are time-bomb tax 
cuts that risk exploding the deficit in years to come.
    My tax cut plan will give families a $500-per-child tax credit. The 
congressional plan denies the child credit to up to 4.8 million families 
who make less than $30,000 a year. But these families work hard, pay 
their taxes, and play by the rules. They're teachers, firefighters, 
nurses, maybe your neighbors. They deserve a tax cut, too.
    I was pleased that the Senate Democratic caucus this week wrote me 
in support of my tax cut plan. We will stand together to make sure a tax 
cut reflects the priorities I have set out and the ones agreed to by the 
leaders of both parties in the balanced budget agreement.
    I'm determined that our tax cut, like the rest of the balanced 
budget, honors our values and values our families. The tax cut must be 
fair, giving middle class families the help they need to raise their 
children, send them to college, buy and sell a home. It must not contain 
provisions which will lead to big budget deficits in years to come.
    This is the kind of tax cut I'm coming home to work with Congress to 
pass. The hard work and hard choices of the American people have given 
us a chance to enter the new century strong and vibrant and optimistic. 
If we stand firm for the right principles, if we stick to a strategy 
that has secured our prosperity--invest and grow--we can prepare our 
people for the bright new century ahead.
    Thanks for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 11 a.m. on July 12 at the U.S. Embassy 
in Copenhagen, Denmark, for broadcast in the United States at 10:06 a.m. 
on July 12.