    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [March 28, 1998]
    [Pages 465-466]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Transportation Legislation
    March 28, 1998

    Dear __________:
        Since taking office in 1993, my Administration has made a commitment
    to both fiscal discipline and the strategic investments we need to lay
    the foundation for a strong and healthy economic future. Our initiatives
    have helped produce economic conditions never imagined when I first took
    office. We have reduced the budget deficit from $290 billion in 1993,
    and may realize a potential surplus in 1998, reaching

    [[Page 466]]

    balance years before our target date. We now enjoy low unemployment,
    modest inflation, sustained economic growth and a level of prosperity
    that is a model for other countries.
        Our economic policy has always demonstrated our commitment to public
    investments in our people to complement our commitment to private
    investments, fueled by successful deficit reduction. Our priorities have
    always included a combination of vital investments in education and
    training, environment, community empowerment, research, infrastructure
    and transportation.
        Certainly investing in a reliable, efficient, and a well-constructed
    system of highway and mass transit is an important domestic priority and
    critical to our economic success. In fact, the budget I submitted this
    year asks for 40 percent more for transportation than the average annual
    expenditure in the previous administration.
        However, I have serious concerns that the extent of proposed new
    spending in this transportation bill goes too far and could threaten
    both our fiscal discipline and our commitment to education and other
    critical investments in our future. Transportation is an important
    domestic priority, but we must strike a balance so that we do not allow
    one priority to squeeze out other critical investments such as education
    or undermine our fiscal discipline.
        We should not and need not reject fiscal discipline or force cuts in
    critical programs on which our citizens and country rely to build a
    strong America in the 21st century. If we show a balance of our values
    as we reach a truly balanced budget, we can maintain fiscal discipline
    while maintaining strong investments in both our people and our physical
    infrastructure.
        Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Newt Gingrich, Speaker, and Richard
    A. Gephardt, minority leader, House of Representatives, and Trent Lott,
    majority leader, and Thomas A. Daschle, minority leader, United States
    Senate. An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this letter.