[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.