[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 15 (Monday, April 19, 1993)]
[Pages 603-604]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell on the Stimulus 
Package

 April 16, 1993

Dear Mr. Leader:

    As the Senate prepares to return Monday to consideration of the 
pending appropriations bill to create jobs, to boost the economy, and to 
meet pressing human needs, it is important that we renew our commitment 
to breaking gridlock and to making government work.
    To help accomplish those goals, I recommend you consider changes in 
the pending legislation to reduce its scope, while leaving unaffected 
certain key programs in the bill. I understand the procedural situation 
permits you and Senator Byrd to offer a substitute amendment when the 
Senate reconvenes. Unfortunately, the rules of the Senate have enabled a 
minority to block the will of the majority. That makes it necessary for 
us to step forward and modify the bill in order to meet our objectives. 
Therefore I recommend you consider offering a substitute that includes 
these components:
    --Leave in place the proposed funding levels for these essential 
      programs to

[[Page 604]]

      create jobs and to meet human needs: highway construction, summer 
      jobs for young people, childhood immunization, the Ryan White 
      program for AIDS victims, construction of wastewater treatment 
      facilities, hiring meat inspectors, and assistance to small 
      business. Of course, the $4 billion for extended unemployment 
      compensation benefits would be left in place.

    --Reduce proportionately the other programs in the bill to bring 
      budget authority down from $16.2 billion to $12 billion. This will 
      require an across-the-board cut in other programs of about 44 
      percent.

    --Target $200 million for grants to local governments to hire police 
      as a means of helping to fight crime and to offset layoffs 
      resulting from the fiscal constraints on local government.

    This approach would reduce the budget authority in this bill by 
approximately 25 percent, but it would create only 18 percent fewer jobs 
in this fiscal year.

    I make this recommendation reluctantly, and regret the unwillingness 
of the minority to let the Senate act on the original legislation. But 
our mandate is to achieve change, to move the country forward, and to 
end business as usual in Washington. By taking the initiative in the 
face of an unrelenting filibuster I believe we can respond to that 
mandate and achieve a significant portion of our original goals.

    Your advice and counsel, and persistent hard work for the working 
people of this country are greatly appreciated. You have my respect and 
the thanks of the millions of Americans in the cities, towns and rural 
communities across the nation who you are trying to help.

    Sincerely,
                                                  Bill Clinton