[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 23 (Monday, June 13, 1994)]
[Pages 1260-1261]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in a Telephone Conversation With Senator James M. Jeffords

June 10, 1994

    The President. Hello.
    Senator Jeffords. Hello, Jim Jeffords here.
    The President. Hi, Senator. I just wanted to thank you for your help 
yesterday and for your leadership on the health care bill and to say 
especially how much I appreciate the work you did to get the WIC program 
fully funded. I know how much it means to you and how much it's going to 
do for the children of this country.

[[Page 1261]]

    Senator Jeffords. Well, thank you, Mr. President. I deeply 
appreciate that. And I want to thank you for your leadership. You got us 
going on this road, and I think with Senator Kennedy's help, we took a 
big step yesterday to getting our health care bill that we all want.
    The President. Well, I really appreciate the fact that you were 
willing to work with us and to vote for it. I know that some other 
Republicans offered some amendments and voted for some of the provisions 
of the health care bill in the committee, and I hope that by the time we 
get around to voting on the floor we'll have a bill that can get some 
more bipartisan support. I know they're under a lot of pressure not to 
vote for anything, but I know that you have some colleagues who agree 
with you and who will eventually put the interests of the country first 
just as you have done.
    I'm just honored to be in this fight with you, and I think we have 
to keep working and reaching out to others and trying to broaden the 
base. And I know that's what you want to do, too.
    Senator Jeffords. I certainly do, and we made a big step in that 
direction yesterday. And Nancy Kassebaum and also Dave Durenberger, with 
me, put an amendment in, and I think if we'd been able to pass it, it 
probably would have gotten on board. And----
    The President. What was the amendment?
    Senator Jeffords. ----it gave me confidence that we're going to be 
able to do it on the floor. And I've talked to a number of others. I'm 
confident that, again, when we get on the Senate floor and with a little 
more tinkering, we'll be able to get a good bipartisan bill for you.
    The President. Well, I'm ready to work with you. We can do it. We 
can do it. Thanks to you, and I'll never forget it. And let's just keep 
working at it.
    Senator Jeffords. Okay, thank you. And I thank the First Lady for 
her call this morning. I deeply appreciated that, and it's been great 
working with her and Ira Magaziner. They're two wonderful people.
    The President. Thanks. Have a good day.

Note: The President spoke at 1:54 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.