[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 7 (Monday, February 19, 2001)]
[Pages 294-295]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Republican Congressional Leaders and an 
Exchange With Reporters

February 15, 2001

Federal Budget

    The President. It's my honor to welcome Members of the United States 
Senate and Members of the United States House up here in the Cabinet 
Room to discuss the budget.
    I'll be submitting a budget to the Congress in short order, and I 
wanted to brief the members of the budget-writing committees about our 
priorities, our intentions, and of course, get the feedback. I get to 
propose a budget, and these folks get to write the budget. And we look 
forward to having a good discussion on it.
    Inherent in the budget, of course, is our desire to make sure we 
protect Social Security--I think there is unanimity around the table for 
that--that we set clear priorities, that we fund the priorities. In our 
budget, we're going to prove to the American people that we can pay down 
debt, fund priorities, protect Social Security, and there will be money 
left over, which we strongly believe ought to be passed back to the 
taxpayers.
    I look forward to the discussion with the chairman, near-chairman, 
and thank you all for coming.
    I'll be glad to answer a few questions. Yes, Jim.
    Q. Mr. President, will you be telling the Members of Congress that 
you hope to hold spending to below 4 percent, the increase in spending?
    The President. We're not going to give a specific number today, but 
we are going to argue, make the case that we can slow the rate of 
spending down; that our spending will be based upon priorities, the 
priorities I campaigned on; that we will meet the objectives that I 
talked about in the campaign, which is protecting Social Security, 
funding public education, strengthening the military, paying down debt--
and we'll be paying down debt; but that we believe the right number for 
the tax relief package is $1.6 trillion.

Tax Cut Plan

    Q. Mr. President, if the Senate were to vote today on your tax 
package, the vote would probably be 51-49 against you, given that there 
are two Republicans who have said they're not in favor of it as is. What 
can you say to Democrats to try to bring more of them on board in the 
Senate?
    The President. I can say, wait until you see our budget. You'll see 
that it's well thought out, that we meet important priorities. And I--
we've got a lot of work to do; I understand that. But this is a 
democracy; people have different opinions about the subjects.
    The people I want to talk to, though--first, before there is any 
vote--is the American people. And I will; I'll take my case to the 
American people about why I think tax relief makes sense. I'll remind 
Members of both the Senate and the House that there is a lot of debt at 
the Federal level, but there is a lot of debt at the private level. 
We've got a lot of people struggling to pay off credit card consumer 
debt. I'll tell people that if you're a family of four making $50,000, 
you get an additional $2,000, so you can decide what to do with your 
money.
    So I've got a lot of work to do, but I'm convinced that when the 
American people hear our plan, they will support it. I think we've got a 
very good chance of getting the tax package through.

Representative Cynthia McKinney

    Q. Mr. President, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who serves on the 
Armed Services Committee in the House, feels that she was snubbed 
because she didn't go with you during your defense tour this week.

[[Page 295]]

What do you say to her and some of the other members of the 
Congressional Black Caucus, especially after you met with them saying 
that you're into an inclusive era?
    The President. We had a very good meeting here and discussed a wide 
range of issues. I'm glad their Members came up, sat right here at this 
table, and expressed their opinion. My administration certainly never 
attempts to leave anybody out. And to the extent that Members--any 
Member feels left out, I'm sorry that that's the case. But we took the 
Members on that trip, and there will be other trips.

U.S.S. Greenville

    Q. Mr. President, were you surprised to learn that there were 
civilians at the helm of the submarine that sank the Japanese fishing 
boat?
    The President. Well, I think what is going to be necessary is for 
Secretary Rumsfeld and the Defense Department to review all policy 
regarding civilian activity during military exercises. I look forward to 
the Defense Department review of the policies, their current policies, 
particularly in light of the recent tragedy that took place in Hawaii.
    I want to reiterate what I said to the Prime Minister of Japan. I'm 
deeply sorry about the accident that took place. Our Nation is sorry 
that the accident happened, and we will do everything we can to help 
recover the bodies.

 Note:  The President spoke at 4:50 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori 
of Japan. A tape was not available for verification of the content of 
these remarks.