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�Draft 9/23/98 3:25pm
Lowell Weiss
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS ON INCOME AND POVERTY REPORT
THE WHITE HOUSE
September 24,1998
This morning, the Census Bureau released its annual Survey of Income and Poverty. In a
moment, I will outline the very positive news it contains for America's working families.
But before I do, I want to thank my chief of staff, Erskine Bowles, and the members of my
economic team, whose tireless ~ and often sleepless ~ work has been instrumental in sparking and
maintaining what will soon be the longest peacetime boom in American history: Sec. Rubin, Sec.
Daley, Gene Sperling, Jack Lew, Janet Yellen, Larry Summers.
r.- ui.^
I also want to thank the officials of Census Bureau who are here today. Sometimes we take
your hard work and reliable statistics for granted. But the fact is, your work ensures that America's
- democracy is^tru^vi^^se^^^^emocracy / And that is why I want to say once again: Congress
must not hamstring theCens^BureilU^ etl'orts to use the most up-to-date, accurate, scientific
methods to produce the Year 2000 Census. We simply cannot properly address the challenges of
the 21st century if the first Census of the century undercounts or ignores millions upon millions of
our citizens. Every American counts. We must count every American.
,
;
NexLweek wiUjTiark_the seventh anniversary of the day I announced my intention to run for
Presideniof4lielJniteTStates.~T)n that day, I challenged America to embrace an urgent mission for
the 21st centuryT^preserving the American Dream, restoring the hopes of the forgotten middle class,
and reclaiming the future for our children." As President, I have worked hard to help America fulfill
that mission, putting in place a bold strategy to shrink the deficit, invest in our people, and to
expand exports of products proudly stamped "Made in the USA." The income and poverty report
released this morning by the Census Bureau represents one more year's worth of compelling
evidence that this economic strategy is working for all Americans.
The report shows that last year the typical household benefitted from a significant increase
in income for the fourth year in a row. Since we launched our economic plan in 1993, the typical
family's income has risen by more than $3,500 a year. That's an extra $3,500 that hard-working
families can put toward their children's education, a down payment on a home, or even a muchneeded vacation. Income for typical African-American and Hispanic families increased by more
than $1,000 last year alone. After years and years of stagnant family incomes, America's middle
class is thriving in the way I hoped and prayed for when I launched my campaign seven years ago.
This report also shows that rising incomes are lifting families out of poverty. The AfricanAmerican poverty rate fell to another record low! Hispanic poverty saw the largest one-year drop in
two decades. Child poverty has dropped more in the past three years than it has in more than 30
years. And the Earned Income Tax Credit, which we have dramatically expanded and fought hard
to preserve, raised more than four million people of poverty last year.
�All Americans have a right to be proud of these important gains. But we can't let these good
times lull us into complacency. The turmoil we see in economies around the world reminds us that
we cannot stand pat or stand aside. We must use our prosperity, and the confidence it inspires, to
take on the many challenges that remain.
First, we have more work to do to extend opportunity to all Americans. Starting in the
1970s, income inequality rose sharply. Now, it has stabilized. For five years in a row, every
income group has benefited from the nation's economic growth ~ thanks, in part, to a higher
minimum wage, more jobs, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. But we still have to do more to
grow together in the 21 st century.
Second, we must maintain our fiscal discipline. Exactly a week from today, we will have
the first balanced budget and the first budget surplus since Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon.
But already, Republicans are threatening to walk away with that surplus. Instead ofrsseryirig every
penny of that hard-won surplus until we have taken the steps to save Social SecurityjfesOhe
Republicans want to drain the surplus to pay for unwise, untargeted tax cuts this election year.
I call on Congress to go back to the drawing board. Look at the targeted tax cuts for
working families I proposed and we all passed last year: $500 per child; a HOPE Scholarship for
college; Education IRAs. I say to Congress: send me a plan like that ~ a plan with targeted tax
relief for working families - while preserving all thg surplus until we have saved Social Security.
Third, we must work with other nations to manage change, stabilize financial systems, and
spur robust global growth. While we are enjoying a moment of unsurpassed economic strength at
home, economic turmoil is crippling important trading partners abroad. Unless we are prepared to
honor our obligation to lead, we will not remain an "oasis of prosperity" for long. That is why it is
imperative that Congress fully fund our dues to the International Monetary Fund. At a time when
our economic growth demands continued American economic leadership, refusing to live up to our
IMF obligations is nothing short of economic malpractice.
{
Fourth, we must not cut back on our vital investments in our people. With less than a week
left in the fiscal year, Congress has taken little action on our vital education initiatives. Congress
must work with us to reduce class sizes, hire 100,000 well-trained teachers, modernize and build
thousands of schools, give our students access to powerful education technologies, create new
charter schools, expand early literacy, and lift our children's sights with voluntary national
standards. If we hope to maintain economic growth in the next century, we must give our children a
world-class education.
On this early fall day, all we have to do is take a cue from the squirrels gathering the
abundant acorns all. overthe South Lawn. Times of plenty are not times to rest. They are the time5
for the very hardest, most productive, mosUjgtermined work of all. We must use this time --an
unprecedented time of falling poverty. gVowing incomes, ^d^soaringcanfid^^-- to put progress
ahead of partisanship and prepare our nation for thecEallerTg^tRe 5lstcentury will bring. Thank
you and God bless you.
###
s u
••••^1/
-2-
�tfi—
�Draft 9/24/98 10:30am
Lowell Weiss
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS ON INCOME AND POVERTY REPORT
THE WHITE HOUSE
September 24,1998
Acknowledgments: introducer Monique Miskimon [MISS-kim-min]; Erskine Bowles. Sec.
Rubin. Sec. Herman. Gene Sperling. Jack Lew. Janet Yellen. Larry Summers, whose tireless ~ and
often sleepless - work has been instrumental in sparking and maintaining what will soon be the
longest peacetime boom in American history; officials of Census Bureau who are here today.
Sometimes we take your hard work and reliable statistics for granted. But the fact is, your work
ensures that America's democracy is a truly representative democracy. And that is why I want to
say once again: Congress must not hamstring the Census Bureau's efforts to use the most up-todate, accurate, scientific methods to produce the Year 2000 Census.
Before I get into the details of the very positive economic report we received this morning, I
want to say a word about Hurricane Georges [zhorzhe]. In the Caribbean Islands, businesses and
homes have been swept away, and, tragically, many lives have been lost. Meanwhile, the projected
track of the storm places the hurricane's center over or near the Florida Keys late tonight or early
tomorrow morning. As we speak, we are helping the people of Florida prepare for the hurricane.
James Lee Witt, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has informed me that
FEMA's Region IV Emergency Response Team arrived in Tallahassee at 10:00 this morning. Here
in Washington, the FEMA Emergency Support Team is operating at Level I ~ its highest level ~ on
a 24-hour basis. Our experienced support teams, and our prayers, are with those in the Caribbean as
they begin to rebuild, and with those in the Florida Keys as they brace for the impact of this storm.
As President, I have worked hard to help America rally around an urgent mission for the
21st century: reclaiming the future for our children and restoring the American Dream. To
accomplish that mission, we put in place a bold strategy to shrink the deficit, invest in our people,
and expand exports of products proudly stamped "Made in the USA." The Census report released
this morning represents one more year's worth of compelling evidence that this economic strategy is
working for families like Monique's ~ and, indeed, for families from every walk of life.
The report shows that last year the income of the typical American household grew at nearly
twice the rate of inflation. Since we launched our economic plan in 1993, the typical family's real
income has risen by more than $3,500 ~ that's an extra $3,500 that hard-working families can put
toward their children's education or a down payment on a first home. Income for typical AfricanAmerican and Hispanic families increased by more than $1,000 last year alone.
This report also shows that our growing economy is giving families the chance to work their
way out of poverty. The overall poverty rate fell to 13.3 percent. And while we still have room for
improvement, the African-American poverty rate fell to another record low, Hispanic poverty saw
the largest one-year drop in two decades, and child poverty has dropped more in the past four years
than in any four-year-period in nearly 30 years. And the Earned Income Tax Credit, which
Monique spoke of a moment ago, raised more than four million people out of poverty last year.
-1 -
�The report this morning shows that economic growth continues to raise incomes, lift
millions out of poverty, and extend opportunity — and it shows that we must do more. Since
1993 every income group has benefited from the nation's economic growth, but income inequality
is still too high. We must use our prosperity, and the confidence it inspires, to help our hardestpressed families and to ensure continued economic growth for all Americans.
The most important thing we must do is to maintain our solid economic strategy - above
all, the strict fiscal discipline that has given us the strongest economy in a generation. Exactly a
week from today, we will have the first balanced budget and the first budget surplus since Neil
Armstrong walked on the Moon. Unfortunately, this week the Republicans in the House of
Representatives are moving forward with a proposal that drains this new surplus to pay for their tax
plan. We can cut taxes, and my balanced budget includes targeted tax cuts. But they must be paid
for in full if we are going to expand opportunity in the years to come. My bottom line is clear: We
should set aside every penny of any surplus until we save Social Security first.
Second, we must continue to invest in our people. I was disappointed earlier this week when
the Senate rejected an increase in the minimum wage that would have gone a long way toward
ensuring that parents who work hard and play by the rules do not have to raise their children in
poverty. Working Americans deserve a raise. I have also been disappointed that with only a week
left in the fiscal year, Congress has taken little action on our vital education investments. Congress
must work with us to reduce class sizes, hire 100,000 well-trained teachers, modernize and build
thousands of schools, give our students access to powerful education technologies, create new
charter schools, improve early literacy, and lift our children's sights with voluntary national
standards. If we hope to maintain economic growth in the next century, we must give our children a
world-class education.
Third, we must continue to lead in the global economy. While we are enjoying a moment of
unsurpassed economic strength at home, economic turmoil is crippling important trading partners
abroad. Unless we are prepared to honor our obligation to lead, we will not remain an "oasis of
prosperity" for long. That is why it is imperative that Congress fully fund our dues to the
International Monetary Fund. At a time when our economic growth demands continued American
economic leadership, refusing to live up to our IMF obligations will send a terrible signal to the
world, and put our prosperity at risk.
Times of plenty are not times to rest. They are the time for the hardest, most productive,
most determined work of all. Let's use this time of rising incomes and soaring confidence to put
progress ahead of partisanship, people ahead of politics. Let's think about how our willingness to
do so affects families like Monique's, now just starting to make ends meet. How our deeds can give
peace of mind to families like those I recently met in Kentucky ~ families forced to fight a callous
HMO just as they were summoning all their strength to fight a sickness or disease. How our actions
can help students start to read at grade level for the first time, like the young students I recently met
at the Oscar Meyer School in Chicago. In the remaining days of this legislative session, let's keep
in mind all that's at stake for our children and families. Let's do everything in our power to give all
our families a chance to earn the pride and peace of mind you heard Monique talk about today.
Thank you and God bless you.
###
-2-
�Draft 9/23/98 7:45pm
Lowell Weiss
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS ON INCOME AND POVERTY REPORT
THE WHITE HOUSE
September 24,1998
^ a j r f l ^ a H ^ W c K ^ f o f staff, Erskine Bo\Vles. and thS members'of my economic team,
whose tireless — anct often sleepless ~ work has'been instrumental in sparking and maintaining what
will-soon be the longest peacetime boom in American history: Sec. RubrtTTSec. Herrflan. Gene
Sperling. Jack Lew^Janet Yeil€n. Larry Sttmmers.
I-also wartt to'thank the officials of Census Bureau who art: here today. Sometimes we take
your-hard work and-reliable statistics for granted. But the fact is; your work ensures thaf America's
democracy is'ar-truly representative democracy. And that rS"why I-want to say onCe a|ain: Congress
mustifoHiamstring the Ceifsus Bureau's efforts to use the most up-to-date, accurate, scientific
meth6ds to"produce the Year 2000 Census.
Next week will mark th^eventh anniversary ofthe day I-announced my intention tcr rurrfer
President. On that day, I chajtenged America to- embrace an urgent mission for the 2tst century:
"preserving the AmericanE^ream, restoring the"hopes of the-forgotten middle class, and-reclahning
the'futtlre fOf our childr
/
ArPreSident, I have worked hard to^ielpfAmerica fulfill that mission, putting irTplaee a
strategy to-shrmk the deficit, invest inDur'people, and to-expand exports of products ppcrudly
stamped "Made in the'USA." The income and poverty report released this morning represents one
more yeefr's worttrofeOmp&lling evidence that this economic strategy is^vorking for all Americans.
The report shows that last year the ineome oftlyfyplcal American household grew by
nearlylwiCe the rate of inflation. Since weiaunched cfar economic plan in 1993, the typical
family'-<real'ineome hasrisen by more than $3,500/^Thafs afi extra $3,500 that^iard-wofking
families can put toward their-children's education, a-dowri"payment on a^ieme, oreven a mtfCh^
needed-vacation. Income fortypical African-American and Hispanic families increased -by-mere
thaiv^l ,060 last yeanalone. Aftpr yearsr and"years of stagnant family incomes, Am^ica's middle
classes thriving inth&AvaS' I Sloped and preyed for when Raunched my-camplfgn seven years-ago.
\^
This-fepert atso shows"that"6ur -growing economy is giving families the chance tcrworirtheir
way tSut^f^bverty. The^verall poverty rats'feH t(rl 3^5 percent. Andwhite we sti-11 have room for
improvemertCthe African-American poverty rate felfto-another record low, Hispanic poverty sa^the largest one-year-dfbp in^two^ecades, andxhikfpo^erty has^irop^ed morer in the pasHouf years
— Uia^ny four^yeaf^pefiod kThearly^O.years. AruHhe'Earfied Income TajrCredit, which we^iave
dramaticaUyexpaatfed and-fbught hafdto-pf©s6rve, raised^more^han^foupifiillion^eopK odt of
poverty lasTyear.
The-report'th-i^ morrtmg shows thaf economic growtlfcontinues to raise4nco«Ies, lift--1 -
.
�milliorirout of poverty, and'extend opportunity — anait-showjrthaHre mtrst"-do' more. Since
1993 everyincome group has^yenefrted frorrf thrTiation's ecwiSmic growth, buttnceifie inequality
is^sfiU-toe^higli. We must use our prosperity, ancUhe Cohfiderfce itlnsiTires, to^ielp-ourttardestpressed^rTili^ancHo^ensure'Continued eccmomic growth feraU- Americans.
Theinogfimpcirtant thin^we must tkristo-maintain our solid economic stfateg/-- above
all^tli^strid^tscal'discipHhe that>h'as givenils the-strongestecon6mv iif a-feReration.^Myljottom
lineis^cleaf: WovShould act agidc c^eiy pmii'31 uf-aiiy ^mpllta until wotiavo Sooitri Socurity^fitiet. V
will^eSist-afiyiajTplsffthar squanders tire surplus before weiiav^mef our-tong^efm obligations tp
will .reSist-afiy iajTpt
tion.
the nexi-genefation.
Unfortunately, this'weelfthCRe^tfblicans in-the^Honse ofRepfesentatives are-moling
forwafd witlrS-prepbsal that drains tM^neW^urplus te^iayforthefr tax-plan. We can cut taxes, and
my balanced budget includes targeted tax cuts. But they must be paid for in full if we are going to
expand opportunity in the years to come.; _ ^
a
Second, we must continue to invest in our people. I was disappointed earlier this week when
the^enate rejected an increase in the minimum wage that would have gone a long way toward
ensurihg that parents who work hard and play by the rules do not have to raise their children in
poverty! I have also been disappointed that with only a week left in the fiscal year, Congress has
taken little action on our vital education investments. Congress must work with us to reduce class
sizes, hire 100,000 well-trained teachers, modernize and build thousands of schools, give our
students access to powerful education technologies, create new charter schools, improve early
literacy, and lift our children's sights with voluntary national standards. If we hope to maintain
economic growth in the next century, we must give our children a world-class education.
Third, we must continue to lead in the global economy. While we are enjoying a moment of
unsurpassed economic strength at home, economic turmoil is crippling important trading partners
abroad. Unless we are prepared to honor our obligation to lead, we will not remain an "oasis of
prosperity" for long. That is why it is imperative that Congress fully fund our dues to the
International Monetary Fund. At a time when our economic growth demands continued American
economic leadership, refusing to live up to our IMF obligations will send a terrible signal to the
world, and put our prosperity at risk.
Times of plenty are not times to rest. They are the time for the hardest, most productive,
most determined work of all. [And if you want data to back up this point, we don't even need to turn
to all the economic geniuses here today. On this early fall day, all we need to do is to look at the
squirrels collecting the acorns strewn all over the South Lawn.] Let's use this time of plenty to
work harder than ever to prepare for the future. Let's use this time of rising incomes and soaring
confidence to give all our people a chance to succeed in the 21st century. Thank you and God bless
you.
###
-2-
£\
�Draft 9/23/98 5:30pm
Lowell Weiss
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS ON INCOME AND POVERTY REPORT]
THE WHITE HOUSE
September 24,1998
This morning, the Census Bureau released its annual Survey of Income and Poverty. The
report makes ^clear t^etCour rgeaaskflijle economy continues to raise mir ffimilir"' incomes, lift
millions of mir penplr out of poverty, and provide unpimdcpted opportunity for all-Ameri
Before I get into the details of the study, I want to thank my chief of staff, Erskine Bowles,
and the members of my economic team, whose tireless -- and often sleepless ~ work has been
instrumental in sparking and maintaining what will soon be the longest peacetime boom in
American history: Sec. Rubin, Sec. Daley, Gene Sperling, Jack Lew, Janet Yellen, Larry Summers.
I also want to thank the officials of Census Bureau who are here today. Sometimes we take
your hard work and reliable statistics for granted. But the fact is, your work ensures that America's
democracy is a truly representative democracy. And that is why I want to say once again: Congress
must not hamstring the Census Bureau's efforts to use the most up-to-date, accurate, scientific
methods to produce the Year 2000 Census.
Next week will mark the seventh anniversary of the day I announced my intention to run for
President. On that day, I challenged America to embrace an urgent mission for the 21st century:
"preserving the American Dream, restoring the hopes of the forgotten middle class, and reclaiming
the future for our children."
As President, I have worked hard to help America fulfill that mission, putting in place a bold
strategy to shrink the deficit, invest in our people, and to expand exports of products proudly
stamped "Made in the USA." The income and poverty report released this morning by the Census
Bureau represents one more year's worth of compelling evidence that this economic strategy is
working for all Americans.
The report shows that last year the income of the typical American household grew by
nearly twice the rate of inflation. Since we launched our economic plan in 1993, the typical
family's income has risen by more than $3,500 a year. That's an extra $3,500 that hard-working
families can put toward their children's education, a down payment on a home, or even a muchneeded vacation. Income for typical African-American and Hispanic families increased by more
than $1,000 last year alone. After years and years of stagnant family incomes, America's middle
class is thriving in the way I hoped and prayed for when I launched my campaign seven years ago.
This report also shows that our growing economy is giving families the chance to work their
way out of poverty. The overall poverty rate fell to 13.3 percent. And while there is clearly more to
be done, the African-American poverty rate fell to another record low; Hispanic poverty saw the
largest one-year drop in two decades. Child poverty has dropped more in the past four years than it
-1 -
�has in nearly 30 years; and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which we have dramatically expanded
and fought hard to preserve, raised more than four million people of poverty last year.
All Americans have a right to be proud of these gains. But we can't let these good times lull
us into complacency. We know we have even more work to do to make sure that as our nation races
forward, we do not leave anyone behind. Since 1993 every income group has benefited from the
nation's economic growth, but income inequality is still too high. We must use our prosperity, and
the confidence it inspires, to help our hardest-pressed families and to ensure continued economic
growth for all Americans.
The most important thing we must do is to maintain our solid economic strategy - above
all, the strict fiscal discipline that has given us the strongest economy in a generation. My bottom
line is clear: We should set aside every penny of any surplus until we save Social Security first. I
will resist any tax plan that squanders the surplus before we have met our long-term obligations to
the next generation.
Unfortunately, this week the Republicans in the House of Representatives are moving
forward with a proposal that drains this new surplus to pay for their tax plan. We can cut taxes, and
my balanced budget includes targeted tax cuts. But they must be paid for in full if we are going to
expand opportunity in the years to come.
Second, we must continue to invest in the education and skills of our people. With only a
week left in the fiscal year, Congress has taken little action on our vital education initiatives.
Congress must work with us to reduce class sizes, hire 100,000 well-trained teachers, modernize
and build thousands of schools, give our students access to powerful education technologies, create
new charter schools, expand early literacy, and lift our children's sights with voluntary national
standards. If we hope to maintain economic growth in the next century, we must give our children a
world-class education.
Third, we must continue to lead in the global economy. While we are enjoying a moment of
unsurpassed economic strength at home, economic turmoil is crippling important trading partners
abroad. Unless we are prepared to honor our obligation to lead, we will not remain an "oasis of
prosperity" for long. That is why it is imperative that Congress fully fund our dues to the
International Monetary Fund. At a time when our economic growth demands continued American
economic leadership, refusing to live up to our IMF obligations will send a terrible signal to the
world, and put our prosperity at risk.
Times of plenty are not times to rest. They are the time for the very hardest, most
productive, most determined work of all. And if you want data to back up this point, we don't need
even need to turn to all the genius economists here today. On this early fall day, all we need to do is
to look at all squirrels collecting the abundant acorns all over the South Lawn. Let's use this time of
plenty to work harder than ever to prepare for the future. Let's use this time of rising incomes and
soaring confidence to give all our people a chance to succeed in the 21st century. Thank you and
God bless you.
###
-2-
�Draft 9/23/98 3:25pm
Lowell Weiss
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS ON INCOME AND POVERTY REPORT
THE WHITE HOUSE
September 24,1998
j
This morning, the Census Bureau released its annual Survey of Income and Poverty. In a
/ -.
J moment, I will outline the very positive news it contains for America's working families. —=^> o f f l ^ Z j ^
But before I do, I want to thank my chief of staff, Erskine Bowles, and the members of my
economic team, whose tireless - and often sleepless ~ work has been instrumental in sparking and
maintaining what will soon be the longest peacetime boom in American history: Sec. Rubin, Sec.
Daley, Gene Sperling, Jack Lew, Janet Yellen, Larry Summers.
A_>«-H2—
I also want to thank the officials of Census Bureau who are here today. Sometimes we take
your hard work and reliable statistics for granted. But the fact is, your work ensures that America's
democracy is a truly representative democracy. And that is why I want to say once again: Congress
must not hamstring the Census Bureau's efforts to use the most up-to-date, accurate, scientific
methods to produce the Year 2000 Census. We simply cannot properly address the challenges of
the 21st century if the first Census of the century undercounts or ignores millions upon millions of
ncilizens. Every American counts. We must count every American.
Next week will mark the seventh anniversary of the day I announced my intention to run for
President ofthe United States. On that day, I challenged America to embrace an urgent mission for
the 21st century: "preserving the American Dream, restoring the hopes of the forgotten middle class,
aricl reclaiming the future for our children." As President, I have worked hard to help America fulfill
that mission, putting in place a bold strategy to shrink the deficit, invest in our people, and to
expand exports of products proudly stamped "Made in the USA." The income and poverty report
released this morning by the Census Bureau represents one more year's worth ofcompellin
released tms morning oy tne census Bureau represents one more year s worm ot.compeinng
evidence that this economic strategy is working for all Americans.
ftVhT^'
—, -
The report shows that last year the typical household benefitted from a significant increase
in income for the fourth year in a row. Since we launched our economic plan in 1993, the typical
family's income has risen by more than $3,500 a year. That's an extra $3,500 that hard-working
families can put toward their children's education, a down payment on a home, or even a muchneeded vacation. Income for typical African-American and Hispanic families increased by more
than $1,000 last year alone. After years and years of stagnant family incomes, America's middle
class is thriving in the way I hoped and prayed for when I launched my campaign seven years ago.
^This report also shows that rising incomes are lifting families out of poverty. The AfricanAmerican poverty rate fell to another record low. Hispanic poverty saw the largest one-year drop in
two decades. Child poverty has dropped more in the past three years than it has in more than 30
years. And the Earned Income Tax Credit, which we have dramatically expanded and fought hard
to preserve, raised more than four million people of poverty last year.
^
�All Americans have a right to be proud of these important gains. But we can't let these good
times lull us into complacency. The turmoil we see in economies around the world reminds us that
we cannot stand pat or stand aside. We must use our prosperity, and the confidence it inspires, to
take on the many challenges that remain.
First, we have more work to do to extend opportunity to all Americans. Starting in the
1970s, income inequality rose sharply. Now, it has stabilized. For five years in a row, every
income group has benefited from the nation's economic growth — thanks, in part, to a higher
minimum wage, more jobs, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. But we still have to do more to
grow together in the 21st century.
wf
-Second. We must maintain our fiscal discipline. Exactly a week from today, we will have
the first balanced budget and the first budget surplus since Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon,
But already, Republicans are threatening to walk_away with that surplus. Instead of reserving every
penny of that hard-won surplus until we have taken the steps to save Social Security first, the
Republicans want to drain the surplus to pay for unwise, untargeted tax cuts this election year.
I call on Congress to go back to the drawing board. Look at the targeted tax cuts for
working families I proposed and we all passed last year: $500 per child; a HOPE Scholarship for
college; Education IRAs. I say to Congress: send me a plan like that ~ a plan with targeted tax
relief for working families ~ while preserving all the surplus until we have saved Social Securitv. / J/1
we must'work with other nations to manage change, stabilize financial systemsrand
spur robust global growth. While we are enjoying a moment of unsurpassed economic strength at
home, economic turmoil is crippling important trading partners abroad. Unless we are prepared to
honor our obligation to lead, we will not remain an "oasis of prosperity" for long. That is why it is
imperative that Congress fully fund our dues to the International Monetary Fund. At a time when
our economic growth demands continued American economic leadership, refusing to live up to our
IMF obligations is nothing short of economic malpractice.
,
/
/
^
we mustnul mt bdik-QirourvRfll invtstiiients in ouTpaMe. With less than a Week
left in the fiscal year, Congress has taken little action on our vital education initiatives. Congress
must work with us to reduce class sizes, hire 100,000 well-trained teachers, modernize and build
thousands of schools, give our students access to powerful education technologies, create new
charter schools, expand early literacy, and lift our children's sights with voluntary national
standards. If we hope to maintain economic growth in the next century, we must give our children a
world-class education.
On this early fall day, all we have to do is take a cue from the squirrels gathering the
abundant acorns all over the South Lawn. Times of plenty are not times to rest. They are the time
for the very hardest, most productive, most determined work of all. We must use this time ~ an
unprecedented time of falling poverty, growing incomes, and soaring confidence — to put progress
ahead of partisanship and prepare our nation for the challenges the 21st century will bring. Thank
you and God bless you.
###
-2-
~ ^
�Draft 9/23/98 3:25pm
Lowell Weiss
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS ON INCOME AND POVERTY REPORT
THE WHITE HOUSE
September 24, 1998
This morning, the Census Bureau released its annual Survey of Income and Poverty. In a
moment, I will outline the very positive news it contains for America's working families.
But before I do, I want to thank my chief of staff, Erskine Bowles, and the members of my
economic team, whose tireless ~ and often sleepless ~ work has been instrumental in sparking and
maintaining what will soon be the longest peacetime boom in American history: Sec. Rubin, Sec.
Daley, Gene Sperling, Jack Lew, Janet Yellen, Larry Summers.
I also want to thank the officials of Census Bureau who are here today. Sometimes we take
your hard work and reliable statistics for granted. But the fact is, your work ensures that America's
democracy is a truly representative democracy. And that is why I want to say once again: Congress
must not hamstring the Census Bureau's efforts to use the most up-to-date, accurate, scientific
methods to produce the Year 2000 Census. We simply cannot properly address the challenges of
the 21st century if the first Census of the century undercounts or ignores millions upon millions of
our citizens. Every American counts. We must count every American.
Next week will mark the seventh anniversary of the day I announced my intention to run for
President of the United States. On that day, I challenged America to embrace an urgent mission for
the 21st century: "preserving the American Dream, restoring the hopes of the forgotten middle class,
and reclaiming the future for our children." As President, I have worked hard to help America fulfill
that mission, putting in place a bold strategy to shrink the deficit, invest in our people, and to
expand exports of products proudly stamped "Made in the USA." The income and poverty report
released this morning by the Census Bureau represents one more year's worth of compelling
evidence that this economic strategy is working for all Americans.
The report shows that last year the typical household benefitted from a significant increase
in income for the fourth year in a row. Since we launched our economic plan in 1993, the typical
family's income has risen by more than $3,500 a year. That's an extra $3,500 that hard-working
families can put toward their children's education, a down payment on a home, or even a muchneeded vacation. Income for typical African-American and Hispanic families increased by more
than $1,000 last year alone. After years and years of stagnant family incomes, America's middle
class is thriving in the way I hoped and prayed for when I launched my campaign seven years ago.
sL
This report also shows that ' t " i i inrnmrf fir* rftipp f p ™ ^ ^ out of poverty. The AfricanAmerican poverty rate fell to another record low. Hispanic poverty saw the largest one-year drop in
two decades. Child poverty has dropped more in the past three years than it has in more than 30
years. And the Earned Income Tax Credit, which we have dramatically expanded and fought hard
to preserve, raised more than four million people of poverty last year.
-1 -
�All Americans have a right to be proud of these important gains. But we can't let these good
times lull us into complacency. The turmoil we see in economies around the world reminds us that
we cannot stand pat or stand aside. We must use our prosperity, and the confidence it inspires, to
take on the many challenges that remain.
First, we have more work to do to extend opportunity to all Americans. Starting in t
1970s, income inequality rose sharply. Now, it has stabilized. For five years in a row, eve
income group has benefited from the nation's economic growth ~ thanks, in part, to a high'
minimum wage, more jobs, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. But we still have to do mo
grow together in the 21st century.
Second, we must maintain our fiscal discipline. Exactly a week from today, we will have
the first balanced budget and the first budget surplus since Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon.
But already, Republicans are threatening to walk away with that surplus. Instead of reserving every
penny of that hard-won surplus until we have taken the steps to save Social Security first, the \
Republicans want to drain the surplus to pay for unwise, untargeted tax cuts this election year. 1
I call on Congress to go back to the drawing board. Look at the targeted tax cuts for
\
working families I proposed and we all passed last year: $500 per child; a HOPE Scholarship for
college; Education IRAs. I say to Congress: send me a plan like that - a plan with targeted tax
relief for working families - while preserving all the surplus until we have saved Social Security.
Third, we must work with other nations to manage change, stabilize financial systems, and
spur robust global growth. While we are enjoying a moment of unsurpassed economic strength at
home, economic turmoil is crippling important trading partners abroad. Unless we are prepared to
honor our obligation to lead, we will not remain an "oasis of prosperity" for long. That is why it is
imperative that Congress fully fund our dues to the International Monetary Fund. At a time when
our economic growth demands continued American economic leadership, refusing to live up to our
IMF obligations is nothing short of economic malpractice.
. .
—•
s — T f h - ' O r K AjiX^w
Fourth, we must not cut back on our vital investments in our people. With less than a week
left in the fiscal year, Congress has taken little action on our vital education initiatives. Congress
must work with us to reduce class sizes, hire 100,000 well-trained teachers, modernize and build
thousands of schools, give our students access to powerful education technologies, create new
charter schools, expand early literacy, and lift our children's sights with voluntary national
standards. If we hope to maintain economic growth in the next century, we must give our children a
world-class education.
On this early fall day, all we have to do is take a cue from the squirrels gathering the
abundant acorns all over the South Lawn. Times of plenty are not times to rest. They are the time
for the very hardest, most productive, most determined work of all. We must use this time - an
unprecedented time of falling poverty, growing incomes, and soaring confidence ~ to put progress
ahead of partisanship and prepare our nation for the challenges the 21st century will bring. Thank
you and God bless you.
-2-
�Senate Rejects $1 Hike in Minimum Wage
Democrats Vow to Make Vote a Campaign Issue; GOP
Abortion Measure Blocked
By Helen Dewar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 23, 1998; Page A04
The Senate rejected yesterday a Democratic proposal to raise the hourly
federanTTimmu]Tp^ge_by_$l, to $6.15, over the next two years, marking
another standoff in the two parties' war over issues for this fall's
congressional elections.
About an hour after the minimum-wage vote. Republicans suffered a
similar setback as Democrats at least temporarily blocked a GOP
proposal to make it a federal crime to escort a minor across state lines to
evade state laws requiring parental notification for abortions.
Voting 55 to 44, largely along party lines, the Senate refused to add the
minimum-wage proposal to a pending bill to overhaul the nation's
consumer bankruptcy laws, dooming its prospects this year.
The bill would have raised the federal wage floor of $5.15 an hour to
$6.15 in two annual 50-cent increments, starting next January and
concluding in January 2000. The minimum wage was last increased by
Congress in 1996 when Democrats mounted a more successful effort in a
different political climate to tie up other legislation until the bill was passed.
The proposed new increase was strongly backed by organized labor and
its legislative allies, key constituency groups for Democrats, and opposed
with equal vehemence by business groups that are traditional allies of
Republicans.
s- President Clinton, who had backed the increase, issued a statement
expressing disappointment with the vote. "This increase . . . would have
raised the wages of 12 million AmericaiTS_andiielped ensure tliafparents
who worlTliard and play by the rules do not have to ™se Uiei_r^chiJ[dj;en in
poverty," he said.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), chief sponsor of the proposal, said
the outcome had nothing to do with Clinton's current difficulties stemming
from his affair with Monica S. Lewinsky but rather reflected the fact that
the wage base had been increased only a couple of years ago. "A lot of
people [asked], 'Haven't we just done that?'" Kennedy noted.
�Both parties suffered only two defections in yesterday's vote. Republican
Sens. Alfonse M. D'Amato (N.Y.) and Arlen Specter (Pa.) voted with the
Democrats for the wage increase, while Democratic Sens. Bob Graham
(Fla.) and Ernest F. Hollings (S.C.) voted with the Republicans against it.
All four are running for reelection this fall.
Kennedy said Democrats intend to use the vote as an issue in this fall's
campaign and vowed to fight for the legislation in Congress next year.
While the minimum-wage effort had been a priority for Clinton and most
Senate Democrats, it never appeared to have as much momentum as it did
in 1996, when it benefited from the fact that the wage floor had not been
increased in years and many moderate Republicans broke ranks to support
the increase in both houses. This year. Democrats complained that
Republican leaders applied pressure to avert defections and deny Clinton
and the Democrats a victory.
In action on the abortion bill, Republican sponsors fell six votes short ofthe
60 needed to force a vote on passage ofthe legislation. Democrats
complained that Republicans were trying to block them from offering
amendments, both to modify some ofthe bill's provisions and to add other
legislative initiatives, possibly including their proposal to regulate managed
health care systems. It was unclear whether further efforts would be made
to accommodate some ofthe objections and pass the measure, which has
already cleared the House.
Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company
�Print Edition
Today's National
Articles
Inside "A" Section
With Detention, Cash Rewards, Educators
Try to Curb Violence
By Linda Perlstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 23, 1998; Page A03
Eager to prevent their schools from being the next target of violence,
educators across the country are taking extraordinary steps to root out
potentially dangerous students long before they reach for a gun.
A Pennsylvania school district even sends children who just threaten
violence through the same detention system they would face if they commit
a burglary or rape. Georgia has set up an anonymous toll-free hot line to
eceive tips about possible violence. An Oregon principal offers cash
rewards for students who report threats. Chicago public high schools now
hold mandatory "advisory" periods each week, during which groups of
students meet with the same teacher for a half-hour to talk about their lives
and problems. Many other school districts have enacted zero-tolerance
policies: One threat — no matter how trifling — and you're out.
For years, schools have been imposing strict weapons bans, tightening
security and even requiring children to wear uniforms in a desperate effort
to reduce violence. But the new measures represent an acknowledgment
that curtailing violence can sometimes mean pinpointing problem children
before they strike out. What the schools hope to avoid are the kinds of
tragic rampages that hit a half-dozen schools last year, killing 12 students
and two teachers. In most of those cases, educators note, the child culprits
�had sent out warnings that they would strike well before they attacked.
Charlottesville High School in Virginia tightened its procedures after a
student who had been suspended for cutting classes showed up at school.
Less than an hour after being escorted away by a security officer, he was
seen sprinting between school buildings. "1 didn't know if he had a weapon
or what, but I did know that he had a history of violence," principal Bobby
Thompson said. When the boy was finally chased down, he assaulted two
police officers who were trying to restrain him.
Prompted by that incident and by more violent episodes he has read about
in the news, Thompson has ordered teachers to report any mention of
violence, "even i f it's a journal-writing section or getting a note and passing
it from one student to another." Students who make even a veiled threat
face 10 days of suspension.
The new policy represents a sharp change from the past. Last year, when a
ninth-grader told another student he was going to shoot Thompson, the
principal called the student and his parents in, determined he "was just
messing around" and sent him on his way. "Now I think I would have made
a suspension from school and made sure one ofthe psychologists saw
him."
The challenge, many educators say, is figuring out whether a child who
makes a verbal threat is simply engaging in idle playground chat. Carol
Kennedy, principal at Lange Middle School in Columbia, Mo., said that
she constantly is trying to figure out whether someone is a real menace.
Last June, when a sixth-grader who was angry with another boy
threatened to "bring a gun and shoot him," the school immediately called in
a juvenile officer, who whisked the boy off. But earlier this month, when a
seventh-grader said of her teacher, "I'm just gonna kill her," Kennedy
simply called her mother in for a meeting and suspended the girl for
profanity.
"You have to decide, is this a real threat she's going to take action on. or is
this a way to show off to her classmates?" Kennedy said.
The girl got off easier, Kennedy said, because she had no previous record
and school administrators felt confident her parents would address the
situation with the proper gravity. But the boy's threat was more specific,
and his level of anger ~ his face was red, his lists clenched - was more
frightening, Kennedy said.
Doug Wilson, an English teacher at McKay High School in Salem, Ore.,
�said he applies similar techniques in trying to climb inside a child's mind:
"You try to take a look at their mood -- what kind of attitude have they
been expressing over time? Some kids come in and joke around. You talk
to the students: 'Jennifer, I noticed in your journal that you're having some
hard times. What's going on in your life?' "
As concerns over student rage intensify, officials in some areas are taking
no chances. The juvenile court in Delaware County, Pa., outside
Philadelphia, has instituted a new procedure for any threat a school has
identified and police find serious: The student is kept at a detention center
for up to three days. Unless a psychiatrist deems the child safe to be
released, he or she stays in detention until a full hearing, within 10 days.
This is the same process for juveniles charged with rape or robbery, and
Pennsylvania's attorney general, Michael Fisher, has proposed a similar
policy for the entire state.
Principals are quick to point out that despite last year's torrent of
shootings, school is actually the safest place for children to be — safer than
the streets, even safer than home. Statistics support their claim, and in fact,
the number of school shooting deaths last year was about average,
according to the federally funded National School Safety Center.
With schools still relatively safe, some critics are questioning whether
educators are overreacting, particularly when the threats are made only on
paper. " I f every violent story line were seen as a threat, half the people in
Hollywood would have to be hospitalized," said Kevin Dwyer,
president-elect ofthe National Association of School Psychologists. He
predicts there will be "a lot of errors made if people try to become
pseudo-psychologists by analyzing these things," adding that overreactions
could irreparably damage relations with defensive parents.
Education Secretary Richard W. Riley concurred recently. "You have to
be very careful not to come in and say this child is dangerous because they
wrote something in a paper or drew some picture," he said. However, he
added, " i f there are serious, serious problems . . . there should be a plan in
the school for handling that."
Perhaps the trickiest aspect of tracking down threats, educators and
students agree, is getting children to "snitch" on their peers. Often, children
don't think the threats they hear are real. After Mitchell Johnson and a
friend killed four girls and teacher in Jonesboro, Ark., one of his
classmates said, "Nobody believed him. Why should they? He's a little
13-year-old boy."
�Many students also fear the social stigma of tattling more than actual
violence. So administrators are coming up with incentives — both carrots
and sticks - for children to tell.
In Evansville, Ind., students are warned that they may be suspended if they
hear about a threat and don't tell a teacher. "Our students have a
citizenship responsibility to inform if there might be danger," Superintendent
Phillip Schoffstall said.
At McKay, principal Rey Mayoral ~ who brought an array of get-tough
initiatives to Oregon from Los Angeles three years ago — offers cash to
students who report threats or other misbehavior. Although he's given out
$2,200 over three years for information about gang activity, weapons,
vandalism and drugs, only one person has claimed cash — $10 — for
reporting a threat.
Part of that, he said, may be the fear of retaliation, especially when it's
clear to a child that he could be easily identified as the tattler. "We tell kids,
if you don't feel completely safe about giving us the information, don't tell
us," he said. Ten dollars, he concedes, may not go far toward alleviating
such fear and erasing the "snitch" stigma. But he hopes that publicity from
the violence last year - especially in Springfield, just an hour away — will
help.
Kamara Jones, 12, a seventh-grader at Lange in Missouri, said it won't be
easy. "Some people just think it's uncool to tell," she said, "and others are
worried about getting into a problem with the person they've told on. It's
unfortunate."
She knows what she's talking about. One day last year, she and her friends
heard that one girl had threatened to beat up another. None of them said
anything to their parents or teachers because they feared the girl — who
"was big" - would figure out who tattled and retaliate. In the end, the
threatened girl did get trounced. "It made me feel bad," Kamara said,
"because I might have been able to prevent it."
So Kamara has changed her mind about snitching, and she said that since
last year, some of her classmates have, too. "Kids have started seeing that
things really can happen," she said. "People can actually die from us not
telling."
© Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company
�http://cnn.coin/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/09/23/labor.ap/
AFL-C10 ads target GOP tax-cut plan - September 23, 1998
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WASHINGTON (AP) - The partisan sparring over an $80 billion
Republican tax cut package is taking to the airwaves in 20 House
districts targeted by the AFL-CIO in a new broadcast ad campaign.
The labor union, closely allied with Democrats, is supporting President
Clinton's threat to veto the bill because it does not set aside for Social
Security all of the $1.6 trillion budget surplus projected over the next
decade.
"The Republican Congress wants to spend this Social Security surplus
on an $80 billion election-year tax cut, even as there's talk about cutting
Social Security for future retirees," the ad's announcer intones as TV
viewers see newspaper headlines and then a couple sitting at a table.
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Viewers are urged to tell their member of Congress to "vote no on this
The bill, on whichjhe House could vote as early as Thursday, would
use~aboiiriO percent ofthe surplus over 10 years to benefit millions of
married"couples, farmers, senior citizens, small business operators and
people with savings accounts. The.remaining 9.0-pereenLw.ould be
reserved untU a pjanjs in place to ensure Social Security is solvent.
In a letter Tuesday to Clinton, House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.,
and Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, said the president has
"blatantly ignored" his own 100 percent pledge by proposing to use an
estimated $13 billion of the surplus for emergency spending on such
things as foreign embassy security and assistance for farmers.
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"Republicans believe the American people have worked hard for their
money and deserve to keep as much of it as possible," Gingrich and
Armey wrote.
But Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., took the president's
veto threat a step further Tuesday. He said Clinton would not accept a
possible Republican effort to attach the tax measure to an
end-of-the-year bill that would wrap several must-pass spending bills
needed to keep the government operating into one piece of legislation.
"The Republicans will invite shutting down the government if they
choose that route as the only way with which to pass their tax cut,"
Daschle told reporters. "We will have 100 percent support in our
caucus for the president's veto if that were to come."
The ads, which cost the union $500,000, are running over the next few
days on TV and radio stations in the districts of 18 Republicans and
9/23/98 9:10 AM
�A F L - C I O ads target GOP tax-cut plan - September 23, 1998
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days on TV and radio stations in the districts of 18 Republicans and
two Democrats. Several are considered close election contests and
others are occupied by Republican House members who are running for
the Senate.
The labor union justified the campaign by noting that over five years,
the budget surplus comes mostly from the taxes set aside for the Social
Security trust fund.
"Clearly, without Social Security, there is no surplus to finance
Republican tax giveaways," said AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney.
"It's a totally irresponsible proposal designed to appeal to America's
voters during an election year."
Over 10 years, however, income tax collections not those paid into
Social Security will become the dominant source of the surplus,
according to the House Ways and Means Committee.
Search the
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clkk her*
"There's no doubt it has an effect," said panel spokesman Ari Fleischer
ofthe ad campaign. "It drives a deeper wedge between overtaxed,
working Americans and Washington labor bosses who are out of touch
with their own members."
The ads are airing in the districts of Republican Reps. Robert Aderholt
of Alabama, Helen Chenoweth and Mike Crapo of Idaho, Jim Leach
and Jim Nussle of Iowa, Vince Snowbarger of Kansas. Anne Northrup
and Jim Bunning of Kentucky, Nick Smith of Michigan, Mike Parker
of Mississippi, Rick Hill of Montana, John Ensign of Nevada, Bill
Redmond of New Mexico, Steve Chabot of Ohio, Rick White and
Linda Smith of Washington and Mark Neuman and Scott Klug of
Wisconsin.
In addition, the ads are airing in the Democratic districts of Reps. Pat
Danner of Missouri and Virgil Goode of Virginia.
(23 Sep 1998 02:53 EDT)
For continuous breaking news, see AP Newstream
Associated Press news material shall not be published, broadcast, levvi itten for
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MORE STORIES:
Wednesday, September 23, 1998
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2 of 3
From Gephardt to Gingrich: A call for fairness
22.5 million viewers watched Clinton video
Teen abortion bill stalls in Senate
Senate nears bankruptcy bill vote
AFL-CIO ads target GOP tax-cut plan
Clinton: Raise military budget
Prospects good for federal budget surplus
Congress considers AIDS compensation for transfusion victims
9/23/98 9:10 A M
�President Promises to Veto Republican Tax
Cut Package
Associated Press
Sunday, Septgrnber 20. 1998; Page A18
President Clinton ordered Republicans "back to .the_drawing board"
yesterday, promising to veto what he said was an irresponsible $80 billion
tax cut package. He insisted on narrower cuts that would reserve surplus
fundsfor Social Security.
"Fiscal responsibility has created our prosperity, and fiscal irresponsibility
would put it at risk." he said in his weekly radio broadcast from the Oval
_Office.
v
\•
•
With 12 days to go before fiscal 1998 ends with a federal budget surplus,
Clinton chided Congress's Republican majority for being too eager to
squander that surplus on politically popular tax cuts.
"The black ink in the budget hasn't even had the chance to dry — indeed it
hasn't appeared yet — and they already want to drain the surplus to fund a
tax plan before we make the most of our opportunity, our historic
^opportunity, to save Social Security," Clinton said.
The House Ways and Means Committee approved the five-year package
of tax cuts Thursday. The full House is expected to consider the bill this
week. Minority Whip David E. Bonior (D-Mich.) said he has "more than
enough votes" to s^tainTCTinton's promised veto.
The bill includes tax relief for farmers, married couples, senior citizens who
work, small businesses, people with savings accounts and students saving
for private colleges, among others. It also extends several expiring tax
credits sought by big business.
e ,A
" I believe strongly that this is the wrong way to give_An^kan_fkmjlies the
tax relief they deserve," Clinton said. He pushed instead for targeted tax
cuts, including relief for families with education and child care expenses,
andTor businesses that develop new environmental technologies.
"So today I say again to the Republican leadership: Go back to the
drawing board. Look at the targeted tax cuts for working families I
> proposed and we all passed last year," the president said. "Send me a plan
like that."
�House Panel Passes $80 Billion Tax Cut
By George Hager
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 18, 1998; Page A04
A House^committee approved an $80 billion package of tax cuts
^yesterday^defying a veto threat from President Clinton and setting up a
showdown over Republican efforts to use some of the budget surplus for
tax cuts before the Social Security system is made solvent for baby
boomers.
Insisting they were leaving most ofthe surplus intact for Social Security, the
GOP-dominated House Ways and jyleans Committee voted largely along
party lines to approve the five-yearjMan, which would ease the so-called
marriage_penalty for 24 million married couples and provide nearly two
dozen other breaks.
The bill, about half as big as the tax cuts in last year's balanced-budget
package, is set to be sent to the House floor as early as next week, where
it is expected to pass Handily"
Less clear is what will happen in the Senate^where Republicans have been
less enthusiastic about tax cuts than their House colleagues, and where
budget rules will require a hard-to^ge^super-majority vote to pass the bill.
House Republicans praised the bill as a victory for tax simplification and a
boon for taxpayers. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer
(R-Tex.) said the measure would make tax filing much easier for millions of
Americans, and he insisted the bill was fully paid for "by the tax dollars that
hard-working, overtaxed Americans have sent to Washington."
But the Clinton administration spent much ofthe day reiterating its adamant
opposition to using the surplus to pay for tax cuts and promised a veto i f
the bill gets to the White House.
^ . j . , " I have said over and over again that if Congress sends me a bill that
squanders the surplus on tax cuts before we save Social Security, I'll veto
it," Clinton told the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers'
legislative convention.
1 v J f
White House Chief of Staff Erskine B. Bowles repeated the threat in a
letter to Archer, and Treasj£y_Secretary_Robert E. Rubin told reporters
any sign that die government was abandoning fiscal discipline would be a
"terrible mistake" and a dangerous signal to a shaky world economy. "Any
�kind of softening is very much adverse . . . to financial stability in the global
economy," Rubin said.
Republicans deliberately crafted the tax-cut bill to make it tough to vote
against in an election year, as much for Democrats as for Republicans. In
addition to marriage penalty relief, which has broad Democratic support,
the bill would speed up previously enacted provisions to allow
self-employed people to deduct the cost of their health insurance and make
estates worth as much as $1 million tax-free.
It would raise the Social Security earnings limit, eliminate the tax on the first
$200 of interest or dividends ($400 for couples filing jointly), and change
\ the alternative minimum tax so it would not penalize middle-income
' taxpayers who reduce their taxes with child credits and other tax breaks
• passed last year.
1
The bill includes provisions to help struggling farmers and ranchers, plus a
variety of tax breaks for education and inner-city renewal that were aimed
jiirectly at Democrats.
Ranking Ways and Means Committee Democrat Charles B. Rangel
(N.Y.) conceded the allure of the bill for his party. "It would be difficult i f
not impossible for us . . . not to endorse these tax cuts, and we do," he
said. But he insisted Republicans were "spending money you haven't got"
by raiding the Social Security surplus to offset the budgetary cost ofthe
cuts, and he rallied most committee Democrats behind amendments to
postpone the tax cuts until Social Security was fully solvent.
Rep. Barbara B. Kennelly (Conn.) was th^loii^bemocrat to cross party
lines to^votgjbxthe bill. She noted that the measure included provisions she
had introduced or that she strongly supported.
• ,af
r
The bill's backers see many more potential Kennellys lurking among House
Democrats. Brian Reardon, a tax lobbyist for the National Federation of
Independent Business, predicted that enough House Democrats would
vote for the bill next week to put a veto-proof majority "within range,"
though Democratic strategists disputed that and predicted relatively few
defections.
Clinton's unequivocal veto threat yesterday may have bolstered
Democrats. "The president needs to rise above the fog of controversy and
get to the high ground on issues [and] this is a high-ground issue," said
Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), who said he had "no doubt" that Clinton
would carry through with a veto.
�Democrats have wielded the Social Security issue with enormous
effectiveness against Republicans over the years. In 1986, it helped
Democrats retake the Senate from the GOP, and just this year Clinton's
"save Social Security first" formulation froze GOP tax-cutters in their
tracks for months and still has several Senate Republicans worried about
backing the House bill, a senior Senate GOP aide said.
fThough House Republicans portrayed the tax cuts as an economy booster,
economists seemed unimpressed with the package and not persuaded that
it was needed. "It's entirely political," said William Niskanen, chairman of
the Cato Institute. "It's responsive to the narrow constituencies of the
Republican" PartyTirmakFsli'o sense either on a tax basis or a
ma^ro[economic]'basis.''
"From the point of view of stimulating the economy, it would not seem
important," agreedXynthia Latta, principal U.S. econbiiiisfwitirStandard
& PoorVDRi:
"
~
"
Some economists worried that whatever small economic stimulus the tax
cuts might provide could be costly in other ways. "The economy does not
need domestic macroeconomic stimulus at this time," said Allen Sinai, chief
global econorhisrfbr Primark Decision Economics. "The economy needs
interest rate cutsjhatjkyil^help_s^ilize the world economy and world
markets [which are] the biggest threat to this economy."
© Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company
�Document No.
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
Subject:
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ACTION / CONCURRENCE / COMMENT DUE BY:
Date:
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REMARKS:
RESPONSE:
STAFFING.WPD 8/3/98
Staff Secretary's Office
Ext. 62702
�.tax.s'25
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September 23, 1998
Dear Speaker Gingrich:
Thanks to six years of fiscal restraint, we are just days away from realizing
the first balanced budget in a generation. This dramatic turnaround in our fiscal
fortunes has helped lower interest rates and spur investment, producing the
strongest economy in a generation. At a time of financial turmoil around the world,
it is crucial that America maintains that basic discipline that underpins our strong
economy by reserving this new surplus for Social Security and by sticking to the
strict budget rules that helped put us in the black.
We can continue to maintain fiscal discipline and provide Americans with the
tax relief they deserve. The budget I set forth in February does just that. It includes
targeted tax cuts for education, child care, the environment, and housing, but we
pay for those tax cuts in full. I will continue to oppose any tax plan that breaks the
tough budget rules and drains the surplus before we have strengthened Social
Security. Funding for one-time emergencies adheres to the budget rules; the
permanent tax changes you seek do not. I will insist that any tax cut is paid for in
full, and veto any tax plan that is not - whether it's sent alone or as part of other
legislation.
In sum, our plan abides by the budget rules, provides tax relief that is paid
for, and reserves the entire surplus for Social Security. The plans Republicans are
advancing do none of the above. I am ready to work with you tomorrow on a tax
cut package that adheres to the strict budget rules and does not drain the surplus
until we have strengthened Social Security.
With best wishes, I am
Sincerely,
President William Jefferson Clinton
Page f
�FILE No. 344 09^22 -98 15:35 ID:
p
flGL
C n rs o ti)e Met) States
o ges f
September 22, 1998
The Honorable William J. Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N W
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
Recently, despite your many public reiterations of your eormxutment to save the federal budget
surplus for Social Security — and only Social Security —— you have blatantly ignored, your own dictate.
In the State of the Union address in January, you proposed that "we reserve 100 percent of the
surplus — that's every penny of any surplus — until we have taken all the necessary measures to
strengthen the Social Security system for the 21si century," How quickly things change.
Now, rather than "reserve" the surplus for Social Security, you have made proposals to spend
billions of dollars of it on bigger government. By calling your new spending proposals "emergency
spending," yem are taking advantage of budget rules that say emergency spending does not require
offsetting spending cuts. In other words, the approximately $13 billion in "emcTgcncy" spending you
have requested will in fact spend the surplus — though not on Social Security as you promised. So
much for "every penny."
Yet, at the same time that your Administraiion plans its use the surplus to increase government
spending, you continue to insist that it is inappropriate to return even a dollar of the surplus to bardworking American taxpayers -—whose money it is in the first place.
Republicans believe the American people have worked hard for their money and deserve to
keep as much of it as possible. We urge you not to dip in to the surplus to increase govemraent
spending — and in so doing, break your State ofthe Union pledge— but instead to provide spending
cuts that would oflset your requests.
Sincerely.
' Newt Gingrich
Speaker of the House
DieJc Armey
Majority Leader
�THE WHITE HOUSE
Office ofthe Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
September 19, 1998
RADIO ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT
TO THE NATION
The Oval Office
10:06 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I want to talk to you this morning about what I
believe we must to do continue building a stronger America for our children and our
grandchildren in the 21st century.
We're in a time of great prosperity, and even greater promise. For nearly six years I've
done everything in my power to create the conditions for that prosperity and to make sure all
Americans can share in it. Today, we have nearly 17 million new jobs, the lowest
unemployment in 28 years, the lowest inflation in 32 years, the smallest percentage of our people
on welfare in 29 years, the lowest crime rate in 25 years and the highest homeownership in
history.
All Americans have a nghLto-bcprojud of what together we have achievedA But we can't
fiese good times lull us into a dangerous complacencyr-The turmoil we see^Kxlay in
economies all around the world reminds us that things are changing at a rapid rate. We can't
afford to relax. Instead, we must use our new prosperity, the resources it produces and the
confidence it inspires to build a more prosperous future for all our people.
In just 12 days now we will have the first balanced budget and the first budget surplus
since Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969. This remarkable achievement is the product
of hard work by the American people, by lawmakers of both parties who put progress ahead of
partisanship. We have waited 29 years for this moment. Now we must ask ourselves, what
should we make of it.
Above all, I believe we must use this moment of prosperity to honor the duty across
generations and strengthen Social Security for the 21st century. Seventy-five million baby
boomers will be retiring over the next two decades. We must act now across party lines to make
Social Security as strong for our children as it has been for our parents.
In my State ofthe Union address I said we should reserve every penny of that hard won
[surplus until we had taken the steps to save Social Security first. At the same time, I did propose
\tax cuts for education, for the environment, to help families pay for child care. But not a penny
)f these cuts comes out of the surplus. Every one is fully paid for in my balanced budget.
�My plan also provides tax relief to families while preserving the strength of the Social
Security system. That is very important. When all the baby boomers retire there will only be
about two people working for every person drawing Social Security. We can make moderate
changes now and make sure that those who retire will be able to retire in dignity, without
imposing on, burdening or lowering the standard of living of their children and grandchildren.
Unfortunately, the Republicans in Congress have a different idea. The black ink in the
budget hasn't even had a chance to dry — indeed, it hasn't appeared yet. But they already want to
drain the surplus to fund a tax plan before we make the most of our opportunity, our historic
opportunity to save Social Security.
I've already made it clear that if Congress sends me a bill that squanders the surplus
before we save Social Security, I will veto it. But Republicans in the House of Representatives
are proceeding anyway, and will try to pass their tax bill next week. I believe strongly that this is
the wrong way to give American families the tax relief they deserve, the wrong way to prepare
our nation for the challenges ofthe future.
So today I say again to the Republican leadership: go back to the drawing board. Look
at the targeted tax cuts for working families I proposed and we all passed last year: $500 per
child; a HOPE Scholarship for the first two years of college and college credits thereafter; IRA
incentives to save for children. They all take effect this year, they'll all be on your tax forms in
April and all of them are fully paid for.
So I say to Congress send me a plan like that, a plan with targeted tax relief while
preserving all the surplus until we have saved Social Security. Send me a plan that rebuilds our
crumbling schools, that helps working families with child care, and supports small businesses in
getting pension plans -- and pay for it.
Send me a tax cut that keeps us on the path of fiscal responsibility, that honors our
obligations to our parents and our children. If Congress sends me a tax cut plan like that, I'll
gladly sign it. This is a time of great hope for our nation but a time where continued global
economic growth demands continued American economic leadership. Fiscal responsibility has
created our prosperity, and fiscal irresponsibility would put it at risk.
Let's do the right thing to provide for the security of our parents and opportunity for our
children into the 21st century.
Thanks for listening.
END
10:12 A.M. EDT
�THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
July 31,1998
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON THE ECONOMY
The Rose Garden
11:57 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I want to thank the Vice President, Mr. Bowles, and
our economic team for joining us today to talk about the continuing strength of our economy and
what we have to do to make it stronger as we move toward a new century.
Five and a half years ago, we set a new strategy for the new economy, founded on fiscal
discipline, expanded trade, and investment in our people. Today our economy is the strongest in
a generation. While the latest economic report shows that growth in the second quarter of 1998
was more moderate than the truly remarkable first quarter, it shows that our economy continues
to enjoy steady growth. So far this year, economic growth has averaged 3.5 percent. This is
growth the right way, led by business investment and built on a firm foundation of fiscal
discipline.
We've also learned today that since I took office the private sector of our economy has
grown by nearly 4 percent, while we have reduced the federal government to its smallest size in
35 years. Wages are rising. Investment and consumer confidence remain high.
Unemployment and inflation remain low. Prosperity and opportunity abound for the American
people.
In the long run, we can keep our economy on its strong and prosperous course. Our
economic foundation is solid, our strategy is sound. Still, we know from events that, more than
ever, the challenges of the global marketplace demand that we press forward with the
comprehensive strategy we began six years ago.
First, we have to maintain our fiscal discipline. This week marks the fifth anniversary of
the 1993 economic plan that charted our course to a balanced budget and reduced the deficit by
over 90 percent by the time we signed the Balanced Budget Act in 1997. This fiscal discipline
has had a powerful, positive impact, driving interest rates down, pushing investment to historic
levels, creating a virtuous cycle of economic activity that has helped cut the deficit even further.
We must hold a steady course, and we should not spend a penny of the surplus until we have
saved Social Security first. Fiscal discipline helped to build this strong economy; fiscal
recklessness could undermine it dramatically. We must use these good times to honor our
parents and the next generation by saving Social Security first.
�Second, we must continue to investment in the American people. Five years ago I said
we had to close two gaps, one in the budget and the other in the skills of our people. Now, as we
hear of a shortage of highly skilled workers all across our country, we have more confirmation
that America simply must do more in education and training. To fill those high-wage jobs, we
must have a training system that works.
In 1995 I put forward a comprehensive proposal to modernize, overhaul, and streamline
our job training programs. I called it a G.I. Bill for America's Workers. With bipartisan support,
Congress is now poised to finish the job. I was so pleased by the bipartisan overwhelming vote
in the Senate last night for the G.I. Bill. And I look forward to prompt House action and to
signing the bill into law soon. Congress must continue this path to progress without partisanship.
They should abandon plans to make drastic cuts in our nation's education budget. An investment
in education is clearly the most important long-term economic investment we can make
in our future.
The third thing we have to do is to lead the world in this age of economic
interdependence, and we have to do more there. More than a quarter of our economic growth
during the past five years has come from exports. One of the reasons that growth moderated in
the second quarter is because we are feeling the direct, discernible effects of the Asian economic
downturn. Simply put, the health of the Asian economy affects the health of our own. Just with
our grain crops, about half of that crop is exported, and about 40 percent of
the exports go to Asia.
We have seen, therefore, this impact already in our rural communities. And I've talked
about that quite a bit in the last couple of weeks. The Asian financial crisis has literally led
to a 30 percent decline in farm exports to Asia.
The International Monetary Fund is designed to support necessary reforms in those
economies, to help them help themselves, and to restore growth and confidence in their
economies.
Now, I also want to say something that you all know ~ it is especially important for Asia
and for our economy that the new Japanese government move forward quickly and effectively to
strengthen its financial system and stimulate and open its economy.
It is going to be very, very difficult for Asia to recover unless its leading economy, Japan, leads
the way. I welcome the election ofthe new Prime Minister, as well as a former Prime Minister
with whom I have worked, Mr. Miyazawa, as the new Finance Minister. I am looking
forward to talking with the new Prime Minister tomorrow.
And again, I remind the American people of our long friendship and partnership in so
many ways ~ political, security, and economics ~ with Japan. We want to work with them and
we hope that this new government can find the keys to restore to the Japanese people, who have a
great economy and a great society, the growth that they deserve.
Finally, let me say, we must do our part. That is why a commitment to the International
�Monetary Fund is an investment not simply in other countries and their reform, but in our own
economy. We have to grow this economy by selling things to other people. They need the
money to buy our products. That is why Congress should step up to its responsibility, put, again,
progress ahead of partisanship, and renew our commitment and pay our fair share to the IMF. I
urge Congress to do this quickly and not to put at risk our prosperity.
Open and fair trade, a balanced budget, saving Social Security, better education, and
higher skills ~ the strategy that has boosted our economy for five and a half years will boost it
further as we boldly move into a new century. I will continue to do everything in my power and
to work as hard as I can with Congress to strengthen an economy that offers opportunity to all, a
society rooted in responsibility, and a nation that lives as a community with each other and with
the rest of the world.
Again, I want to say to all the economic team how much I appreciate the special and the
difficult work we have done these last months as our country has coped with the General Motors
strike — which, thank goodness, has now concluded on successful terms ~ and with the problems
in Asia and elsewhere.
Thank you very much.
Q Mr. President ~
Q Mr. President ~
THE PRESIDENT: Wait, wait, wait. Everybody has got a question. Let me give you
answer to all of them.
Q
You didn't hear -
THE PRESIDENT: I know -- yes, I did, I heard of all you shouting about it.
No one wants to get this matter behind us more than I do ~ except maybe all the rest of
the American people. I am looking forward to the opportunity in the next few days of testifying.
I will do so completely and truthfully. I am anxious to do it. But I hope you can understand
why, in the interim, I can and should have no further comment on these matters.
Thank you very much.
END
12:03 P.M. EDT
�THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
September 29, 1997
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON INCOME AND POVERTY REPORT
The Briefing Room
11:03 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: I don't know if I can go on. (Laughter.)
Good morning. ThisJnday..\yilLmark_the sixth anniversary of.the_day Lannounced my
intention to run for President oftheJJnitedStates. On thai day, I challenged America to embrace
an"urgent mission for the 21st century, to preserve the American Dream, restore the hopes ofthe
forgotten middle class, and reclaim the future for our children.
As President, I have worked hard to set America on that track, to fulfill that mission,
putting in place a bold strategy to shrink the deficit, invest in our people, and expand the sales of
America's products and services abroad. I am pleased to announce today that we have more
evidence that our economic strategy is succeeding.
This morning, the Census Bureau released its annual Survey of Income and Poverty in
America. It shows that last year the typical family benefitted from a significant increase in
income for the third year in a row. Since we launched our economic plan in 1993, the typical
family's annual incomehasrisen by nearly $2,200 a year. That's an extra $2,200 that hardworking families can put toward their children's education, a down payment on a home, or even
a much needed vacation. After years and years of stagnant family incomes, today's report proves
that America's middle class, no longer forgotten, is rising fast.
It should be noted that these figures do not reflect several other dividends of prosperity
we have delivered for the American people. They don't reflect the $500 per child tax credit,
the $1,500 HOPE Scholarship, the education IRAs, the real benefits of lower interest rates and
mortgage costs worth $1,000 a year or more to millions of homeowners.
icorries'are'als^li'ffii^famil ies*oitrof
shows^tHafWKi!?
�there is clearly much more to be done, the African American poverty rate has fallen to its lowest
level ever; the income ofthe typical Hispanic household grew more last year than in any single
year on record; the child poverty rate hasjdropped in the past three years, more than in any threeyear perjod_since-the-l-960s. And the earned incomejax credit, which we have dramatically
expanded and then fought hard to preserve, has raised more than 4 million people out of poverty
last^year.
The report also shows we have more to do to extend opportunity to all Americans.
Starting in the 1970s income inequality rose sharply. Now, it has stabilized._Since_1223.,_every
income group has_seen.itsjncome.jise, with those in..the.lowest-2-0 percent showing the fastest
gains — thanks, in part, to the minimum wage, to more jobs, and to the earned income tax credit,
which is not measured in the statistics. But we still have to do more to grow together in the 21st
century.
Let me say that this report also underscores another important challenge, one that I have
been concerned about for a long time. Last year, there were 800,000 more children without
health insurance than the year before. However, thank goodness, many of these children will
now be eligible for coverage under the balanced budget's historic $24 billion child health
initiative, which takes effect this week.
Two years ago we were fighting hard to save Medicaid's guarantee to 4 million children.
Now we're looking forward to extending child health insurance to another 5 million children.
We have to work together to encourage the states to take full advantage of this opportunity and to
make sure that the funds are spent actually insuring children who do not have health insurance
today.
To ensure that all our people benefit from the growing economy we also have to make
sure that our people have access to the world's best education, with high standards in the basics.
And we have to address the pressing issue of child care. That is another thing that would help to
alleviate pressures on middle and lower income working families' households.
The first ever White House Conference on Child Care will be held later this fall. It will
focus on how we can help parents to succeed at home and work through quality, affordable child
care. In all these ways we can continue to fulfill what I started out to do six years ago —
preserving the American Dream, restoring the middle class, reclaiming the future for our
children. But this is good news. And now, Janet Yellen and Gene Sperling will be able to
answer questions about the details ofthe proposals. Thank you.
Q What do you think is the chance of getting campaign finance reform through this
session this year?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I hope it's good. It's certainly better than it was a month ago.
Obviously, there is still strong opposition to it in the leadership of the Republican Party and
they're in the majority in Congress. But I've seen some encouraging signs in the Senate and,
frankly, I've seen some encouraging signs in the House with some Republican members willing
�to speak up and say that we ought to do something. So I'm quite hopeful that we will get
something.
I know this ~ if we just ~ the way these things work, if we can succeed in keeping the
public spotlight on the debate, then the pressure will build to come out with something positive.
And I have done what I could and I'm very proud of our caucus in the Senate for doing what it
has done. The Democrats have clearly come out unanimously for some - for campaign finance
reform. And we've just go to keep the public spotlight on this and keep going until we get
legislation.
Q Mr. President, many states — California, Texas, Florida - acknowledge that they're
going to fail the first real test of the new welfare law, the requirement that they have 75 percent
of two-parent welfare families in jobs and job training by this week. Will HHS impose fines that
— on the states? And what does it shake your confidence, this failure — shake your confidence in
the new welfare law?
THE PRESIDENT: No, because, first of all — let me answer the second question first. It
doesn't shake my confidence in the law, because we have succeeded, I think, beyond anybody's
expectations, partly from the growing economy and partly from welfare reform efforts, in
reducing the welfare rolls more than they have ever been reduced in a comparable time period,
ever.
We've had 20 years of immigration in our country at high levels. Many ofthe immigrants
coming here come without many resources and they want to work their way into the American
Dream, so we've had a lot of people coming in here, and yet we've been successful in having the
smallest percentage of our people on welfare since 1970.
So my answer to you is, I want to keep high standards and I want them enforced, because
we've block-granted the money to the states they asked for. After all, they supported the law.
They said we could keep the federal guarantee for health care and food stamps, nutrition, which I
insisted on, but they pointed out they already had the freedom to set different welfare
reimbursement levels every month, so they wanted control of that pot of money so they would
have more flexibility to move people from welfare to work. And in return, they agreed to these
targets.
So I think we just need to keep pushing ahead. In terms of what should be done,
obviously I want to consult with our people at HHS and others to do what is best. But I think
most states really are working hard and in good faith to try to do this. I think that they know
that's what the voters want and most importantly, that's what the people on welfare want. So we
don't want to just forget about our high standards, especially when we've proven we can hire a
lot more people than we ever thought we could.
Q You mentioned Republicans in the House. This weekend, Speaker Gingrich was
unusually caustic, accusing your staff and your lawyers of blocking pursuit of the truth in law.
Have you looked back at your records and the phone calls that you have made and come to any
�new conclusion about your own involvement?
THE PRESIDENT: First of all, I think ~ no, I have not come to any new conclusion.
But I think the remarks this weekend were an attempt to divert the public attention from the fact
that the leadership ofthe Republican Party in the House opposes campaign finance reform, and
has consistently, and continues to do so.
But I am encouraged that along with our Democrats who are supporting it, there are an
increasingly vocal band of brave Republicans willing to stick up and be for it. And again, this is
our chance to pass this bill and I think we'd all be making a mistake to be diverted. I don't intend
to be.
Thank you.
Q
Mr. President, any reason to believe Arafat is moving against Hamas?
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END
11:13 A.M. EDT
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financial information 1(a)(4) of the PRA|
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and his advisors, or between such advisors |a)(5) of the PRA|
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�Crime and Community policing: The President met a young police officer named Michael Jones, who
is on the Baltimore force, and also a member of the Police Corps, which you may recall is sort of like
Peace Corps for police, or ROTC (e.g., scholarships in exchange for police service). He decided to
become a community police officer after his brother was murdered in gang-related violence. Jose and
Leanne are working on getting me more...
Safe Schools: At the same event in Worcester, the President met a school teacher named Kathleen
Bisson who decided to do something about violence in her school - I'm getting details on this one.
Social Security - nothing yet; I asked Orszag and Jake to find something.
Education - I am awaiting stories from Tanya Martin, who apparently has some.
Tobacco - Meghan Johnson, a 17 year old high school student wrote to the President about what she
and her friends were doing to discourage their peers from smoking (they produced a video and a poster);
he finally met her at an event in Kentucky. He also met a woman named Mattie young woman at an event
in Kentucky who had raised her own children plus 38 foster children ... she had a lot to say about how
parents and families must take responsibility for keeping their kids away from tobacco.
At the Oscar Mayer School in Chicago, I met Mary Medina and her daughter,Evaline who is
now reading at grade level thanks to Chicago's efforts to end social promotion and help those
who don't make the grade improve their skills in summer school.
At the White House, I met Rev. Eugene Rivers, a pastor who has gotten to know some of
Boston's most troubled kids. He's welcomed them to his parish - Baker House - and offered
counseling, recreation and the occasional pizza party.He has introduced children who have
known nothing but chaos at home to the serenity of prayer. He mediates fights, visits homes,
and shows up at school when they get in trouble. He has simply been there for these kids,
making all of them understand that God cares and he cares whether they get an A on a test or
in a fight at school. That they will be praised when they succeed and disciplined and when
they fail.
And I met two of Rev. Rivers' kids - i i l M ^ a i f e s M ^ ^ ^ a Growing up hasn't
been easy for either of them. But with Rev. Rivers' help, they have stayed on track,
taking college prep classes. And irpe/ffifeMlwill begin college in the fall.
At Children's Hospital in Washington, I metli^g€li)'(6)B^^l a working mom who couldn't
afford health care for her children. (Sarah Bianchi has details)
I met a farmer namedfc/Mji)
tMiwill
9 9
grandfather made
$11,000 on their family farm. And in 1997, she made $10,000 on the
same land. The banks are ready to foreclose on the |-B6/(W6)llhome.
They don't see how they can possibly make it another year.
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May 27,1998
Welfare to Work Partnership Anniversary Event/East Room
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�Rhonda Costa. Administrative Assistant. Salomon Smith Bamev (Irvington. New Jersey^)
Rhonda received public assistance for one year following the birth of her first child in 1983, and
returned to welfare in 1994 after the birth of her second child. In July 1996, however, Rhonda
decided that she wanted to do more than just "hang in there." She enrolled in a job training program
at the Wildcat Service Corporation, which "prepared [her] for how it really is in the work
environment." After graduating from the four-month program at Wildcat, Rhonda began a
sixteen-week internship at Salomon Smith Barney. After just three weeks on the job, Rhonda
accepted Smith Barney's offer to be hired as a permanent employee. Rhonda's starting salary was
$26,000 per year, and after working for one and a half years, she now earns $29,000 per year with
full benefits and stock options. Rhonda has moved her family from New York City to Irvington,
New Jersey, where her two daughters attend better public schools and live in a safer neighborhood.
Rhonda appears in The Welfare to Work Partnership's television public service announcement
campaign.
November 17,1998
Cessna Training Facility, Wichita Kansas
The event took place at the new state-of-the-art welfare-to-work training facility, called the 21st
Street Learning Center, which was officially dedicated at the event. The facility enabled Cessna,
a member of the Welfare to Work Partnership, to double the size of its welfare-to-work program.
Cessna trains about 40 sheet metal assemblers -that help assemble Cessna planes -and a dozen
clerical workers at a time and provide on-site child care for the trainees' children. The new facility
was built by the city of Wichita using loan guarantees from HUD.
The President was introduced by two program graduates who gave him a model Cessna plane which
he displayed in the White House (by Betty Currie's desk).
Tonva Oden. Inspector. Cessna 21st Street Subassembly Facility (Wichita. Kansas^
Tonya used to receive public assistance to help care for her three children. When she learned of
Cessna's 21st Street training program, however, she decided to enroll. Tonya eventually became
the first 21st Street trainee to become an Inspector at the 21st Street Subassembly Facility. She
began her job earning $5.50 per hour, and currently earns $12 per hour.
Jodee Bradley. Materials Clerk. Cessna 21st Street Learning Center (Wichita. Kansas)
Jodee is a single mother of four children who was on and off welfare and worked as a waitress to
support her family. Seeking health insurance and wanting to "do better," Jodee enrolled in the
Cessna 21st Street Learning Center program for training in manufacturing skills. Upon completion,
Jodee took a $5.50 per hour job at the Learning Center. She currently earns $10 per hour as a
materials clerk, and has purchased a car for her family's needs.
August 12,1997
St. Louis, Missouri/Event Celebrating One Year Anniversary of Welfare Bill Signing
Felicia Booker. Programmer Analyst. A.G. Edwards and Sons (St. Louis. Missouri^
After the birth of her first child in 1991, Felicia found that she needed public assistance. She
�enrolled in a number of job training programs, but none of them led to a permanent job. In 1994,
Felicia got "tired of sitting around the house and tired of not having enough money." She enrolled
in a six-week training program which led to a permanent position at a computer programming
company. By the beginning of 1995, Felicia was off welfare and completely self-sufficient. She
eventually moved to take a new job at A.G. Edwards, where she received a promotion from
computer programmer, which paid $32,500 per year, to her current position, where she earns over
$40,000. Felicia's accomplishments are especially remarkable because of the obstacles she has
overcome as a blind woman.
�1 census.9"24 .
"*
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*DRAFT* * * * * * * * * * * *DRAFT
KEY FACTS on CENSUS INCOME AND POVERTY REPORT
September 24,
1998
TODAY, THE CENSUS BUREAU RELEASED THEIR ANNUAL REPORT ON INCOME
AND POVERTY IN AMERICA FOR 1997. HERE ARE SOME OF THE RESULTS:
Broad-Based Income
Gains:
•
Typical Household Income Up 1.9 Percent in 1997. Income for the median
household rose $699, from $36,306 in 1996 to $37,005 in 1997, adjusted
for inflation.
•
Typical Family Income Up $ 3 , 5 1 7 Since 1993. Another measure of income
- family income, which excludes single individuals and counts only related
members in any household -- shows a similar trend. Last year, the median
family's income, adjusted for inflation, increased 3.0 percent (or $1,297) -the fourth consecutive annual rise. Since President Clinton's Economic Plan
passed in 1993, median family income has increased from $41,051 in 1993
to $44,568 in 1997 - that's a $3,517 increase in income, adjusted for
inflation. From 1988 to 1992, median family income fell $ 1 , 8 3 5 , adjusted
for inflation.
•
Under President Clinton, The Typical African-American Household's Income
Is Up $ 3 , 3 5 4 . The median income of African-American households rose 4.3
percent (or $1,029) last year. And since 1993, the median income of
African-American households has increased from $21,696 to $ 2 5 , 0 5 0 that's $3,354 or a 15-percent increase, adjusted for inflation, between 1993
and 1997.
•
Income of Typical Hispanic Household Up $2,553 in Past T w o Years. In
1997, the income of the median Hispanic household, adjusted for inflation,
increased from $25,477 in 1996 to $26,628 in 1997 - that's an increase of
$1,151 or 4.5 percent. Over the past t w o years, the income of the typical
Hispanic household has risen $2,553 - or nearly 11 percent - the largest
two-year increase in Hispanic income on record.
•
After Rising Sharply for 20 Years, Inequality Has Stabilized. After rising for
nearly 20 years, income inequality has not changed significantly over the
past four years. Since 1993, every income group - from the most well-off
to the poorest ~ experienced a real increase in their income, with the poorest
20 percent of American households experiencing the biggest percentage
PageT
�increase. [CHECK WITH CENSUS DATA]
•
Earnings for Typical Workers Up. Last year, the earnings of the median
full-time, year-round male rose 2.4 percent, from $32,882 in 1996 to
$ 3 3 , 6 7 4 in 1997 and the earnings of the median full-time, year-round female
rose 3.0 percent, from $24,254 in 1996 to $24,973 in 1997. This means
that the female-to-male ratio remained at 74 percent - its all-time high.
Reductions in Poverty:
•
Poverty Rate Fell To 13.3 Percent in 1997 - Down from 15.1 Percent in
1 9 9 3 . In 1997, the poverty rate dropped to 13.3 percent from 13.7 percent
the year before. Since President Clinton signed his Economic Plan into law,
the poverty rate has declined from 15.1 percent in 1993 to 13.3 percent last
year. That means that there are 3.7 million fewer people in poverty today
than in 1 9 9 3 . (In 1997, the poverty threshold was $16,400 for a family of
four.)
•
The African-American Poverty Rate Down To Its Lowest Level on Record.
While the African-American poverty rate is still far above the poverty rate for
white, it declined from 28.4 percent in 1996 to 26.5 percent in 1997 that's its lowest level recorded since data were first collected in 1959.
Since 1993, the African-American poverty rate has dropped from 33.1
percent to 26.5 percent -- that's the largest four-year drop in
African-American poverty in more than a quarter century (1967-1971).
•
Last Year, Largest Hispanic Poverty Drop In T w o Decades. Last year, the
Hispanic poverty rate dropped from 29.4 percent to 27.1 percent -- that's
the largest one-year drop in Hispanic poverty since 1978. While there is still
more work to do, since President Clinton took office, Hispanic poverty has
dropped from 30.6 percent to 27.1 percent.
•
Under President Clinton, Largest Three-Year Drop in Child Poverty Since
1960s. While the child poverty rate remains high, in 1997, it declined from
20.5 percent to 19.9 percent. Under President Clinton, the child poverty
rate has declined from 22.7 percent to 19.9 percent - that's the biggest
four-year drop in nearly 30 years (1965-1969).
•
Elderly Poverty Rate As Low As It's Ever Been. In 1997, the elderly poverty
rate dropped to 10.5 percent, from 10.8 percent in 1996. The elderly
poverty rate is now as low as it's ever been ~ it was also 10.5 percent in
1995.
•
Child Poverty Among African-Americans Down To Lowest Level on Record.
In 1997, the African-American child poverty rate fell from 39.9 percent to
�roei^ijirS"2?T~
— —
— —
—•
- -
-~
—
•-•
•
-
37.2 percent -- its lowest level on record (data collected since 1959). Since
1 9 9 3 , the child poverty rate among African-Americans has dropped from
46.1 percent to 37.2 percent -- that's the biggest four-year drop on record.
Hispanic Child Poverty Dropped More Last Year Than Any Year on Record.
In 1997, the Hispanic child poverty rate dropped from 40.3 percent to 36.8
percent - that's the largest one-year drop on record (data collected since
1976). Since 1993, the child poverty rate among Hispanics has declined
from 4 0 . 9 percent to 36.8 percent.
4.3 Million People Lifted Out of Poverty By EITC -- Double The Number in
1 9 9 3 . In 1 9 9 3 , President Clinton expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit,
providing a tax cut for low-income working families. In 1997, the EITC lifted
4.3 million people out of poverty -- that's double the number of people lifted
out of poverty by the EITC in 1993. In 1997, the EITC lifted 2.2 million
children, 1.1 million African-Americans, and nearly 1.2 million Hispanics out
of poverty.
pggg-31
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lowell Weiss
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Lowell Weiss
Office of Speechwriting
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1997-2001
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36408">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7431951">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2006-0470-F
Description
An account of the resource
This collection consists of the speechwriting files of Lowell Weiss. Lowell Weiss worked as a Special Assistant to the President, Presidential Speechwriter from June 1997 - August 2000. Weiss traveled and wrote speeches for President Clinton on domestic issues. His speeches cover a broad array of topics. Major issues he wrote on concern the environment, education, the economy, and race relations. He wrote weekly radio addresses; commencement speeches; and remarks for bill signings, events, and conferences. The records consist of speeches, drafts, memoranda, correspondence, schedules, event and travel arrangements, notes, articles, and printed email.
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
464 folders in 36 boxes
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
Paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Income and Poverty Report 9/24/98
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Office of Speechwriting
Lowell Weiss
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2006-0470-F
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Box 17
<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36408">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/20761007">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Adobe Acrobat Document
Medium
The material or physical carrier of the resource.
Preservation-Reproduction-Reference
Source
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20761007
42-t-7431951-20060470-F-017-017-2015