For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 5, 2001
Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity After Meeting on Medicare
The Oval Office
2:45 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Before I talk about
the business at hand here, I want to say how saddened we all are to
know that two students lost their lives in Southern California, others
have been injured, in a disgraceful act of cowardice.
When America teaches their children right from
wrong, and teaches values to respect life and the values that respect
life in our country, our country will be better off.
Our hearts go out and our prayers go out to
the parents and the teachers and the children whose lives have been
completely turned upside-down right now.
Q What can the
President do to stop, if anything, to stop children from shooting
children?
THE PRESIDENT: All of us, all
adults in society can teach children right from wrong, can explain
there is a -- that life is precious. All of us must be
mindful of the fact that some people may decide to act out their
aggressions or their pain and hurt on somebody else, and be diligent.
We don't know enough of the facts right now,
Ron, as to what took place. But I do know that first things
are first, and that is, our prayers go with the families who lost a
child today.
On another matter, I'm honored that members of
the House and the Senate came up to discuss a couple of issues -- the
budget, Medicare, Medicare funding, Medicare restructuring, and tax
relief. We've had a good discussion.
I didn't mention many names of members during
my speech to the Congress nearly a week ago, but most of the names I
mentioned are here. And the reason why I talked about Breaux, Frist
and Thomas -- and I would have worked in you, Mr. Chairman, but -- was
because there had been a lot of work done on discussing Medicare
modernization in the past. And I believe the framework for a
bipartisan consensus about how to make sure the Medicare system
fulfills its promise is at hand, and we've got a lot of work to do.
But I assured these members -- two chairmen,
as well as the members I just named -- that this administration is here
to work with them to do what's right for our seniors.
I also appreciate the progress being made on
the tax relief package. It will give me a chance to thank the Chairman
for moving the bill to the floor of the House. The sooner we
can get that done, the more likely it is, is that we'll provide relief
for people and provide a second wind for our economy, and then we'll be
able to deal with issues such as Medicare.
Q Mr. President, is
your tax bill in trouble? Is that why you're traveling so
much this week? Some Democrats think that might be the
case.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I'm -- first of
all, I like to get out of Washington,
Bill. (Laughter.) Secondly, I'm pleased with the
progress that we're making. We're going to get a good bill
out of both the House and the Senate. I look forward to
signing it. And the sooner, the better. But we're making
very good progress.
Secondly, I think it's important for the
President to get out amongst the people. I'm not only going
to be going to North Dakota and South Dakota and Illinois this week;
I'm coming down to Louisiana. And I've got a lot of friends
in Louisiana and I'm looking forward to seeing them and talking to
them, and explaining what's going on in Washington. The
American people want to hear from the President, and this will give me
a chance to talk about the progress that we're all making
together. And we're making good progress.
Q Mr. President?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, Stretch?
Q Kent Conrad is one of
the opponents of the tax cut plan. You're going to his
state; you're also going to Louisiana, where Mary Landrieu -- everyone
knows is going to be under pressure to support the bill. Is
it a coincidence that you're going to be going there, or is this trip
part of the intention to send them a message?
THE PRESIDENT: I think there's some
methodology in my travels. Not only -- you mentioned two
fine senators, and I'm confident we'll be able to work with them as
time goes on. Those also happen to be states where the
majority of the folks there saw it my way when I was running for
President.
I'll be going to states where we've got a good
chance of convincing members in states where maybe there's some
obstinance. But, nevertheless, I need to get out and with
the people, and talk about the plans and why this plan is fair and why
it makes sense and why it's important for the economic vitality of the
country. We're making good progress. We'll get a
good bill, and I look forward to signing it.
Q Mr. President, are
you going to apologize to the Russians for digging under their
embassy?
THE PRESIDENT: You need to talk to
the appropriate folks involved with that.
END 2:50
P.M. EST
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