Administration of William J. Clinton, 1995 / Nov. 13 2009

Statement on the ‘‘Weapons Offenses Remarks on Returning Without and Offenders’’ Report Approval Temporary Public Debt Limit Increase Legislation and an November 11, 1995 Exchange With Reporters These statistics are a chilling reminder to November 13, 1995 all of us—parents, teachers, police officers and elected leaders—that juvenile violence The President. Good morning. Today I remains the number one crime problem in am vetoing H.R. 2586, which the congres- sional leadership sent to me last night. It America. would allow the to pay its debts I am proud of the landmark legislation we for another month but only at a price too have passed to fight the scourge of youth vio- high for the American people to pay. Here lence, such as the juvenile handgun ban and are the reasons why. zero-tolerance for guns in schools. But if we First, the bill actually increases the likeli- are to win this fight against crime and vio- hood of a default on America’s obligations lence, more parents must begin to teach their for the first time in our history by taking away children right from wrong. from the Secretary of the Treasury the tools And to anyone who would undo the steps he now has to avoid default under extraor- I have taken to fight crime and violence in dinary circumstances. America’s streets and on her schoolyards, I Second, the bill obligates the Govern- say: Look at the facts. Now is not the time ment—Congress and the President—to pass to weaken our laws. the Republican congressional budget plan with its huge cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, education and technology, the environment, NOTE: This statement was embargoed for release and its tax increases on working families. by the Office of the Press Secretary until 5:01 Third, the bill implements the Republican p.m. on November 12. congressional proposal to reverse a 30-year bipartisan commitment to environmental protection and public health. It would in- Statement on the Balkan Peace crease pollution and decrease the purity and Process safety of our air, water, and food. November 12, 1995 This legislation is part of an overall back- door effort by the congressional Republicans Today’s agreement between the Govern- to impose their priorities on our Nation. ment of and the leaders of the local Here is what is really going on. Serbian community on the region of Eastern Last spring, Speaker Gingrich said he and Slavonia is a major step toward the achieve- his new Republican congressional majority ment of an overall peace settlement in the would force me, the congressional Demo- crats, and the American people to accept Balkans. This agreement provides for the their budget and their contract by bringing peaceful reintegration of the region under about a crisis in the fall, by shutting down Croatian sovereignty, following a period of the Government and pushing America into transitional administration by the United Na- default, unless I accepted their extreme pro- tions. posals. In this way, the congressional Repub- I congratulate the parties for the wisdom licans sought to get around the United States they have shown in entering into this agree- Constitution which gives the President the ment and avoiding renewed conflict. I also power to veto measures not in the public in- congratulate Secretary of State Warren terest. Christopher, who played a direct role in as- They are now implementing the strategy sisting the parties to arrive at this agreement, Speaker Gingrich told us about last spring. along with Ambassador And because I refuse to go along with it, they and the U.S. and UN mediators, Ambassador say I am refusing with them to solve these and Thorvald Stoltenberg. short-term problems.

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