"[W]e have to balance the budget in the way that reflects our most fundamental values -- increasing opportunity; asking all to assume responsibility; strengthening our families and the economy; recognizing the duty we owe to each other, to our parents, our children and those who need and deserve our help....If necessary, I'll veto deep cuts in health care for children again and again and again. I'll do it because they are not necessary to balance the budget." -President Clinton December 9, 1995>

President Clinton will make the cuts we need to balance the budget, but he refuses to make cuts into our fundamental American values. He will fight the efforts of some Republicans to blackmail America and shut down the government right before Christmas just to get their way.

• Balancing the Budget to lift the burden of debt off our children.
• Protecting Medicaid and Medicare so that we honor our commitment to America's elderly, people with disabilities and children.
• Investing in Education and Training, so America's families can thrive in the new economy.
• Protecting the Environment and Public Health, so our children grow up in a clean and safe world.
• Rewarding Work over welfare and providing tax relief for middle class families.

President Clinton's seven year balanced budget protects America's values and meets the goals of his agreement with the Republicans. In putting forth his plan to balance the budget in 7 years while protecting America's priorities, President Clinton satisfied both stipulations of the Continuing Resolution agreement: (1) balance the budget in 7 years; (2) while protecting Medicare, Medicaid, education, and the environment, and adopting tax policies to help working families and stimulate economic growth.

Now, that the President has shown that you can balance the budget in 7 years using conservative economic assumptions while protecting these fundamental priorities, the onus is on the Republicans to explain why they insist on an extreme budget that unnecessarily disregards America's priorities and values.

Questions The Republicans Must Answer For The American People: