Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 14, 1995 TAG: 9510170012
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium
He told a group of U.S. business leaders that increasing car ownership in China, with its huge population and the world's fastest-growing economy, could dramatically worsen global warming - making joint government-industry efforts to produce clean vehicles all the more important.
In a speech to the Business Council, Clinton also voiced optimism over reaching an eventual agreement with the Republican-led Congress to put the nation on a course toward a balanced federal budget annually.
He predicted ``an honorable compromise that is better than theirs and better than ours'' in terms of proposals now on the table. ``We can work this out, folks,'' Clinton told the corporate leaders.
But he also stood by his threat to veto GOP bills to dismantle what he said were bedrock education, environmental and health programs. ``I will not let balancing the budget serve as a cover for destroying the social contract,'' he said.
On the global environment, Clinton said, ``1995 was the hottest year on the planet Earth since the present temperature system was devised.
``China is growing rapidly. If everybody in China ends up with a car and you don't want the atmosphere of this earth to burn up, we had better find an efficient way of moving people around.''
The Business Council is made up of chief executives from 100 of the nation's largest corporations. They gather twice a year in Williamsburg to assess economic conditions and hear from top administration officials.
``This is a remarkable period of success for America's economy. All of you have done a remarkable job ... And I believe there are better times ahead if we make the right decisions,'' Clinton told the executives.
He said that, since he took office in January 1993, the economy has produced 7.5 million new jobs, created 2.5 million new homeowners, 2 million new small-business owners and ``a record number of new self-made millionaires.''
``I think the policies of this administration have made a contribution to that economic record,'' he said. ``Yes, we still have some problems ... but basically we are moving in the right direction.''
As presidential campaigning warms up, Clinton portrayed himself as a president beset with the need to make unpopular decisions for the greater need.
``I bet I've done at least five things that have made everyone in this room mad,'' he said.
Among unpopular steps he had taken, Clinton cited his decision to send U.S. troops to Haiti, to take on the cigarette companies over teen smoking and the 1994 legislation to ban assault weapons.
by CNB