Title: California Satellite Press Conference 7/30
Date: 2 Aug 93 18:24:28 UT
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release July 29, 1993
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN SATELLITE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH CALIFORNIA PRESS
Old Executive Office Building
5:20 P.M. EDT
Q Mr. President, I wanted to know -- you mentioned a
moment ago Secretary Babbitt coming to the Central Valley to talk
about water issues. And one of the big water issues for us down
here is the Endangered Species Act. What I wanted to know is, is
the act going to be changed at all in the next year or so to
allow for economic burdens that are being suffered on the west
side of the valley?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me say first of all, the act
as it's presently written has an economic impact provision, which
has not been used very often but which finally can be used.
Secretary Babbitt asked me before we commit to make any changes
in that to give him the chance to work out the problems that the
farmers had. As you know, we've had a drought for many years and
the allocations this year, given the amount of water that's out
there since the drought went away, has not satisfied a number of
the farmers. And we know there are some other distributional
issues. Some of them involve the Endangered Species Act, but
Bruce Babbitt believes, anyway, that he can work out a fair
treatment for the farmers without an amendment to the act. And I
think I ought to give him a chance to continue to work with the
farmers before I commit to change it. So that's the position I'm
going to take. I want to wait and see how he does with his
negotiations with the farmers first and how they come out.
Q Mr. President, what farm policy have you and
Secretary Espy outlined or are outlining? And would you consider
any reductions or elimination of farm subsidies and irrigation
subsidies?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me say, first of all, if you
look at our budget this year, because there are $250 billion in
spending cuts over the previous budget, we have reduced some of
the agricultural programs along with everything else. We've cut
just about everything, so there is some reduction in agriculture.
But I don't think we should do any more until we have an
agreement on world trade. That is, I am reluctant to have more
unilateral reduction in agricultural programs because I think
that hurts our competitive position. If we can reach agreement
on a new trade agreement with our competitors in which those
nations that subsidize agriculture much more than we do also
reduce their subsidies, then I would also support doing something
here at home, because I'm convinced that on a level playing field
our farmers can compete with anybody in the world.
So my answer to you, sir, would be I'm hoping we can get
a new trade agreement by the end of the year which will permit
some reduction in agricultural subsidies, but only because our
competitors will be reducing them even more. Otherwise, I think
we'll have to wait until we reauthorize the Farm Bill in 1995 to
look at these issues.
I come from a farming state, and I really want to see us
maintain our competitive position in agriculture. I had to cut
agriculture some this year. I cut everything, but I don't want
to cut it so much we are at a competitive disadvantage.