Clinton Tells Firms to Rise to U.S. Challenges

President Clinton voiced hope Saturday that a “breakthrough” agreement by TV executives to rate shows for violence will encourage other industries to confront challenges the nation faces.

“That means corporations helping to improve our schools, helping to connect them to the information superhighway, helping to demand high standards. That means corporations finding new ways to protect the environment even as they grow the bottom line and improve our economy,” Clinton said in his weekly radio address.

He said it also means corporations recognizing that their workers are “an asset, not a liability, and that a well-trained work force is a business’ most important competitive edge.”

“All these things demand a renewed commitment from business,” Clinton said, “and I am confident that the leaders of other industries will also rise to the challenge just the way the leaders of the entertainment industry did this week.”

In the GOP response to the address, New York Gov. George Pataki charged that Clinton reneged on a vow to the American people by vetoing welfare reform legislation passed by Congress.

Clinton vetoed the welfare bill on grounds that it was too tough on children and the poor.