CLINTON BUDGET BILL CLEARS SENATE, BUT JOBS MEASURE STALLS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 2, 1993                   TAG: 9304020223
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium
CLINTON BUDGET BILL CLEARS SENATE, BUT JOBS MEASURE STALLS
The Senate gave final approval to the framework of President Clinton's economic program on Thursday but promptly plunged into a bitter dispute over its troubled companion, the $16.3 billion jobs bill.
Unified Democrats hurried a five-year, $496 billion deficit-reduction through the Senate in record time. The measure, outlining tax boosts for the rich and Pentagon reductions, was approved on a virtual party-line 55-45 vote.
The House, also divided by party, had approved the House-Senate compromise on a 240-184 roll call Wednesday.
As the Senate began its second week of debate on the companion $16.3 billion jobs bill, there were indications that the White House might be seeking a compromise with Republicans who want to trim the troubled measure. But a sour mood prevailed.
The chamber's 43 Republicans said flatly that they would use Senate procedures to block a vote on final passage of the measure.
The threat by Republicans, who want to trim much of the bill's spending, left the legislation's fate unclear.
It was the strongest GOP challenge to date to Clinton's economic package, of which the jobs measure is a key element. The bill would increase public works spending and other employment-creating programs.
Arriving in Portland, Ore., on Thursday night for a forest summit, Clinton criticized the Republicans' tactics.
"Senate Republicans are doing everything they can to kill our emergency jobs bill," he told reporters. ". . . This is 43 votes for paralysis, for gridlock."
Clinton urged the public to telephone their Republican senators and ask them to allow the vote to go forward.
Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, D-Maine, said he was planning to keep the Senate working into its Easter recess, which was to begin Saturday.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB