Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 7, 1993 TAG: 9304070160
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
CLINTON AGREES TO TRIM ECONOMIC-STIMULUS BILL
Senate Republicans have President Clinton on the defensive on the issue of pork in his $16.3 billion proposal to spur the economy this year.Clinton on Tuesday agreed to change the plan to answer complaints about wasteful spending.
That concession came just hours after Senate Democrats ended a futile 10-day effort to overcome a Republican filibuster and win passage of the bill. Debate will resume April 19, when Congress returns from its Easter recess.
"I'm going to work on an amended proposal, and I think we'll address some of the legitimate expressed objections," Clinton said. "We'll see when Congress comes back whether Republicans are committed to putting the American people back to work or playing politics."
For now, it appears that the Republicans are committed to making political hay over what they describe as pork in Clinton's plan. Party leaders plan to crisscross the country to make a case against the proposal.
Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan., said that from now until April 17, he plans to speak against the plan in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Minnesota, Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.
"I'm going to do a lot of traveling and trying to tell people we're right and that the other side is wrong," he said.
Clinton is taking every opportunity to slam the Republicans for obstructing his bill and to question their motives.
"We'll see whether they really care about putting people to work or whether this is all just political posturing to prove that a minority can paralyze the federal government. It's just more gridlock, and I think the people will rebel against it," he said.
Clinton's proposal includes:
$4 billion for jobless pay to the long-term unemployed.
$4.2 billion for highway, mass transit, rail and airport improvements.
$2.6 billion in federal loan guarantees to small businesses.
$2.5 billion in unrestricted urban grants.
$2 billion in college tuition grants for low-income students.
$1 billion for summer youth jobs.
Clinton maintains that his plan would generate up to 500,000 jobs over two or three years.
Dole and other Republicans say those estimates are inflated.
Republicans also argue that all but the jobless benefits should be offset by cuts in other programs to keep from running up the deficit.
But White House budget director Leon Panetta said that would "undercut the impact of the economic stimulus" and thus defeat the purpose of the legislation.