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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 21, 1993                   TAG: 9304210121
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

REPUBLICANS SOLID AGAINST CLINTON BILL

President Clinton's jobs bill seemed all but dead Tuesday as Senate Republicans used a pair of test votes to reaffirm their rock-solid opposition to the package.

Barring an unexpected new effort at compromise by Clinton, the GOP unity meant the legislation had virtually no chance in the Senate, where the minority Republicans have blocked it with a filibuster since last month. Both of Tuesday's roll calls left Democrats well short of the 60 votes they would need to end the GOP delays.

After defeating a Republican plan, the Senate gave preliminary approval to the president's package on a 52-46 roll call.

That vote was purely symbolic, and Republicans were assured of blocking Democrats from final passage of Clinton's bill. Republicans are outnumbered by Democrats in the Senate 57-43, but 60 votes are needed to cut off any filibuster.

by CNB