Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 20, 1993 TAG: 9306200136
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PORTLAND, MAINE LENGTH: Medium
Bracing for this week's Senate floor debate, Clinton accused his detractors of "screaming slogans like `tax and spend' " while refusing to offer a detailed alternative or take responsibility for running up the $4 trillion federal debt.
In his weekly radio address, a Boston commencement speech and one at a Maine rally, Clinton sounded the same refrain: arguing his plan makes tough choices and his critics offer only hollow slogans.
"They say more cuts, less taxes, but no details," Clinton told Northeastern University graduates. "Then when you look at the details, you find that the details hurt the middle class, the working poor, the vulnerable elderly; do less to create jobs and ensure our world economic leadership."
Republicans have been unanimous in opposing the Clinton plan, first as it passed the House and again as a revised version cleared the Senate Finance Committee last week on an 11-9, party-line vote.
Clinton's challenge was part of a White House effort to regain the offensive in the budget fight in advance of the Senate debate.
"We really let the definition of our plan get away from us," Clinton economic adviser Robert Rubin told Democratic governors meeting in Vermont. "But I think the president is reclaiming it now."
Evidence of that effort was Clinton's repeated references to his program as a "growth plan," the label he prefers to the GOP's "tax plan" moniker.
"If senators are going to oppose my growth plan, they ought to answer these questions: What programs would you cut more deeply?" Clinton said in the radio address. "Where are your tough choices? Will you ask the wealthy to pay their fair share or will you put a higher burden on the middle class? Do you have a real comprehensive plan to reduce the deficit by $500 billion?"
by CNB