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

DATE: FRIDAY, March 3, 1995                   TAG: 9503030126
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

BUDGET MEASURE DEFEATED

The 65-35 vote that left the amendment just shy of the needed two-thirds majority followed Democratic accusations that the Republicans were threatening Social Security, a charge Majority Leader Bob Dole sharply denied.

At the White House, President Clinton challenged GOP leaders in Congress to detail ``how they are going to keep the promises of their `Contract [With America]' on balancing the budget and paying for their tax cuts.''

Fifty-one Republicans and 14 Democrats voted for the amendment, while 33 Democrats and two Republicans - Mark Hatfield of Oregon and Dole - voted no. Virginia's senators, Democrat Charles Robb and Republican John Warner, both voted in favor of the amendment.

Dole is a firm supporter, and his vote - after one final, futile attempt to sway Hatfield - was a parliamentary maneuver that kept the measure alive for another possible vote during the 1996 election season. To bring up the amendment again, Dole had to vote with the prevailing side this time.

``Let 'em try,'' Democratic leader Tom Daschle said defiantly a few hours before the vote. By opposing the amendment, he said, Democrats were saving Social Security trust funds from deficit cutters.

The amendment is designed to end the run-up in red ink that has the national debt approaching $5 trillion. It calls for a balanced budget beginning in the year 2002, unless three-fifths of both houses vote otherwise.

A key element of the ``Contract With America,'' it cleared the GOP-controlled House in January on a vote of 300-132.

Republicans had looked to the measure to provide discipline for tough votes ahead.

``It might make getting what we want to do harder,'' Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., chairman of the Budget Committee, said shortly after the vote. ``For some senators, it might be easier to avoid the tough votes.''

Moments before the vote, Dole accused Democrats of playing blatant politics. ``All this talk about protecting Social Security is a cover for a tax increase'' they voted two years ago, including higher levies on wealthy Social Security recipients.

He said Republicans would soon propose a five-year plan to put the budget on a path toward balance by 2002. ``Our plan will not raise taxes,'' he said. ``Our plan will not touch Social Security.''

Daschle said Democrats would gladly join in the deficit-cutting effort, but added, ``It's the Republicans who are in the leadership here. ... We want to see what they've got.''

When the roll call finally occurred after a month of debate, it was dramatic, yet scripted, since every senator's position was known in advance. They voted in alphabetical order, rising at their desks by turn to answer the roll. Aides and House members lined the back of the chamber, and all eyes turned to Hatfield when he rose from his seat on the center aisle to utter the ``no'' that sealed the measure's fate.

Dole and other Republicans sharply attacked six Democrats for voting against the measure after supporting a similar one last year.

Memo: Lede