ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, December 23, 1995            TAG: 9512250040
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL   PAGE: A-1  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press 

LIMITED BENEFITS TO BE PAID CLINTON AND GOP TO TALK AGAIN FRIDAY

Seeking to soften the impact of the partial government shutdown, Congress enacted and President Clinton signed into law Friday a measure to pay veterans' benefits and distribute welfare checks.

The White House announced that Clinton signed the limited spending measure several hours after it cleared the Senate by voice vote.

But the first paychecks of the new year for government workers will be smaller than usual without a broader agreement to end the seven-day-old shutdown.

Also, the Senate voted to allow 260,000 furloughed employees to return to work while budget negotiations continue. The House, which has been adamant in maintaining the shutdown, took no similar action.

Congressional leaders, meanwhile, promised to pay all federal workers after an agreement is reached on a new budget.

``I'm getting a lot of calls from taxpayers around the country saying, `Why are you paying people for not working?''' Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole said.

Veterans will get their benefits, but they will be late. Those who were expecting payments Dec. 29 will receive their checks either Dec. 30 or Jan. 2, officials said.

``While this measure falls short of putting VA back in business, it accomplishes the important goal of paying disabled and poor veterans and survivors the compensation and pension benefits veterans earned through service to the country,'' said VA Secretary Jesse Brown.

Lawmakers also acted to ensure that 4.7 million needy families - including 9 million children - who depend on the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program will get their payments.

The measure was approved by both the House and Senate in voice votes. It also allows the District of Columbia government and federal adoption and foster care programs to continue operating until Jan. 3.

About 260,000 federal workers have been furloughed while another 500,000 are staying on the job during the shutdown. Nine agencies have not received any money.

Ironically, the workers eventually will get paid, even through they are barred by law from going to work during the partial shutdown.

``In my view, they ought to go back to work, but they can't even volunteer to go back to work because ... of some criminal statute,'' Dole said.

President Clinton and his chief Republican adversaries discussed their budget clash eye-to-eye at the White House on Friday and reported making progress. But all they acknowledged agreeing on was to meet again next Friday.

And with that, most lawmakers prepared to leave town for a curtailed Christmas recess, with no votes expected until at least Wednesday.

LENGTH: Medium:   61 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  AP. Speaker Newt Gingrich, President Clinton and 
          Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin share a laugh before meeting Friday.
          color.