THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505260536
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LOS ANGELES TIMES
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
The Senate put the Republican-controlled Congress on a collision course with the White House over spending priorities Thursday, passing the first bill that President Clinton has vowed to veto: a measure that slashes $16.4 billion from funds already appropriated.
But because the bill also contains more than $6 billion in disaster-assistance relief for California, Oklahoma and other states, Republican leaders urged the president to back down from his threat even as they conceded that they lacked the votes for an override.
Noting that the so-called rescission bill would cut the budget deficit by more than $9 billion, House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., said it would be ``a great disservice to this country'' and ``a major, major mistake'' for the president to veto this ``first step toward a balanced budget.''
Appearing at a rare, joint Capitol Hill news conference, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan., added: ``I would strongly urge the president to sign it.''
But their pleas fell on deaf ears at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Just minutes before the Senate passed the measure, Clinton told reporters in the White House Rose Garden that he would veto the bill ``if it passes in this form.''
The president's chief objection to the measure is that it cuts too deeply into programs on education, housing, airport improvement, job training and the environment - but too little into wasteful ``pork'' construction projects.
``I am for making a down payment on the deficit reduction in this rescission bill,'' Clinton said. ``I certainly want to get the money out to Oklahoma City, to finish our obligations in the California earthquake, to deal with the floods in the South.''
The bill also contains $250 million for anti-terrorism efforts in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing as well as $275 million in debt relief for Jordan, both expenditures also favored by Clinton.
The White House-Congress standoff underscores the difficulties ahead in reducing the deficit, a goal both parties embrace. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
HOW THEY VOTED
A ``yes'' vote is a vote to approve the spending cuts.
John W. Warner, R-Va.Yes
Charles S. Robb, D-Va.No
Jesse A. Helms, R-N.C.Yes
Lauch Faircloth, R-N.C.Yes
by CNB