Senate approves $1.73 trillion budget
UPI
Senate approves $1.73 trillion budget
WASHINGTON, April 2 (UPI) - The Senate has approved a $1.73-trillion
budget plan that includes, for the first time in decades, an anticipated
budget surplus. The 1999 budget resolution passed (Thursday night) by a
near-party-line vote of 57-41.
bc-us-budget
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UPI
(NOTE: adds clinton reaction)
Senate approves $1.73 trillion budget
WASHINGTON, April 2 (UPI) - The Senate has approved a $1.73-trillion
budget plan that includes, for the first time in decades, an anticipated
budget surplus.
Senators passed the 1999 budget resolution tonight by a near-party-
line vote of 57-41.
It sets a voluntary framework for future spending and anticipates an
$8 billion budget surplus. The budget represents a 3.6 percent increase
over 1998 spending levels.
The bill also establishes a spending framework for government through
the year 2003, when the budget surplus is expected to rise to $58
billion.
Senators earlier agreed that the surplus funds would be used to shore
up the Medicare program.
Reacting to the Senate bill, President Clinton says he is pleased it
reserves the projected surplus but remains concerned about the fate of
human development investments.
In a statement tonight after he returned from a 12-day tour of
Africa, Clinton said, ``While I'm pleased that the Senate followed our
lead by maintaining fiscal discipline and reserving the surplus until we
save Social Security, I remain deeply concerned that their budget would
squeeze out critical investments in education and our children.''
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UPI
(NOTE: adds lott reaction)
Clinton denounces GOP budget
WASHINGTON, April 3 (UPI) - President Clinton denounced the budget
bill passed by the Senate, saying it would squeeze out critical
investments in education.
Back home and looking surprisingly refreshed after his grueling 11-
day African journey that ended Thursday evening, Clinton appeared in the
Rose Garden today to express his concern over the budget blueprint
passed by the Senate, which rejects his domestic priorities.
The $1.75 trillion budget passed Thursday night by the Senate rejects
all the administration's new spending proposals.
Clinton said, ``The budget now being drafted by Congress simply does
not meet these urgent national priorities.''
He added, ``We will continue to lead the world only if our children
receive the world's best education.''
Clinton's spending proposals include plans to modernize schools, hire
new teachers and invest in scientific research.
Senate GOP leader Trent Lott disagreed with Clinton, arguing the
Republicans have $9 billion in new spending for education in their
budget.
Lott said of Clinton: ``He needs to check his figures before he
starts complaining.''
Clinton, meanwhile, also used the occasion to comment on an Arkansas
judge's recent decision to throw out a sexual harassment law suit
against him.
The president said he does not intend to be deterred by special
prosecutor Kenneth Starr's investigation of sexual allegations from
doing his work as the nation's chief executive.
He said, ``I'm going to try to do what the Supreme Court said I
should do and not be deterred in any way by that.''
Clinton also commented on Japan's role in pulling Asia out of its
recent financial crisis, calling the country ``a great democracy and a
great engine of economic growth.'' He said the United States has urged
Japan to take ``aggressive action'' to resolve the crisis by letting go
of old economic strategies and adopting a ``bold course.''