Senate Budget Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and House Budget Chairman John Kasich, R-Ohio, today said they would agree to President Clinton's request to delay the submission of his FY98 budget until Feb. 6 and they laid out five criteria they hope his new spending plan will meet to increase chances for bipartisan cooperation.
Speaking for the pair, Domenici told a news conference Clinton's budget should have "no shell games in Medicare reform," should not propose increase spending now with cuts to be made later, should not come in the form of two budgets -- one lean and one filled with triggers for additional spending or tax breaks, should not be backloaded with policies that would balloon the deficit after the budget is balanced in 2002 and should show "a steady, continuous decrease" in the deficit.
Domenici also predicted the balanced budget constitutional amendment will pass the Senate early this year. Kasich said House backers have to replace the votes of 20 supporters who did not return for the 105th Congress but he predicted it would pass.
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