Republicans hope to take identical budget resolutions to the House and Senate floors during the first two weeks of May -- regardless of whether they have a budget deal with the Clinton administration, House Majority Leader Richard Armey, R-Texas, said today.
Armey said the House and Senate Budget committees are quietly trying to work together to craft the same plans, adding "we will be better if we do as much pre-conferencing as we can."
Ideally, he said, that budget resolution would include a budget deal with the White House. But he added, "We hope they will work with us more than they have." Meanwhile, Senate Budget Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said his panel will begin a "walk through" of budget issues March 19.
Armey said Republicans have not produced a budget plan yet in an effort to try to avoid a "standoff" with the administration. He said the "big question" remains what will happen with the consumer price index, adding that the president must take the lead on the issue if it is to be addressed as part of the budget.
Armey's comments came as the House prepares later this week to consider a resolution asking President Clinton to send Congress a new budget that reaches balance in 2002 using Congressional Budget Office economic estimates -- a resolution the Senate is not likely to consider, a key Senate Republican aide said today.
Armey said he believes the administration should welcome the opportunity to send a new budget to Capitol Hill. Told administration officials have said they have no plans to do so, Armey said: "I can invite you to the party. It's your choice whether you come." Armey said the lack of a credible administration budget has stalled efforts to come to agreement with the administration on other issues.
But a Senate GOP aide said the Senate has no intention to consider the House resolution, adding the House "has to get it out of their system."
Domenici today sought to lend credence to the claim that the CBO has been more accurate in forecasting. He said since 1993, the OMB and CBO have produced 20 deficit estimates, and the CBO has been closer in 75 percent of the cases.
Asked about grumbling among some Republicans that GOP members have not developed a comprehensive budget strategy, Armey said the House Budget Committee is working. He said some members have a tendency to believe that "if it's not on the floor, it doesn't exist."
However, House Rules Chairman Solomon told reporters today some Republicans believe they cannot produce a budget that contains larger cuts than the Clinton plan during the first few years. "That's baloney," he said, following a speech to the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. "It can and will be done." If the Budget Committee cannot produce such a plan, Solomon said he and House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Christopher Cox of California will do so.
NEXT STORY: A Golf Oversight?