Big budget cuts unlikely in Senate

If the House does not complete its fiscal 1999 budget resolution by the end of May, the Senate then may begin considering appropriations bills without it, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said today. He added that it would be very hard for the Senate to pass funding measures based on a plan including steep spending cuts being circulated by House Budget Chairman John Kasich, R-Ohio.

Lott said he understands the House has to spend some time attempting to put together a spending blueprint, but added, "I do hope that they will move it as quickly as possible." He said if the House is not finished by the end of the month, he will "have to wave [Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted] Stevens [R-Alaska] on."

Lott said for the Senate schedule to work, the Senate must begin considering appropriations bills after the Memorial Day recess, saying it is difficult to pass more than two funding measures a week on the Senate floor. The Senate FY99 budget resolution contains a provision that would ease the way for Senate appropriators to begin passing its bills.

Under House rules, House Appropriations Chairman Bob Livingston, R-La., can begin marking up his bills after May 15, even if a budget resolution has not been passed. However, he has said he is reluctant to do that.

Lott praised Kasich for "providing a service" by developing a list of some $150 billion in spending cuts. However, when later asked whether the Senate could pass appropriations bills based on large spending cuts, Lott conceded, "It would be very difficult."

But Lott added that simply because Congress could not enact such cuts this year, or within the next two or three years, does not mean Kasich should not identify cuts he would like to make. He said the list of cuts also could come in handy when Congress is looking for ways to pay for other programs.

Meanwhile, President Clinton today told the Wall Street Journal and CNBC that the fiscal 1998 budget surplus could reach $50 billion. Clinton said establishment of individual retirement accounts to supplement Social Security is an idea that deserves attention, although he said he does not favor a plan by Kasich and others to use the budget surplus to help establish such accounts.