Although there has been some grumbling and hard feelings on both sides of the Capitol, House Budget Chairman John Kasich, R-Ohio, Wednesday said he remains confident he and Senate Budget Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M. can reach a deal on a fiscal 1999 spending blueprint.
"We'll be sitting down at some point," Kasich told reporters. "There will be some kind of agreement. It's gone slow."
Kasich warned that, without an agreement, Republicans will not be able to pass a tax cut bill.
Domenici has criticized the House budget plan as a "mockery," while Kasich has said the Senate plan does not go far enough.
Asked why he and Domenici have not met, Kasich said, "Ask Pete," later adding: "Look, I'm not going to have a fight with Pete Domenici. He's a good friend of mine."
Kasich said he still believes the overall budget surplus should be devoted to Social Security, but said a general fund balance might be available for a tax cut. "There are other surpluses that will be generated outside [of] Social Security," he said, adding that some people have said there may be a general fund balance of $20 billion next year.
On the Senate side, a Budget Committee spokesman said Domenici has contacted House GOP leaders about meeting on the budget. "Sen. Domenici has made clear his availability to meet anytime, anywhere," the spokesman said. "Anyone who knows Pete Domenici knows that he's willing to talk about the budget."
He said Domenici has been occupied by the tobacco bill, the FY99 Energy and Water appropriations bill and the New Mexico special election to replace the late GOP Rep. Steven Schiff.
"Based on what Chairman Kasich said, we look forward to meeting with him," he said.
In another budget-related development, Rep. Mark Neumann, R-Wis., a member of the House Budget Committee, today was touting figures he said show the federal government has been running a $107 billion surplus during the past 12 months.
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