Clinton proposes $1.84 trillion federal budget for fiscal 2001

President Clinton today released a $1.84 trillion budget proposal for fiscal 2001, a 2.5 percent increase over 2000.

The budget projects a $184 billion surplus in 2001 and proposes to pay off the national debt by 2013. Clinton proposes an increase in total discretionary spending of $22.8 billion, to $614.3 billion. Nearly half-$292.2 billion- is slated for Defense spending, an $11.3 billion increase over the 2000 Defense budget.

In his budget message, Clinton said the administration will continue to improve government operations through better management.

"We are forging ahead with new efforts to improve the quality of the service that the government offers its customers," Clinton said. The President said the government's management of the year 2000 computer problem was a mark of the administration's success in making government work better. "The federal government's Y2K efforts were, beyond all expectation, remarkably trouble free. We will continue to move ahead to address other priorities, including modernizing student aid delivery, implementing IRS reforms, and strengthening the management of the Health Care Financing Administration, which oversees Medicare."

Following Clinton's State of the Union address last month, Republicans criticized the President for proposing too much new spending for 2001. Republicans would prefer to see more money set aside for tax cuts.

The President's 2001 budget proposal is online at w3.access.gpo.gov/usbudget.