Clinton may accept supplemental spending bill

While not saying explicitly President Clinton would sign the bill, Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew Thursday indicated the White House likely would accept the fiscal 2000 supplemental spending package Republicans are planning to attach to the fiscal 2001 Military Construction appropriations bill.

Lew said several measures to which the administration objects have been removed from the bill, particularly one that would have ended the Justice Department's ability to use other agencies' funds for its lawsuit against the tobacco industry.

"We're still reviewing the details, but I'm hopeful that, when all the details are reviewed, we'll be in a position where there's broad, bipartisan support for" the bill, Lew said, adding, "The most troubling, most objectionable provisions appear to be addressed."

A House Appropriations Committee spokesman confirmed the GOP had decided to delete all controversial add-ons-including the tobacco lawsuit provision-from the emergency package. The Justice Department this year wants to use about $12 million from the Defense, Veterans' Affairs and Health and Human Services departments to finance the lawsuit. Since Congress has not appropriated money directly to the DOJ for the action, the provision now removed from the supplemental effectively would have ended the suit, according to Attorney General Janet Reno.

Lew touted the GOP's treatment of the supplemental as a blueprint for deals in other areas, such as a Medicare prescription drug benefit and other FY2001 spending bills. Lew contrasted this with Wednesday night's House passage of the GOP prescription drug bill, which Clinton today termed an "empty promise" to most seniors.

Lew reiterated Clinton's offer to accept a Republican marriage penalty tax cut in exchange for GOP acceptance of the president's prescription drug plan. Lew sought to emphasize the administration's sincerity, arguing that the White House easily could have chosen instead to score points on the issue with the electorate.

Lew also contended that the administration is willing to fight hard for its budget priorities, pointing to what he said was the popularity of such administration proposals as its plan to build new schools.