Congress Plans to Send Tax Bill to Bush; Veto Expected

Democratic congressional leaders formally signed the omnibus tax-relief and urban aid bill Thursday and plan to send it to President Bush today to face what top Administration officials say is an almost certain veto.

The $28-billion measure was passed during the waning days of the 102nd Congress, but was delayed partly by the task of printing the 1,200-page measure on parchment, as required by law, and partly by apparent political considerations.

There was speculation this week that congressional Democrats, under pressure from lobbyists to safeguard a spate of special-interest provisions, wanted to push the deadline for a presidential veto to after Nov. 3 so Bush could change his mind without affecting the election.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the President has 10 working days to sign or veto a bill once it is sent to him by Congress. If he takes no action at all, and Congress is not in session--as is the case now--the legislation dies in what is known popularly as a “pocket veto.”

If the tax bill goes to the President today, the President would have until midnight of the day after the election to act.

Senior Administration officials have said that the President essentially has decided to veto the bill. White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater told reporters that Bush most “likely” will veto the measure.