GOP Says It’s Up to Clinton to Keep Government Open

Averting another government shutdown that would lay off federal workers just before Christmas depends on President Clinton coming up with his own plan to balance the federal budget, congressional Republicans said Sunday.

“It’s going to be up to the Administration,” House Budget Committee Chairman John R. Kasich (R-Ohio) said on NBC-TV’s “Meet the Press.” He said he hopes a way can be found to keep the government operating.

Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) also pressed Clinton to produce a plan for balancing the budget in seven years, saying the burden will be on the President’s shoulders if the government is forced to shut down for a second time when a temporary spending measure expires Dec. 15.

Dole said Saturday that a repetition of the six-day shutdown in November is “not going to happen.” But he conditioned that remark in his appearance on CBS-TV’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday.

“I’m not an advocate of shutting down the government. We did that. We made our statement,” Dole said. But if Clinton “doesn’t come forth with anything and make any serious offers, then we have to face up to a shutdown again on the 15th.”