Opponents Trade Blame for Budget Impasse

The Clinton administration and the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee squared off Sunday on prospects for reaching an agreement on the fiscal 1998 budget, but neither side gave significant ground as Congress prepares to work on a fiscal plan of its own.

In a joint appearance on CNN’s “Late Edition,” Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) and White House Budget Director Franklin D. Raines each blamed the other side for the impasse between Congress and the White House over how to craft a budget accord.

Although the two engaged in more conciliatory language than has marked recent budget discussions, they mostly rehashed previous positions. Thus, it appears the Senate panel will begin work Wednesday on a congressional budget resolution for the coming fiscal year with little sign of a possible compromise with the president.

Domenici reiterated his recent warning that if President Clinton does not suggest ways to pare back government entitlement programs more than he has, the committee will offer an alternative that would drop both the tax cuts and new spending proposals that the president has proposed.

Raines did issue a “promise” that Clinton “will support sufficient changes in Medicare to extend the trust fund for 10 years.” But he provided no details.

Raines’ refusal to offer any specific last-minute concessions seemed to underscore the administration’s intent to hold firm on the budget issue. Both the White House and congressional leaders conceded last week that they are at an impasse .

Domenici told reporters late last week that after weeks of initial negotiations, “I believe the chances of getting a negotiated budget between the Republicans and the president are finished.”

He softened his rhetoric Sunday, saying, “I’m hearing some things today stated publicly by Director Raines that leads me to think maybe we ought to get back and see if we can’t start working together” on the budget.