Clinton Uses Veto to Trim $8.1 Million

President Clinton used his line-item veto power to kill seven agriculture and natural resources projects worth $8.1 million. The vetoes covered a pair of bills, recently signed into law, providing $28 billion for the Agriculture and Interior departments and federal cultural agencies for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. Among the items affected were federal mineral rights the government was to convey to Montana as part of a deal to shut the Crown Butte Mines’ New World Mine. Though the legislation called for a transfer of $10 million in mineral rights, the White House said the federal share was only $5.2 million. The property is just three miles northeast of Yellowstone National Park. Clinton wanted to close the mine to prevent polluting the park.