Clinton Vows to Veto Budget If It Slashes Jobs Program

Accusing Congress of trying to put young Americans’ futures “in the back seat,” President Clinton said Monday he will veto any federal budget that lacks money for a summer jobs program and the education proposals that he wants.

The president looked out at a roomful of summer workers at Prince George’s Hospital Center and said he, like them, worked during his breaks from school in jobs funded by the federal government--and today he is in the White House.

“I hope when the history books are written it will look like a pretty good investment that was made in a young man from a modest family in a small town a long time ago,” Clinton said. “You, too, will do great things. And, in part, it will be because your country has believed in you and invested in you.”

House Appropriations Committee spokeswoman Elizabeth Morra called the veto threat “unfortunate,” and said Republicans are simply “prioritizing spending” and trying to stay within the balanced-budget agreements.

White House spokesman Barry Toiv said the president is “looking forward to a pretty good fight” with Congress over spending on education and job training, even if it leads to a veto.

Later Monday, White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles sent letters to House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) to press for action on the budget before the fiscal year ends.

Bowles noted that none of the 13 appropriations bills has been sent to Clinton for his signature, and that veto threats hang over seven of them. He said Republicans would be to blame if the federal government must shut down because no budget has been passed.

“Your actions indicate that you want to put politics and delay ahead of progress,” Bowles said. “As of right now, you are four months behind schedule.”

The young workers Clinton met Monday were taking part in the federal summer jobs effort through the Summer Academic Enhancement and Career Exploration Program run by the Private Industry Council. A spending bill the House may consider this week would eliminate the $871-million jobs program and provide less than the president wants for Head Start, tutoring efforts and some other school programs.