House OKs $339 Billion for Health, Schools and Labor

The House voted narrow approval Wednesday for the biggest and most hotly contested spending bill of the year, a $339.4-billion measure for education, health and labor programs that left each party claiming victory.

Despite a veto threat by President Clinton, Republicans rammed the huge fiscal 2001 measure through the House by a near party-line 217-214 vote. It was the first time since 1997 that the full House had approved the always controversial bill, and it came only after days of lobbying by GOP leaders on their rank and file.

Though the bill would boost spending for the Education Department and many other programs above this year’s levels, it assures an election-year clash with the White House because it would cut many Clinton proposals.

It ignores his plans for hiring teachers and rebuilding crumbling schools and cuts the president’s proposals for child care and job training for teenagers. It would also block his effort to complete federal rules aimed at preventing workplace injuries.

“There has to be some responsibility in these things,” Rep. J.C. Watts Jr. of Oklahoma, the No. 4 House GOP leader, said after the vote. “You can’t just add 20[%], 30% to these bills as they would do . . . and not worry about how you pay for it.”

In a written statement, Clinton renewed his promise to veto the bill, which contains nearly $9 billion less than he wants. The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a version of the measure that is $4 billion higher than the House bill.

“A bill that fails to provide key resources for education, child care, worker training and other priorities is unacceptable,” Clinton said.

The fist-pumping and applause from members of both parties after the bill’s passage underlined the vote’s political stakes.

GOP leaders want to quickly finish Congress’ 13 annual spending bills to allow more time for reelection campaigns.

Democrats said that because of the bill’s cuts in Clinton’s proposals, they will use the vote against Republicans from marginal districts who supported the legislation.

“It’s the linchpin to our taking the House back” in the November elections, said Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.).