White House claims Congress risks 'do-nothing' label if no budget compromise reached

By Major Garrett/CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Congressional Republicans run the risk of being labeled a "do-nothing Congress" if they turn down the budget compromise offered by President Clinton, White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said Tuesday.

In announcing new budget surplus figures Monday, Clinton offered to back a Republican plan to eliminate the so-called "marriage penalty" on income taxes -- the extra taxes sometimes paid by married couples filing jointly -- if the GOP went along with his plan to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare. Lockhart chided House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer's quick rejection of the proposal.

In a statement Monday, Archer, R-Texas, said Republicans would not accept a tax cut that offered "pennies" to American families in exchange for more government spending.

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"In trying to respond to the president's program; he criticized his own program," Lockhart said of Archer. "I don't really think he believes that. I don't really think that the marriage penalty just provides pennies to people, and I think as the days go on and as the support for a prescription drug benefit builds, I think many Republicans will see the wisdom of this approach."

The GOP leadership in Congress has said it will consider the Medicare and tax cut issues separately and is wary of entering into talks with Clinton on both issues simultaneously. Republicans say they can pass a bill to abolish the marriage tax penalty and dare Clinton to veto it.

Congressional Republicans plan to introduce a rival Medicare plan that would call on private companies to offer coverage to patients 65 and older, with the government subsidizing roughly 35 percent of the costs.

Lockhart refused to say whether Clinton would veto the GOP's marriage tax bill outside of a deal on Medicare prescription drug coverage.

"It depends what they send down here," Lockhart said. "We've certainly have made very clear our concerns with those bills, but if they want to actually do something that gets beyond rhetoric and partisan posturing and toward real compromise and getting something done, then we'll have a lot to talk about."

The House passed the GOP's full repeal of the marriage penalty by a vote of 268-158, with 48 Democrats supporting the bill. The Senate Finance Committee will vote on its bill to abolish the marriage penalty Wednesday.

Tuesday, June 27, 2000

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• Gore touts technology-based energy policy
  
• Democrats line up against GOP prescription bill as House prepares to vote
  
• latimes.com: Nader targets candidates on child poverty
  
• White House claims Congress risks 'do-nothing' label if no budget compromise reached
  
• Richardson defends Clinton administration energy policy
  
• House leaders agree to lift food and medicine embargo against Cuba
  
• How Elian helped poke a hole in Cuba embargo
  
• House rejects effort to thwart Smith & Wesson gun-safety deal
  
• Rep. Thomas denies conflict of interest with pharmaceutical industry lobbyist
  
• Supporters of open California primary vow to try again
  
• Foe of campaign finance laws sworn in to Federal Election Commission
  

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