Clinton vows to veto budget bill with unfunded tax cuts

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Sept. 19) -- President Clinton once again threatened to veto the budget bill if Republicans send it to him loaded with unfunded tax cuts.

Speaking Saturday in his weekly radio address, Clinton touted the economic accomplishments of his administration, including the first balanced budget and first budget surplus in 29 years.

However, the president warned: "We can't let these good times lull us into a dangerous complacency," adding that Republicans are already spending the surplus.

"I've already made clear that if Congress sends me a bill that squanders the surplus before we save Social Security, I will veto it, but Republicans in the House of Representatives are proceeding anyway," said Clinton.

"The black ink in the budget hasn't even had a chance to dry," he said. "Indeed it hasn't appeared yet, but they already want to drain the surplus to fund a tax plan before we make the most of our opportunity, our historic opportunity to save Social Security."

Clinton urged the Republican leadership to "go back to the drawing board" and send him a plan with targeted tax relief.

Such a budget, Clinton said, he would "gladly sign."

Sources on Capitol Hill tell CNN the tax cut bill the Republicans want would have been in greater jeopardy if it weren't for the current legal situation surrounding Clinton and the possibility of impeachment hearings against him.

GOP congressmen are trying to belie White House assertions that they are interested in nothing but scandal by moving ahead on the tax cuts, the sources said.

The House is expected to vote on the $80 billion tax cut proposal next week.

Clinton vows to veto budget bill with unfunded tax cuts

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Saturday, September 19, 1998