WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, October 12) -- Congressional leaders and the White House agreed to another short-term budget extension Monday to keep the government in operation, as talks continued on spending priorities for the 1999 fiscal year. A government shutdown looked unlikely, and legislators said a deal could happen Wednesday or Thursday.

After another five hours of negotiating between White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and Republican leaders, House Speaker Newt Gingrich said a legislative package could be ready for approval on the House floor by Wednesday.

"We've reached many tentative possible agreements, none of which count until we've finished up the whole thing," Gingrich told The Associated Press.

The latest stopgap budget extension -- agreed to on a voice vote by the House and Senate -- will keep government agencies operating through Wednesday evening. It is the third, and if legislators' predictions are correct, the final one.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said earlier that negotiators developed a proposal Sunday concerning spending levels, but the plan will not be presented to the White House until some of the policy issues surrounding the budget debate are clarified.

Stevens said if those issues are settled, the House could get a finished product on Wednesday and the Senate on Thursday.

President Bill Clinton continued to prod the Republicans on education spending.

"I know there's an election coming, but members of Congress can return home to campaign knowing that they put progress ahead of partisanship on the important issue of education," Clinton said Monday. "We need 21st century schools where teachers can teach and students can learn."

Republicans, however, have said the question was who would control the extra education money.

"We're perfectly willing to spend more money on educating American people if the control of that money is in the local communities, under the local school boards," said House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas).

Meanwhile, Clinton substantially shortened a planned two-day trip to give him more time to deal with budget matters in Washington.

Clinton left to go to New York City Monday afternoon for political fund-raisers, with a short stop at a cancer charity event.

After that, Clinton was to have traveled to Palm Beach, Florida, and Miami for a Tuesday schedule of more political fund-raisers and a Social Security event. Now, though, Clinton will not go to Florida, sending Vice President Al Gore instead.

Republicans have criticized the president for going out of town for political fund-raisers at the time of the budget crisis.

When asked if the shortening of this trip was in response to that criticism, White House spokesman Barry Toiv said, "No, the president will continue to work hard for candidates. The problem is Congress has put off work."

Toiv said Republicans have "waited till the very last second to focus on the education agenda" that is one of the president's priorities.

Monday, October 12, 1998

• Both parties firm up strategy for upcoming election
• Budget deal possible by mid-week
• Much high-profile legislation falls by wayside
• Preparation for impeachment inquiry continues in shadow of budget battle
• Consumer groups eye insurance video
• INS to charge more for green cards
• Nixon's polls fueled impeachment
• Poll compares Clinton, Nixon

Election '98:
• 'Bats' faces Newt in Georgia race
• Stadium vote may tilt New York Senate race
• South Dakota to vote on age provision

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