August 17, 1999
Web posted at: 1:19 p.m. EDT (1719 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Congressional Republicans are revving up their public relations campaign to drum up support for their 10-year, $792 billion tax-cut package.

President Bill Clinton has repeatedly said he will veto the tax package. Congress passed the package on mostly party-lines votes before breaking for its August recess. The GOP leadership decided not to send the bill to the president until after Congress returns in September so Republicans could push the package in their individual districts in hopes of boosting support for it.

"Now we've sent everybody home over the break to say go and let the American people that what's in this package,"

"The American people don't want to go backwards," Rep. J.C. Watts Jr. said Tuesday on CNN's "Morning News."

Watts, an Oklahoma Republican and the House GOP conference chairman, is holding nine town meetings to push the tax plan in his district. "We think the American people are overtaxed," he said. "We want tax relief and we want tax fairness."

On Wednesday, House Speaker Dennis Hastert kicks off a 10-day, seven-state tour to tout the tax-relief package. He will begin in Washington by combining fund-raising appearances with events aimed at drawing public and media attention to the GOP's side of a debate with Clinton and most congressional Democrats.

One of the fund-raisers is aimed at helping the re-election of Rep. George Nethercutt (R-Washington), who is breaking a 1994 campaign pledge to serve only three terms. Groups that support term limits are targeting Nethercutt for defeat next year. Nethercutt was elected in 1994 by beating then-Speaker Tom Foley.

Last week, Hastert told an audience in his home state of Illinois that taxpayers should urge Clinton to sign the House plan or else watch Democrats use the money "to make government bigger."

The White House is remaining resolute in its opposition.

"I know the Republicans are out there trying to sell this plan, but I looked at it very carefully. I've got to tell you, this is a car that goes backwards," said Ann Lewis, a counselor to the president, said Tuesday on CNN's "Early Edition." "It takes us backwards to the days of risky, irresponsible spending and exploding deficits. Now, you can put a new coat of paint on that car, you can put a ribbon around that car, but the American people don't want to go backwards."

Clinton said the government surplus Republicans want to tap is needed to pay for Medicare, farm programs and other spending critical to voters. He favors a smaller tax cut that is no larger than $300 billion.

The GOP bill calls for a 1 percent across-the-board cut in all income-tax rates, an easing of so-called "marriage penalty," a capital gains tax cut, elimination of the inheritance tax on large estates and a number of tax breaks for businesses.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tuesday, August 17, 1999

• Quayle campaign reorganizes after poor Iowa showing, staff defections
• GOP revs up tax cut campaign
• Analysis: Democracy alive and well in Iowa
• No job, big debts, but Clintons still good mortgage risk
• Audit: Gore's 'reinventing government' project overstated savings
• Clinton signs $8.4 billion military construction bill
• Rubin joins effort to restore Treasury building
• NAACP officials demand public apology from Utah senator
• McCain says political rhetoric encourages bigotry
• Businessman sentenced to probation for DNC campaign contributions
• Florida to alter congressional districts

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