GOP Eases Budget Deadline

The Republicans' ultimate deadline for a budget deal slipped again on Wednesday, as GOP leaders said they are willing for the talks -- which may not start again until next week -- to resume.

"These talks will continue," Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said. He said the House and Senate Budget Committee chairmen and White House officials asked for the extension. Previously, Lott and other Republicans had said if no deal was cut by today or Thursday, they would work on their own budget. Republicans originally set last week as the deadline.

Explaining the extension, Senate Budget Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said, "We're still moving ahead as rapidly as we can" and "a lot of things were put on the table" in recent days that require more scrutiny.

Sources today also sought to downplay the significance of what was described as a GOP offer to cut Medicare by $120 billion, cut taxes by $140 billion, include $190 billion less than President Clinton wants for domestic programs and assume a 0.4 percent reduction in the Consumer Price Index.

While Republicans are allowing the talks to continue, Lott said he is operating on a separate track and that Republicans are preparing a budget plan they could move on their own.

Lott said, however, that with the president traveling to North Dakota to view flood damage there, Democrats have not had an opportunity to meet among themselves. House Budget Committee Democrats were scheduled to attend a White House meeting today and Senate Democrats had a meeting set for Thursday. Office of Management and Budget Director Franklin Raines told reporters the purpose of the two-day-long meetings is to find out how Democrats stand on the major issues. "Part of the process is we've got to get people up here to vote on [the president's budget]," Raines said.

Each side also accused the other of not compromising enough. "It takes give and take on both sides and it's [Clinton's] turn to give some," Lott said. But Senate Minority Leader Daschle said: "We don't need to be the only side giving. We haven't seen a lot of give on their side."

And senators on both sides of the aisle warned that ideological factions are beginning to draw lines in the dirt -- which will make a budget deal even more difficult. "The longer we wait now, the more difficult it becomes," Lott said. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a Budget Committee member, echoed those sentiments, saying, "There is a growing [group] of people who are advancing agendas that are going to make it very difficult to get an agreement."

The comments follow moves by Senate GOP conservatives and liberal House Democrats to set conditions for a budget pact. Lott conceded not everyone will be happy with a deal. "We're not going to come up with something everyone is happy with. Sometimes the leadership has to be prepared to step up and say, 'This is the best we can do,'" he said.