Congressional Democrats are united behind the broad outlines of President Clinton's economic program and are leaving until later a resolution of any worries about his tax increase and spending plans.
By a 12-9 party-line vote Thursday night, the Senate Budget Committee approved the framework of a plan to reduce the federal deficit by $502 billion over the next five years. The proposal envisions tougher spending cuts and even more tax increases than recommended by Clinton.The senators acted 24 hours after a similar plan was pushed through the House Budget Committee on a straight party split, 26-17.
Both houses are expected to vote next week on the deficit-reduction plans, which are built into Congress' $1.5 trillion target budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
But several Democrats on the panel said they were troubled by some parts of the plan and will try to change it on the floor. There are concerns about Clinton's proposed energy tax and his plan to raise income taxes on the Social Security benefits of higher-income retirees.
"It is clear to a blind man that the energy tax and the Social Security tax are dead meat," said Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas. But he was defeated, 12-9, on a proposal to eliminate those tax increases as well as Clinton's plan to raise income taxes on the 1.2 percent of Americans with the highest incomes.