Republican congressional leaders called on President Clinton Wednesday to present his own plan to balance the budget in seven years, a demand scoffed at by the White House.
"Since you have not presented a balanced budget plan to Congress, we will need your specific legislative proposals on how you would accomplish balance in seven years differently from the bill you intend to veto," said the letter.It was signed by Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, House Speaker Newt Gingrich, House Budget Committee Chairman John Kasich and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici.
In a deal that ended a six-day federal government shutdown, Clinton and Congress agreed Sunday night on the broad goal of balancing the budget in seven years, relying mainly on the conservative economic forecasts of the Congressional Budget Office.
The deal, which provides funding for the government until Dec. 15, still leaves specifics of the budget plan open to negotiation.
Clinton has threatened to veto the balanced budget plan already passed by Congress.
In their letter, the Republican leaders asked for a response to their legislation by next week.
White House spokesman Mike McCurry made clear Clinton had no plans to submit his own budget but would instead rely on "good faith negotiations" with Republicans to resolve the impasse.
He called the letter "dispiriting," because it means Republicans have gone "back to square one in the rhetoric and negotiating tactics." He also attacked the letter for threatening another shutdown.
"We're not going to send silly letters to Capitol Hill and ask them to do things that they know aren't going to happen," he said.