WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders should force President Clinton to choose between freezing spending for many federal agencies or shutting down the government if they can't work out a budget deal with him, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay said Wednesday.
"If he wants to shut down the government, that's his problem, not ours," DeLay told reporters.
DeLay's combative tone came as leaders of the lame-duck Congress struggle over whether to compromise with Clinton over school spending, taxes and other issues before he leaves office on Jan. 20. Some Republicans believe they would get a better deal — with lower spending — if they delayed a decision until the next administration, which seems increasingly likely to be headed by Republican George W. Bush.
But others have said they believe Bush would be better off getting a fresh start without lingering budget fights.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., have said they hope a compromise with Clinton can be worked out this week so the 106th Congress can finally adjourn. The new Congress takes office Jan. 3.
Four spending bills for fiscal 2001 — which began Oct. 1 — remain unfinished, covering dozens of agencies. Rather than agreeing to spending increases for those measures that budget bargainers have tentatively agreed to, DeLay has preferred keeping them financed at this year's levels of spending, which aides say would save $15 billion.
"If you want to get out of town and get out of here in a reasonable way, that's the only way you've going to get it," DeLay said.