U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee - Larry E. Craig, Chairman - Jade West, Staff Director

June 5, 1997

Clinton Threatens to Veto Disaster Aid!!!

Minority Party Must Decide: For People or For Party?

With a final version of the emergency disaster legislation now before the Senate, the President's party in the Senate must now make the decision: support the people or the party? Regretfully, the President already has made his decision -- for politics over people.

The President also has made clear his reason for refusing the disaster aid he claims is so urgently needed: It contains a provision that would keep the government operating in the event that the annual appropriations bills are not completed by October 1 -- the beginning of the next fiscal year. This provision would keep the government running at exactly the same level at which it is currently operating -- no interruptions and no cuts. The provision is just that straightforward. Evidently, so too is President Clinton's opposition to it: He wants to maintain the political leverage of shutting the government down -- just as he did twice in the last Congress in 1995 and 1996. He vetoed six funding bills (four annual appropriations bills, one continuing resolution, and the Balanced Budget Act of 1995).

The provision to protect the American people against a government shutdown is the only contentious piece in this legislation and it is only contentious to the President and his party. The Senate minority failed on a party-line vote (45-55) in an attempt to preserve their President's right to shut down the government [Roll Call Vote 61]. This provision did not stop a majority (33) of his party from giving final approval to the bill during the 78-22 roll call vote on May 8 -- more than enough to override the petulant President's promised veto. Strangely, since that time the minority in the Senate seems to be changing its position -- ironically threatening yesterday to shut down the Senate in order to preserve the President's power to shut down the government.

The issue so clear less than a month ago apparently has gotten cloudy to Congress' minority. While it has gotten confusing to them, it is clear to everyone else: