Members of Congress and Clinton Administration officials are preparing for the official start of the budget season next week, when President Clinton sends his fiscal 1999 budget to Capitol Hill. House and Senate budget panels will begin examining the budget immediately.
Office of Management and Budget Director Franklin Raines will testify before the House Budget Committee Feb. 3 and the Senate Budget Committee Feb. 4. Treasury Secretary Rubin will testify before the Senate Budget Committee Feb. 3 and OMB Director O'Neill will appear before the House Budget Committee Feb. 5.
Last week it remained somewhat unclear how quickly the House and Senate budget panels will produce FY99 budget resolutions.
The House is likely to consider reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act before doing the budget, and while the Senate has not determined its schedule, a GOP aide last week said the Senate is likely to do the same.
Asked if Republicans intend to meet the April 15 deadline for producing a budget resolution, a date that often slips, a Senate GOP aide said, "There is always an intention to try to meet it."
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