Democrats and some appropriators are looking with caution, and some skepticism, at the prospect of passing a quick rescissions bill to balance the budget during fiscal 1998.
"Is it needed and how do you go about it?" Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., asked Wednesday, citing a plan being discussed by House Republican leaders to find $5 billion in outlay savings in an effort to balance the budget in FY98.
Republican leaders said earlier this week they would challenge President Clinton to help them find $5 billion in savings to balance the budget even before passing the FY99 spending bills. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., said Republicans are likely to send a letter to Clinton Monday.
Gingrich made it clear that if Republicans cannot gain Clinton's support, it would be impossible to get a rescissions bill through the Senate, where Democrats would filibuster it. Daschle said Democrats would have to take a "hard look" at any plan, adding that updated economic estimates could result in a balanced budget without any additional action being needed.
"The numbers keep changing by the week or by the month," Daschle said.
While Daschle was somewhat cautious, House Appropriations ranking member David Obey, D-Wis., bluntly dismissed the prospect of a quick rescissions bill.
Obey said Congress will be in session so few days this year that it already will be difficult to pass a supplemental spending bill as well as 13 annual appropriations measures.
A rescission plan that would balance the budget would take an "immense amount of time," he contended, adding he believes that, even without a rescissions bill, Congress will have to pass a huge continuing resolution to be able to adjourn by the October deadline set by GOP leaders.
Some House Republican appropriators also are being cautious about the prospects, although they are willing to implement instructions from GOP leaders.
"During the last two years, we've pretty much whittled things down pretty close to the bone," said House Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky. However, he added, "I'll do what the leadership asks us to do. It would be tough, but we could do it."
House VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., agreed with Rogers, saying, "We've been very tough on our bill."
He said he would be willing to examine programs under his jurisdiction for possible rescissions, although he added, "I don't know where I would look."
Nonetheless, Lewis described himself as "a good soldier" who will work with GOP leaders.
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