Chopping Block

Confirming lean times are likely to continue, new Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, Wednesday said he wants to try to cut spending by pushing for a federal commission to study the possibility of eliminating federal agencies and departments.

Stevens predicted that, at best, FY98 discretionary spending will remain level with this year's spending. "I expect to have a rather level budget," he said in his first session with reporters since becoming chairman. As long as entitlement spending continues to increase, discretionary spending controlled by the Appropriations Committee will suffer, said Stevens. So he'd like a commission to look at the possibility of streamlining agencies.

At the same time, Stevens said he is concerned about the backlog of repairs needed to federal facilities, including parks and federally financed bridges. "I know there is a tremendous backlog in terms of repairs on military bases," he said. Stevens also indicated he wants to focus on the long delays in allowing industry to apply the results of federally financed research.

The often acerbic Stevens made it clear he expects to enjoy his new position, telling reporters, "You've not seen my style as chairman because I've never been the chairman of this committee."

Stevens also said he expects the Clinton administration shortly to submit a $2 billion supplemental spending request to pay for the costs of the Bosnia mission. Stevens said offsets for that spending will have to be found among defense accounts, but added he is concerned defense repair accounts consistently have been raided to help pay for peacekeeping missions. He also said he wants to find a way to pay for peacekeeping missions outside the defense budget.

Stevens said he is worried the administration will try to offset the defense supplemental spending by proposing to cut congressionally mandated spending that was not included in President Clinton's budget request. Indeed, a Senate Appropriations Committee aide said the Pentagon is circulating a laundry list of such spending cuts, adding that Stevens hopes the administration will not try to pick an early fight with the Republican Congress.

Stevens took a decidedly different position on defense spending than his predecessor, former Appropriations Chairman Hatfield. Stevens, who said he will continue to chair the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said he will oppose cuts in defense spending."We are down now to a low ebb," he said. "It's reached rock bottom."

The new chairman said he hopes to be able to move appropriations bills on time this year, but added that depends on the Budget Committee passing a budget resolution on time.

Stevens said he is not concerned about Clinton now having line item veto power. "It should not be a weapon that appropriators should fear," Stevens said. "If we do our jobs properly, the president should not need the line item veto."

Stevens contended members of Congress tucking "completely extraneous" items into appropriations bills at the last minute "is a thing of the past."

Stevens also said the Treasury-Postal Appropriations Subcommittee will be renamed, since the panel now has little jurisdiction over the Postal Service. The panel will be renamed the Treasury-General Government-Civil Service Appropriations Subcommittee.

In addition, he said he is willing to discuss possible subcommittee jurisdiction changes with the House, but wants to make sure each chamber does not have different jurisdictions. Stevens announced subcommittee chairmen, with only three panels, besides the D.C. panel, having new chairmen. Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, will chair the Legislative Branch panel, taking over from Sen. Connie Mack, R-Fla., who left the committee. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., will chair the Transportation panel, replacing Hatfield, who retired. And Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., will chair the Treasury panel, replacing Shelby.