Key House Member Says Dole
Blocking Balanced Budget

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia (Reuter, Apr. 27) -- A key member of the House Republican leadership charged Saturday his own party's presumed nominee for president was blocking progress on a balanced budget agreement because of concerns it would hurt him in the November election.

Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Republican Conference, told hundreds of bond dealers at their annual meeting that Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole "thinks it would be better for him in November not to have a deal."

"I think ... Bob Dole has been avoiding it. Bob Dole would much rather go into November without (a deal)," said Boehner, in an unusually blunt statement that he told the audience was "off the record," meaning he did not intend them for publication.

The Ohio Republican later said the statements were on the record after news reporters complained.

Dole and Republicans have been locked in a struggle with President Clinton over the details of a balanced federal budget in the next seven years. Clinton has been criticized by Republicans as dragging his feet on the issue because they say he does not really want to balance the budget.

Dole recently has started taking heat from some Republicans for not running a strong enough campaign against Clinton and being outmaneuvered by him and the Democrats. Conservatives see the balanced budget issue, which they have pushed, as a issue that can work to their advantage.

"We've got to move Senator Dole" on fighting for the balanced budget, Boehner said.

He said compounding the problem is House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Georgia Republican. Boehner said Gingrich was also starting to think that a delay in a balanced budget agreement might be the best course.

Boehner said it was important to have Dole and Gingrich fully on board because an agreement between Republicans and Democrats on the issue was not farfetched.

"My guess is we are going to have a deal in September," Boehner said. "I think there is an opportunity to get an agreement on an honest plan to balance the budget."

Republicans and Democrats have tentatively agreed on some issues, but big issues like taxes and changes in welfare and health care programs still need to be worked out.

Key House Member Says Dole Blocking Balanced Budget

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Key House Member Says Dole
Blocking Balanced Budget