Clinton, U.S. Congress Finish $1.8 Trillion BudgetPresident Bill Clinton and the Republican-led Congress completed a deal on the $1.8 trillion fiscal 2001 federal budget, the last measure Congress must pass before ending its lame-duck session, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young said on Thursday.The House of Representatives and Senate are slated to vote on Friday on the final legislative package that includes four overdue spending bills, as well as tax breaks to spur development in poor areas and more than $30 billion in Medicare payments to health care providers. "We are pleased to have reached agreement with House and Senate Republicans and Democrats, as well as the administration on a final appropriations package," Young, a Florida Republican, said in a statement. Last-minute haggling continued on a dispute over a proposal to limit fishing off Alaska"s coasts to protect a declining species of sea lions, but congressional aides expected that to be settled shortly. The 106th Congress, called into a rare post-election session to finish its last budget negotiation with fellow lame-duck Clinton, is expected to adjourn after Friday"s votes to make way for the 107th that starts the first week in January. |
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