A Deal With Congress

Last Thursday President Clinton and congressional leaders came to an agreement on the allocation of $500 billion of the federal budget, likely averting a government shutdown like the one that crippled the nation in 1995. Both sides have claimed victory, but the most powerful lesson of the negotiations was the persistent power of our Chief Executive. An amazing testament to his resilience, Clinton was able to win concessions on education, relief for farmers and funding for the International Monetary Fund even as he faces removal from office.

As for the actual details of the budget agreement, we are pleased that funds have been allocated for the hiring of 100,000 new teachers but wish that these new instructors could be held to some national standard of competency and money had been allocated to build new schools and refurbish old and decrepit ones.

We celebrate the fact that federal health plans will now be obliged to provide contraceptive coverage to government workers and are pleased that the National Institute of Health has been allotted an increase in funding. Further, we welcome the allocation of money towards the development of a national plan to combat bio-terrorism.

While some have complained that military spending has received an inappropriate boost, we are comforted that steps are being taken to improve our military preparedness. Just weeks ago, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Congress to report that our forces did not possess sufficient resources to handle the proliferation of threats in the international arena. In this year of surplus, we are lucky to have an opportunity to improve our security capabilities without damaging social programs.

The budget, which Congress will probably take a final vote on this week, does include some disappointments. The Food and Drug Administration will not be permitted to evaluate abortion inducing drugs like RU-486. Internet pornography has been restricted, which is a serious threat to First Amendment rights. In addition, there will be an increase in Alaskan logging, laxer grazing permits and more ozone-depleting pesticides. And despite the IMF funding and promises to the contrary, this year's budget does not come close to settling America's outstanding debt to the United Nations.

Still, in spite of these shortcomings, we are pleasantly surprised by the results of the budget negotiations. Against all odds, most of Clinton's social agenda was preserved and the spirit of compromise seems to have prevailed on both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately, many significant problems were dodged in the process, such as the fate of Social Security.

We hope that when Congress reconvenes after the election, our crippled President will continue to yield the power of his Presidency, ensuring that the compromise on which moderate government depends will be preserved in this time of crisis.