Clinton Vetoes Welfare Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. President Clinton vetoed a Republican-sponsored welfare reform bill Tuesday evening, calling the plan "burdened with deep budget cuts and structural changes that fall short of real reform." But he quickly reiterated his longstanding commitment to welfare reform, pledging to work with congressional Republicans "to enact real, bipartisan welfare reform." Lacking the votes to override Clinton's veto, his 12th, the reaction from Republican congressional leaders was anything but sanguine. "He must now demonstrate what he is for," House Ways and Means chairman Bill Archer (R-Tex.) said. "No vague statement of principles. No unkept promises. I expect a complete bill, nothing less will do." The GOP reaction is mostly posturing, notes TIME's James Carney. "The Republicans fully expected this veto and are trying to use it to paint Clinton as abandoning welfare reform, but the issue is still very much alive pending the restart of budget talks." A key Clinton objection concerns GOP proposals to replace federal welfare guarantees with flexible block grants to states and impose lifetime limits on families receiving welfare. The President seeks stronger federal guarantees, and also wants GOP lawmakers to restore reductions to the earned income tax credit which, in his veto message, he called a "powerful work incentive." Carney says Clinton vetoed the bill in part to protect his flank from liberals in Congress and the White House staff who were angered when the President endorsed the Senate welfare bill last Fall. "A deal on welfare will be part of any budget agreement," Carney says. "Still, as with many issues that have stalled budget talks, there are seemingly intractable differences over policy."