Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
February 5, 2000
SECTION: LEADERSHIP; Pg. 407; Vol. 32, No. 6
LENGTH: 218 words
HEADLINE:
Why Can't We Be Friends . . .
BYLINE: Keith
Koffler/CongressDaily
BODY:
For the first time in three years, President Clinton
enters a new
legislative session without his relationship with
"that woman, Ms.
Lewinsky," in the back of everyone's mind. So it
was not surprising that the
bipartisan group of congressional
leaders who went to the White House to
meet with the President on
Feb. 1 seemed particularly cheerful and pledged
to work together
to achieve remarkable things this year. But comity may have
been
the gathering's singular achievement: The meeting was not a
bargaining session, and the participants walked away lacking any
consensus on such issues as taxes, spending, managed care
reform,
or a prescription drug benefit for seniors. Nevertheless,
everyone said there was "agreement" to pay down the debt-although
by how
much is unclear. And Clinton and House Speaker J. Dennis
Hastert, R-Ill.,
seem intent on providing tax credits to spur
business investment in
low-income areas. Trade was the biggest
topic of discussion: Hastert and
Senate Majority Leader Trent
Lott, R-Miss., prodded Clinton to pull out all
the stops to
persuade Congress to grant China permanent normal trade
relations
status. But one top House Democrat ominously warned that at the
current time a vote on China would not go Clinton's way.
LOAD-DATE: February 8, 2000 
