GOP will include lawmakers' pay in across-the-board budget cuts

G-O-P leaders say they'll now include<br>congressional salaries in the across-the-board spending cut they want to impose on federal agencies.<br> <br>House Majority Leader Dick Armey says it shows

Tuesday, October 26th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

G-O-P leaders say they'll now include
congressional salaries in the across-the-board spending cut they want to impose on federal agencies.

House Majority Leader Dick Armey says it shows how serious they are about working out a budget deal.

Republican leaders are thinking about a one percent across-the-board cut. Under that, lawmakers' pay -- now scheduled to rise to more than 141-thousand dollars in January -- would increase instead to nearly 140-thousand.

But President Clinton has said he'll veto the
G-O-P's across-the-board spending cut, saying it would be too damaging to defense, education and other programs.

Republican leaders had faced criticism for not including lawmakers' pay in their across-the-board cut.

Meantime, House Speaker Dennis Hastert says Republicans and the White House are not that far apart on their remaining budget disputes.