
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, August 9, 1993                   TAG: 9308090030
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

DEMOCRATS SEEKING MORE SPENDING CUTS

With a deficit reduction package approved, the Clinton administration and congressional Democrats promised Sunday to push for additional spending cuts later this year, including a new look at Social Security and Medicare programs.

Vice President Al Gore said the administration planned to submit additional budget cuts to Congress in October and Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., said he will push for curbs on cost of living increases for Social Security recipients.

Some curb on Social Security spending such as limiting annual increases to a percentage below inflation is "a reasonable thing to consider," said Kerrey on NBC's "Meet the Press."

The Nebraska senator, who held off support for President Clinton's deficit-reduction package until the final hour last week because of misgivings about a lack of spending cuts, suggested that tinkering with Social Security might be acceptable if Congress sets an example by cutting its own pay and budget.

Administration officials and congressional leaders are making clear the battle to control the deficit is far from over.

But Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas suggested that GOP lawmakers may not be eager to join the campaign to make further spending cuts, and that without at least some GOP support any substantial budget reductions are likely to be impossible.

by CNB