Easy Win in the Senate

"THE WHIP HAS BEEN CRACKED," GRUMBLED REpublican curmudgeon Jesse Helms. Yes, and hard enough that a rare visit by Vice President Al Gore to the Senate chamber turned out to be totally unnecessary; there was no tie for him to break. President Bill Clinton's budget resolution sailed through, 54 to 45, with only two Democrats joining a solid Republican bloc in opposition to the proposal.

That result was foreshadowed by a closer vote on a Republican amendment attacking what the G.O.P. claims is the President's most unpopular proposal: to impose income tax on 85% of the Social Security pensions of upper-income retirees, vs. 50% now. The Republican bid to reject that idea lost by a vote of 52 to 47. The final vote marked the first time since the present procedure was adopted in 1974 that the Senate had approved a budget resolution as early as March. Because the House of Representatives previously passed an only slightly different measure, odds are that a compromise setting broad dollar goals for spending and revenues will clear the full Congress before the Easter recess starts on April 2. -

A much dicier showdown, however, is coming this week, when the Senate takes up Clinton's plan for a quick $16 billion spending stimulus to the economy. Again it faces solid Republican opposition (though probably not a filibuster), and this time more conservative Democrats may defect. Clinton planned to get on the telephone to waverers, and his bill probably will pass in some form. But without weakening amendments? Stay tuned.