Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. letter to Newt Gingrich, May 28, 1997

ROBERT L. EHRLICH. JR. INANCIAl SERVICES Congress of tfjc Uniteb States 5)o use of SeprtemtatftfS (EHasljmgton, ЭС 20515-2002 May 28, 1997 The Honorable Newt Gingrich Speaker of the House H232, U. S. Capitol Washington. D. C. 20515 President Clinton’s threat to veto the emergency supplemental appropriations bill (H. R. 1469) as long as it contains the permanent continuing resolution (CR) gives Republicans in Congress a valuable opportunity to remind the American people that we truly want to avoid a repeat of the government shutdowns of 1995 and 1996. I urge you to mobilize Republican governors and conservative groups to place maximum pressure on the President to sign the bill. The message was perfectly delivered by North Dakota Governor Edward T. Schafer: “It makes me mad. The president says the government shouldn’t be shut down; here’s something that says the government shouldn’t be shut down— and he says he’s going to veto it.” ( Washington Post, 5/16/97). I know you would agree with me that local and state officials across the country should be reciting this mantra. As you know, there are thousands of midwestem families relying on prompt federal disaster relief. Were President Clinton to delay this aid because the bill granting it would permanently prevent future government shutdowns, his decision would find few supporters among flood victims. A full-scale public relations campaign waged at the grassroots level could discourage the President from issuing such a veto. Under full public scrutiny, the rationale behind a Clinton veto could be exposed as specious and politically-motivated, thereby provoking a backlash against the White House. If the President does veto the bill, we ought to persist and be prepared to hold our ground and attempt to override the veto. The shutdowns in 1995 and 1996 demonstrated President Clinton’s skill at bending the process to serve his own political ends. More recently, as we worked through the details of the budget plan, we witnessed how the price tag for “presidential initiatives” of the plan subtly increase from $29.4 billion to $3 1 .7 billion in a matter of days. If we blink now, he will have an advantage in the appropriations process later in the year. I have no doubt he will use the shutdown again as a way to squeeze more spending for discretionary programs.