Clinton Attacks Republican Rollbacks

WASHINGTON —  President Clinton accused Republicans on Saturday of offering tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of poor children and said his vision for the future is of a government that is “lean, not mean.”

Opening a public debate over the deep cuts in social welfare spending envisioned by the GOP’s “contract with America,” Clinton used his weekly radio address to defend subsidized school lunches and efforts to rid schools of drugs.

He called on Congress to resist Republican calls to roll back and then scrap his Americorps program, which rewards volunteers for community service with help in obtaining a college education.

“I believe the purpose of government is to expand opportunity, not bureaucracy, to empower people through education to make the most of their lives, and to enhance our security on the streets and around the world,” Clinton said.

“I believe in a government that is limited but effective, lean but not mean, not a savior but not on the sidelines, a partner in the fight for the future.”

Responding for Republicans, Rep. Scott L. Klug (R-Wis.) said the GOP is on the right track in shifting many social welfare programs to the states and promoting personal responsibility instead of dependency.

“You’ll hear a lot of shrill rhetoric in the weeks to come,” Klug said. “Listen to the facts instead of the hysteria. Under the Republican food stamp plan for example, spending rises nearly 5% every year. . . .

“We’ll cut the bureaucracy. What we haven’t cut is the food--it will still be there for the kids who need it.”

But Clinton said Republicans are cutting too close to the bone.

“The House Republicans want to cut all this and more, including the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program and the summer jobs program to pay for huge tax cuts costing $700 billion over 10 years and benefiting mostly upper-income Americans.

“Now I believe we must keep cutting spending and we should give middle-class Americans tax relief to help pay for their education, their child-rearing and their health care costs. But this (Republican) proposal goes too far.”