Clinton Administration Faces Crisis as Crime Bill Fails and Health Reform Stalls

The Clinton administration has been facing a grave crisis as its key legislation, the crime bill, faces rejection in the House of Representatives, while its much-awaited health reform bill is stalled in the Senate. The unexpected 225-210 House vote to block consideration of the administration's anti-crime legislation has sent the White House into a panicked huddle. The bill, which aimed to ban assault weapons and add 100,000 police to American streets, had wide public support but was opposed by a coalition of legislators, including gun control opponents and black Democrats who opposed the death penalty expansion.

Key Takeaways:

• The crime bill, which would have banned assault weapons and added 100,000 police to American streets, had wide public support but was opposed by 58 Democrats who deserted the President to vote against a procedural motion.
• The bill's rejection has led to talk of putting off a vote on the health legislation, one of the most important goals of Mr. Clinton's administration, for fear that emboldened opponents would reject it as well.
• Republicans, who opposed the bill, have started talks with the White House to find a compromise on the $US33 billion price tag of the legislation.
• The administration has stuck to its position of including the assault weapons ban, making it hard to see where it will get the extra votes needed to pass the bill.
• The Senate is currently voting on the massive 1443-page health reform bill, a compromise version of the legislation that Mrs. Hillary Clinton drafted for her husband in the administration's health taskforce.
• The bill proposes universal health insurance coverage for all Americans but is under attack in the Senate, where many Republicans and some Democrats say the existing health system is adequate.

Statistics:

• 225-210: The House vote to block consideration of the administration's anti-crime legislation.
• US$33 billion: The price tag of the administration's crime bill that Republicans are objecting to.
• 58: The number of Democrats who deserted the President to vote against a procedural motion on the crime bill.
• 35 million: The number of people without health insurance at any one time in the US.
• 95%: The percentage of coverage proposed by the Senate Majority Leader's compromise bill.
• 2000: The year by which the compromise bill aims to achieve universal health insurance coverage.

Sources:

• The New York Times. "Clinton Administration Faces Crisis as Crime Bill Fails and Health Reform Stalls".
• The New York Times. "Clinton Agrees to Compromise on Crime Bill to Salvage Remainder of Legislative Session".
• The New York Times. "Senate Vote on Health Reform Bill Opens With Uncertainty".