COLOMBIA ANTI-DRUG AID TANGLED UP IN SENATE

By REUTERS WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Senate Republicans have indicated that
they will delay consideration of drug-fighting aid to Colombia, money for
Kosovo peacekeeping operations and help for victims of recent weather
disasters, and President Clinton said today that he was disappointed.

The House passed a $13 billion emergency spending package last week,
including funds sought by the president. But the Senate majority leader,
Trent Lott of Mississippi, has said the Senate would not consider the
legislation and instead would address Mr. Clinton's requests as part of
annual spending bills that will be considered in coming months.

"I am very disappointed that Senator Lott plans to deny prompt
consideration of the urgent and essential needs in my 2000 supplemental
request," Mr. Clinton said today in a statement.

"I firmly believe that any action to delay consideration of these pressing
needs would impose unnecessary costs to Americans at home, to our interests
abroad and to our military readiness around the world."

While Mr. Lott has all but dismissed chances for a bill that could be
reconciled with the House bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee
Chairman, Ted Stevens of Alaska, had left open the possibility. He had
planned to move a bill of $7 billion to $9 billion out of his committee
today, but after meeting with Mt. Lott late Monday, Mr. Stevens said that
plan was postponed.

Mr. Lott today responded to Mr. Clinton's statement: "I'm disappointed in a
whole lot of his decisions. I'm glad to work with him but it's a two-way
street."

Mr. Lott said he wanted to provide most of the money Mr. Clinton sought,
but he did not plan to match the $13 billion package passed by the House,
which he has criticized as "bloated."

He said he would include language to make the money available immediately
after Mr. Clinton signs the normal appropriations legislation instead of
after Oct. 1, when the fiscal 2001 spending bills take effect.