G.O.P. PUSHING BILL FOR KOSOVO, COLOMBIA

WASHINGTON -- Amid skepticism by Democrats over
U.S. involvement in Colombia, House Republicans are pushing a $9
billion measure that also has money for American troops in Kosovo and
natural disasters at home.

The measure contains $1.7 billion for U.S. equipment and advisers to
help Colombia's government battle drug traffickers and strengthen its
tenuous hold on the country. Colombia provides most of the cocaine and
heroin used in the United States, U.S. officials say.

"I cannot believe any member is going to pull out the white flag and
say we surrender on the war on drugs," said Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla.

But many Democrats questioned an escalated American intervention in
the South American country -- even though President Clinton requested
$1.3 billion for Colombia, on top of $300 million already in the pipeline.

Rep. Joe Moakley, D-Mass., said much of the money would be going to a
Colombian military "with one of the worst human rights records in the
hemisphere."

Members of both parties predicted passage of the bill, despite
opposition by many Democrats and some conservatives who said the
overall price tag is too expensive. The measure is nearly double the
$5.2 billion Clinton requested.

If anything, the measure is expected to grow even larger. Pro-defense
lawmakers, backed by House GOP leaders, were planning to try adding $4
billion in extra spending for the Pentagon.

In the Senate, however, Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said he
would to try to block the legislation, dampening prospects that
Congress will provide the money quickly.

He said he wants to provide money for Colombia, U.S. peacekeeping
troops in Kosovo, and aid to East Coast victims of last fall's
Hurricane Floyd. But he said he would take that money, shrink the rest
of the legislation and include what is left in regular spending bills
for fiscal 2001, which begins Oct. 1.

Congress will probably work on those bills into the fall. But Lott
said he hopes the money can be provided in one of them and approved
within the next two months.

Lott said the bill has become "bloated," adding, "I don't think we
should begin the year in that way."

No sooner had Lott spoken, however, when the Clinton administration
and members of the Senate Appropriations Committee began pressuring
him to relent.

White House budget chief Jack Lew wrote congressional leaders that the
bill is "time-sensitive." He warned that without quick approval, the
Pentagon would have to curtail training and maintenance, and victims
of Hurricane Floyd "may have to spend a second winter in temporary
shelters."

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, said
he would try pushing his version of the $9 billion bill through his
panel next Tuesday, despite Lott's remarks. Stevens, who met later
with Lott, said he "didn't ask" whether Lott would allow the bill to
come to the Senate floor.

The House bill would provide the $2 billion the president wants for
U.S. troops in Kosovo, and nearly twice the $1.1 billion Clinton
requested for Hurricane Floyd and other domestic natural disasters.

It also has far more for farmers, the Defense Department and other
items than Clinton requested.

Meanwhile, Clinton asked Congress on Tuesday to add $253 million more
to the package. The money would be for people who contracted the HIV
virus through blood transfusions, summer jobs for teenagers,
administrative costs of legislation that lets many elderly people keep
their full Social Security benefits and other items.

Most of the overall bill would be paid for from the budget surplus.
Clinton proposed paying for the new $253 million from unused federal
spending, including money for the Y2K computer problem.