Lewinsky scandal boosts G.O.P.

WASHINGTON - The White House sex scandal has weakened President Clinton's leverage for his end-of-the-session test of wills with Congress, spreading gloom among Democrats and giving Republicans a new edge in negotiating issues ranging from taxes and spending to health care, the environment and procedures for the next census.

Democrats worry that Clinton may have lost his ability to use the White House bully pulpit to champion their proposals for regulating managed health care. Republicans say he may feel a greater need to compromise with them on funding levels and tax cuts. And neither side is likely to push too hard to expand Clinton's trade-negotiating powers while the House is considering impeaching him, others have observed.

AP PHOTO President Clinton's sex scandal may have severly hampered the Democratic's ability to push legislation through Congress.

"It's clear he's weaker than he was a year or two ago... and people will no longer believe it if he stands up and blames everything on 'extremists' on the Hill who want to do bad things," said Sen. Mitch McConnell, (R-Ky.) According to McConnell, loss of credibility arising out of the Monica Lewinsky affair has undermined Clinton's ability to blame Republicans for any failures, including another government shutdown if Clinton and Congress deadlock over funding for federal agencies for next year.

In the past, Clinton has been adept at using veto threats to get his way. Only two years ago Clinton had the upper hand as Congress drew to a close and Republicans - who had been blamed by the public for the 1995 shutdowns - cut deals with him on education, health and raising the minimum wage in order to get home and campaign for re-election.

White House officials insist that Clinton will not retreat from fights with Republicans

09-16-98