White House Chief of Staff, Leon Panetta,
says negotiating with Congressional
Republicans got easier after Bob Dole left the
senate leadership.
Panetta points to the
weekend budget accord, which prevented
another government shutdown. He says it is
part of a recent pattern of GOP lawmakers
trying to resolve disputes with President
Clinton, not bully him.
The Senate is
expected to pass the spending measure before the new
fiscal year at midnight.