First, a little history: in 1993, President Clinton unveiled his agressive (actual) deficit reduction package and the Democratic leadership incorporated it into that year's budget. It GASP called for some tax increases on higher-earners, and was reviled by the GOP leadership. Clinton's popularity at the time was in the doldrums, and the Republicans saw blood in the water. They unanimously opposed the budget--not a single Republican in either the House or Senate voted for it, and it passed with nary a vote to spare in either chamber (Vice President Al Gore broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate, and the House vote was 218-216).
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