RECORD TYPE: PRESIDENTIAL  (TRP NOTES MAIL)

CREATOR: Ron Klain ( CN=Ron Klain/O=OVP [ OVP ] )

CREATION DATE/TIME:11-APR-1996 09:12:16.00

SUBJECT:  Updates

TO: Albert Gore ( CN=Albert Gore/O=OVP [ OVP ] )
READ:UNKNOWN

TEXT:
In addition to the separate item about Raines I sent you, here are some 

updates on what is going on around here:



1.  Pension Event.  This is today's public POTUS event.  It got decent (if 

small) advance press today -- we'll see how it does.  Tomorrow's event is 

trade, and you are scheduled to join the President for that one.



2.  State Dept Auth.  POTUS will veto this tomorrow.



3.  Medicaid.  The bipartisan Governors group is blowing up, with the GOP 

govs moving to the right (no entitlement) and the Dems bailing out.  This 

could happen as early as tomorrow.  There are efforts to steer the Dem 

govs toward Breaux-Chaffee -- but this rift on Medicaid will clearly make 

a deal on the budget harder.



4.  Terrorism Bill.  It looks like the Congress will finish this before 

4/19 -- and it will include some very bad habeas provisions.  There will 

be a strong staff recommendation that the President sign it -- but he will 

be getting heat from his Yale Law Alum friends against it.



5.  96 Approps.  Staff meetings continue.  There has been no progress on 

the language issues.  On the money issues, the GOP is willing to give 

some, but not all.  We will get core needs at EPA covered, but some of the 

programs you most care about -- climate change, e.g. -- may not get their 

add-backs.  Martha Foley is keeping us well updated.



6.  POTUS Tax Return.  POTUS is signing and filing tomorrow, before he 

departs.  I need to check with Kumiki about where your filing stands.



Finally, I am increasingly concerned about the huge stretches of 

phone/office time on POTUS schedule, and increasing numbers of meetings 

with just Panetta.   The so-called "Chiefs of Staff" meeting with POTUS 

(where Cabinet reports and key personnel matters were reviewed) with you 

and POTUS disappeared when Erskine left -- and we have not even had an 

Ickes/Sosnik meeting in over two weeks (Do you really believe no one has 

talked politics to the POTUS in two weeks?).  The point is that business 

is increasingly being done with him in a way that is "off the books," 

which means that it is increasingly happening without you being in the 

room.  Perhaps this is just paranoia on my part, but I intend to put this 

into your lunch memo for tomorrow....