How did the government shutdown end in 1996?

[ProSense]

With a balanced budget.

Clinton Submits Proposal To Balance Federal Budget

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The 20-page outline released Monday -- compared to the usual 2,000-page plus budget submission in a normal budget year -- was nearly identical to the offer Clinton put on the table the first week of January when he and GOP congressional leaders were still negotiating. Republicans charged the White House refused to make serious offers on the most contentious issues -- Medicare savings and tax cuts -- and called off the talks.

The outline projects the 1997 deficit will be $160.6 billion, up slightly from this year's estimated $154.4 billion shortfall. Beginning in 1998, the president foresees declining red ink until 2002 when he projects a $3.7 billion surplus.

As he did in his last offer, Clinton proposed to trim growth in Medicare by $124 billion, compared to $168 billion in the last GOP plan. He would save $59 billion in Medicaid, compared to $85 billion in the GOP plan. Domestic spending other than entitlement programs would be trimmed by $297 billion, about $51 billion less than the GOP would.

Clinton is proposing $98.5 billion in tax relief, mostly in the form of tax credits for parents, tax deductions for education and training expenses and breaks for small business. About $59 billion in corporate tax breaks would be eliminated.

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What about Clinton's approval rating:

Clinton's approval rating fell significantly during the shutdown. According to media commentators, this indicated that the general public blamed the president for the government shutdown.<6> However, once it had ended his approval ratings rose to their highest since his election.

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The shutdown would have likely damaged Republicans' credibility and improved Obama's approval rating, but it would not have ended the negotiations.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. I think that the Republicans' credibility is damaged pretty badly already

not enough people realize it yet. The only real solid wall of support the Republicans have (and virtually the only reason that last year's elections went so well for them) is because of the teabaggers- and that might not last forever, either.

[ProSense]

2. It's already fading

Congressional Republicans are desperate to appease them for some strange reason.

They don't seem to care about offending seniors.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. They seem to be "doubling down"

Some people think that President Obama and Democrats in general are throwing various constituencies "under the bus". The Republicans, however, seem to be making their constituencies dig their own graves IMHO.

[OHdem10]

4. It might not be a good comparison. Clinton had the benefit of

a great economy.

I certainly can be wrong. We know the economy so far
as jobs is not due to really recover until at least
2016. Obama does not have the benefit of a good economy.
There is reason these policies will lose more jobs and
Americans will be angry. He covered the Republican's
behinds. They can point the finger at the President.
example: When people complain over NAFTA, who gets most
of the blame. Clinton. Yet Free Trade is centerpiece
of Conservative Economic Fundamentalism.