BudgetTo adopt a budget agreement, it takes a lot of time and work. Many factors are involved in this long process. The President must first propose a plan to balance the budget. He must examine the federal deficit and discuss it with Congress. Congress will then negotiate or compromise on its own plan with the president. In early March, President Bill Clinton began developing a plan to balance the budget. He then gave Congress the plan to consider. At that time, Congress criticized the plan, saying it would cost the country an even larger federal deficit. Over the past three months, congressional leaders and the Clinton administration have made many compromises and negotiations over a plan to balance the federal budget by 2002. Since the federal deficit is not that large, this helps them come to an agreement much easier and faster. Despite the low federal deficit, they still face major complications in approving a plan or even proposing a plan that can be agreed upon. In order to balance the budget by 2002, the government would have to cut spending in areas that really could not afford it. The nation’s schools need repair. By cutting school spending, schools in poor condition would not receive the funding needed to make schools safe and sanitary. Another area where spending would be reduced is Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. This would mainly affect the elderly and the poor. By cutting spending in these areas, the elderly and poor would not receive as much health coverage, which is vital to them. Another factor that is not very helpful in the budget deal is the tax cut. Democrats and Republicans cannot agree on areas to cut taxes. Democratic congressional leaders say President Clinton is holding "secret" meetings with Republican congressional leaders on the budget. They have the feeling that the President does not tell them everything and that these meetings take place “behind their backs”. Some even say that President Clinton behaves more like a Republican than a Democrat. Proof of this is that the president proposes tax cuts for businesses or for the rich. They claim that “ordinary, low-income people suffer the most »..