Republican congressional leaders are sending the White House a bill to repeal estate taxes, inviting another veto confrontation with President Clinton and setting the stage for a September veto override attempt in Congress. But Republican leaders kept the bill tucked away on Capitol Hill, waiting for an opportune time to send it to Clinton. The bill was set Thursday to be delivered to the White House by a Montana farmer driving a tractor. Under the Constitution, Clinton will have until just after Labor Day to sign or veto the bill, meaning GOP leaders could hold the override vote the first week or two after Congress returns from its summer recess.
Republicans are likely to also attempt a veto override on that bill.
But House Democrats say a combination of absentees and a handful of switched votes will give them the margin to sustain the veto. The exemptions are even higher for farmers and small businesses, but many are still forced to buy costly insurance policies and pay lawyers and accountants to protect hard-earned assets from a tax that reaches 55 percent.