Capital Briefs: Clinton Likely to Veto Bill to Limit Y2K Suits

President Clinton "strongly opposes" Senate legislation aimed at curbing year-2000 lawsuits and would probably veto it.

According to a statement issued Wednesday by the Office of Management and Budget, the compromise bill sponsored by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., would reduce businesses' incentive to prevent year- 2000-related errors and would make it harder for plaintiffs to certify some class actions.

The issue comes to a head today in the Senate, where Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., has scheduled a vote to end debate. Sens. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., and Charles S. Robb, D-Va., may offer a substitute bill favored by the White House.

Meanwhile, House Judiciary is scheduled to mark up its own year-2000 liability bill today. Markup was supposed to begin Wednesday but was delayed by other legislation.

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