GOP HALFWAY TO THE FINISH LINE

House Republicans held a campaign-style rally to celebrate the halfway mark of their 100-day "Contract With America" legislative blitz. Meanwhile, President Clinton and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt met with reporters to underscore concerns about the potential impact of GOP legislation on poor children. Gephardt said that GOP reform plans would gut the federal school lunch program. At the GOP rally, Speaker Newt Gingrich warned beaming supporters that the going is getting tougher: the remaining "Contract" provisions, which include welfare reform, term limits, tax relief, eliminating affirmative action laws and reforming the legal system, will spark heated congressional battles. On the House floor, Republicans pushed through a $3.2 billion defense spending increase coupled with $1.4 billion in cuts to numerous programs including job training. A close Senate vote on the GOP balanced budget amendment to the Constitution is expected next week.