BALANCED BUDGET CLIFFHANGER. . . DOLE WINS DELAY

It remains uncertain whether Senate Republicans will be able to muster enough votes for the two-thirds majority required to pass the balanced budget amendment. Majority Leader Bob Dole won a last-minute delay on the vote until tomorrow, giving him time for some overnight arm twisting as the Republicans seek one more vote to put the amendment over the top. The spotlight is on three undecided Democrats, Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad, both of North Dakota, and Kentucky's Wendell Ford. The GOP made a last-minute concession to clinch a yes vote from Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) by altering the bill to bar federal judges from ordering tax increases or spending cuts to balance the budget. They were trying to lure other Democrats with companion legislation that would protect the Social Security trust fund from budget cutters. President Clinton opposes the amendment, concerned it would lead to devastating social program cuts and severely hamper efforts to soften the impact of future recessions.