In an emotional budget showdown with the Council, he sent home all but the most essential city workers yesterday, shutting down most of the city's government.

It is unclear how the budget showdown between Mr. Clinton and the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill will play out.

The bill would also have given additional breaks to family-owned businesses, but President Clinton vetoed it during a budget showdown.

But Republican moderates also turn to him, and several say they like the way he is masterminding the budget showdown with the President.

Read more of The New Yorker's coverage of the budget showdown.

But the big budget showdown this year between President Clinton and Congress is much more about principles.

The 1995-96 budget showdown and shutdown were, of course, a nightmare for Republicans.

The action avoided a possible budget showdown during the Republican National Convention.

Thus, the best-case outcome is another budget showdown at the end of this year.

The state's hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers had faced the prospect of becoming hostages in the budget showdown.