President Clinton Wednesday accepted the resignation of his deputy Treasury secretary for his role in Whitewater - another blow in a week in which his disapproval rating reached an all-time high.
The resignation of Roger Altman, a longtime Clinton friend, comes at a critical time:
-- Senate Republicans Wednesday took their first successful whack at Majority Leader George Mitchell's health-reform bill.
-- Prospects for a crime-bill agreement became iffy again with reports the GOP is making new demands for broader cuts.
Meanwhile, a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll shows for the first time in his presidency, a majority disapprove of the job Clinton is doing.
Fifty-two percent are dissatisfied, while only 39% approve.
A week ago, he was at 43% approval-48% disapproval.
On a positive note, approval of Clinton's handling of the crime issue, the nation's No. 1 concern, jumped in the past month from 29% to 42%.
In the poll, 46% favor passage of the crime bill before Congress, with some changes primarily in the "prevention" programs; 29% are opposed.
Also, 56% would be angry if Congress fails to pass a crime bill; 26% would be relieved.
And Clinton did persuade three House members to change their minds and allow the bill to come to a vote, a move blocked last week.
But the fate of health-care reform remains uncertain as Congress begins to sense growing public unease.
Senate Republicans Wednesday got to Mitchell's bill, deleting penalties on employers who break rules on the kind of health plans they must offer.
And the poll shows:
-- 48% opposed to Democratic reform bills, up 2 points in a week; 39% favor them.
-- 48% worry their health care will be worse if a bill passes; 32% say it will be worse if a bill doesn't pass.
-- 62% say some kind of reform is preferable to none.
The poll of 1,011 adults, taken Monday and Tuesday, has a margin of error of three points.
