LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
20.09.26-DUKE-Discussion with ROBERTS/WERTHEIMER-PUBLIC thinks REAGAN is going TOO FAR on DEFENSE and being too belligerent and intransigent on FOREIGN POLICY. DEMOCRATS are delighted to be able to paint the REPUBLICANS as the Pro-War party. REAGAN'S speeches have not helped his causes. Also, on DOMESTIC BUDGET, REAGAN'S agenda of BUDGET CUTS has been denied by the Senate, and REAGAN'S TAX CUT PROGRAM is in jeopardy as well. 20.11.33-C/S Sen. JAMES EXON (D-NE), says the Senate has the responsibility to the public to be honest and admit that BUDGET PROGRAMS require TAXATION. C/S Sen. HOWARD METZENBAUM in debate, says that the BALANCED BUDGET was a huge ELECTION ISSUE, Congress and Senate are obligated to work toward one by increasing REVENUE. METZENBAUM and BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR PETE DOMENICI have a spat. C/S Sen. SLADE GORTON (R-WA) says that he doesn't want to INCREASE TAXES by an amount greater than the amount of SPENDING REDUCTION. WERTHEIMER-CONSERVATIVES wanted no change to REAGAN'S TAX CUT agenda. C/S ORRIN HATCH says TAX INCREASES are useless for DEFICIT REDUCTION, and the TAX CUTS were intended as a disciplinary measure to CONTROL SPENDING [which REAGAN did not do]. C/S Sen. LAWTON CHILES (D-FL) rebuts that TAX CUTS won't help BALANCED BUDGET, notes that REAGANOMICS has led to the highest deficits in history. HATCH starts to respond angrily about "tax and spend" DEMOCRATS, DOMENICI interrupts to demand an end to the argument. WERTHEIMER v.o.-DOMENICI proposed a compromise of small TAX HIKES for short term and larger TAX HIKES later on to cut DEFICITS. DOMENICI chastising his committee for taking path of argument instead of compromise, says this will never lead to a BALANCED BUDGET. 20.15.44-WERTHEIMER-discussion of proposals in BUDGET COMMITTEE for TAX INCREASES, none of which were approved, discussion of REAGAN'S loss of control over SENATE REPUBLICANS in BUDGET DEBATE. ROBERTS-report on death of 19 year Congressional veteran PHIL BURTON (D-CA).