Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990                   TAG: 9005310488
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IS PUBLIC READY? VOTERS MAY BE RECEPTIVE ABOUT TAXES

The public recognizes this. The New York Times and CBS News, polling 1,400 people by telephone May 22-24, asked what they thought Bush meant when he said: "Read my lips: no new taxes."

Only 29 percent believed he meant no new taxes of any kind. Twenty-three percent thought he meant no new taxes for a year or two; 40 percent believed he didn't mean it at all. (The other 9 percent didn't know or had no opinion.)

More important, the 1,400 polled - intended as a representative sample of American adults - seem grudgingly ready to accept new taxes. Seventy-six percent view the budget deficits as a very serious problem calling for immediate action. Thirty-one percent think Bush should ask Congress to increase taxes. About eight in 10 say they would accept increased taxes on beer and liquor and on upper-income taxpayers.

A majority still oppose a boost in the federal gasoline tax, but not as strongly as previous polls indicated. Two-thirds in this sample think it's all right to make further cuts in military spending; but they don't like reductions for education or the environment, or delays in Social Security increases.

Polls such as this are meant to be conducted scientifically, but they don't always elicit completely logical or consistent answers. Fifty-five percent say they think tax increases will be needed to make substantial reductions in the deficits, but 57 percent - answering a different question - believe Bush should not ask for such increases.

There's clear consensus, however, that Washington is now failing to address the deficit. Only 29 percent say the White House and congressional budget negotiators are making a serious try; 54 percent believe they're not.

It's evident why. Neither side wants to be held responsible for raising taxes. The White House is especially reluctant because resisting tax hikes has been a potent political issue for the GOP.

Rep. Bill Frenzel, R-Minn., says the fiscal negotiators "want an immaculate conception": a deficit-reducing plan that makes a miraculous appearance. Convenient as that might be for the politicians, it won't do. The public seems fed up with talk and ready for action to straighten out the fiscal mess. But a selling job will be needed. For that, both sides must be ready, if not exactly proud, to acknowledge parenthood.