GIVE HIM A CHANCE, PAIR SAYS

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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 2, 1993                   TAG: 9303020273
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: EAGLE ROCK                                LENGTH: Medium
GIVE HIM A CHANCE, PAIR SAYS
DURING LAST YEAR'S campaign, the newspaper reported on how five local householdsmade their decisions on voting for president. Now we're asking them how they think President Clinton is doing. Myrtie Simmons resents "all the immediate criticism" leveled against President Clinton's plans for change in the country.
His critics attacked "before he had a chance to do anything," she said Monday. "They need to back him and help him instead of cutting him down."
She and her husband, Bill, who run the Eagle Rock Funeral Home, say they have been impressed so far with the man they voted for.
"His state of the union speech made sense," Bill Simmons said. He was particularly impressed with the president's proposal for a tax on energy use, based on the British thermal units consumed.
"It seems fair to me," he said. "Any other way, gasoline is the culprit or coal is the culprit."
"I just hope he can get some help to carry out his plans and not have them picked to pieces," Myrtie Simmons said.
While the new taxes Clinton has proposed have apparently upset some of his supporters, the Simmonses believe "something has to be done."
"Somebody has got to pay for the trouble we're in." Bill Simmons said. "Either we pay for it or our kids pay for it, and that's not fair."
Most people are in favor of doing something, the Simmonses believe, although some may balk at increased taxes. Still, they have confidence that Clinton can get the backing of most Americans for his plan.
What they worry about is his ability to get the other politicians in Washington to act.
"His talent is handling people - ordinary people," Bill Simmons said. "But I think he's lacking some in his ability to handle politicians."
"But who doesn't have trouble with that?" Myrtie Simmons asked.
She and her husband said they wished both political parties would be able to work together for the good of the country, though they doubt they can.
Linked to the economic recovery plan is another issue the Simmonses feel strongly about - health care.
Something must be done to control costs, they say, particularly of the prescription medications so many people on fixed incomes are stretched thin to buy.
"We've got to start" to get a handle on those costs in a broad-based way, Myrtie Simmons said.
"If tobacco is the culprit it's made out to be," Bill Simmons said, "there ought to be a lot of taxes on that to pay for the medical" care its users require.
Myrtie Simmons also pointed out that Hillary Rodham Clinton's expertise should be a valuable asset to the president as they attempt to formulate a health-care agenda.
"I've had people tell me they didn't know when they voted we were getting two people for president," Bill Simmons said. But, "if she can do anything to help, that's good," Myrtie Simmons said. "More power to her."
"We've been disappointed at the criticism that's been thrown at Mrs. Clinton and the little girl," she added.
At least one other high-profile issue of Clinton's first month in office - gays in the military - was not an issue at all for the Simmonses.
"I was in World War II and I hate to think some guy could sit back and say `I'm gay and I don't want to go,' and be able to get out of service.' " There certainly were gays in the military when he served, Bill Simmons said, "but how would I have known who they were? There is no way to know."
As a staunch believer in the separation of church and state, Simmons said the moral issue of homosexuality had no place in a political decision to end gays' exclusion from military service.
Overall, the Simmonses give Clinton high marks so far. "We're so pleased to see somebody trying to do something," Bill Simmons said.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB