Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993 TAG: 9302150265
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
CLINTON SHAPES TAX INCREASES
President Clinton hashed out details of his long-awaited economic plan with top advisers and Democratic legislators Saturday, then declared himself ready to "take the battle to the special interests."In a radio address from the Oval Office, Clinton sought to reassure middle-class Americans they would be fairly treated in the plan he unveils Wednesday. At the same time, he primed them for what are sure to be proposals for higher taxes and spending cuts.
"We will demand that those who see the tax code as a table game to be won rather than a social compact to be respected pay their fair share of taxes," Clinton said. "I will keep my pledge to restore fairness to the tax code. We will raise taxes on the wealthiest individuals and companies in our society."
It was Clinton's second weekly radio address. Both have hewed to the theme that he would seek the biggest sacrifice from the wealthiest Americans.
Earlier Saturday, Clinton met separately with his economic team and with Democratic House members to discuss the economic plan. He said legislators have given him some "good suggestions, some of which we've been able to incorporate."
Rep. Albert Wynn, D-Md., said the president indicated to legislators that 40 percent of Americans would not have their taxes increased under the economic package.
Clinton, in a photo session before his meeting with Cabinet members and other economic advisers, said the plan wasn't finished yet - "otherwise, I wouldn't be asking them to meet on Saturday."
He had more sessions scheduled throughout the three-day holiday weekend.
But after a day of work Saturday, the president and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton drove to the home of Vice President Albert Gore in suburban Arlington, Va., for a private dinner honoring Prince Charles of Great Britain.
Rep. Dan Glickman, D-Kan., came out of the legislators' meeting praising the president for a commitment to cut government spending.
"After Wednesday night, if he gives the same message that he gave to us, I think this country is going to be poised for great economic recovery," he said.
Such support was not universal.
In a Republican response to Clinton's radio address, Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi said the president should put more emphasis on spending cuts rather than seeking to inject more stimulus money into the economy.
"Raising taxes, or imposing new taxes, will end up making the federal government bigger and more powerful but it is not the most effective way to reduce the deficit," Cochran said.
A Time Magazine-CNN poll released Saturday found that 53 percent of Americans said they were willing to accept cuts in government benefits and services and-or higher taxes to reduce the deficit. Thirty-nine percent said they should be exempt from such sacrifices.
\ CLINTON'S AUDIENCE\ AMERICA AT A GLANCE\ \ Population is 255 million, with ethnic and racial minorities making up 25 percent.\ \ Civilian work force is 118 million strong. Only 3 million of those earn a living from farms.\ \ Unemployment is 7.1 percent.\ \ America has 2.1 million janitors, 1.8 million engineers, 1.4 million waiters and waitresses, 870,000 police and detectives, 744,000 lawyers, 575,000 doctors and 77,000 pro athletes.\ \ 7.2 million people have more than one job.\ \ Median family income in 1991 was $37,783.\ \ Short-term consumer installment debt is more than $700 billion. The national debt, $16,000 for every man, woman and child, is $4 trillion.\ \ 64 percent of Americans own their homes. Fewer than half of the country's 2-year-olds have been immunized against polio, diphtheria, measles and other diseases.\ \ $40 billion per year is spent on illegal drugs, only a little less than the federal government's education budget.\ - U.S. Census Bureau