ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, October 2, 1996 TAG: 9610020042
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
THE 104th Congress, just ended, will be remembered for many things, in particular the overreaching of the House GOP leadership. Republicans pushed aggressively, too obviously, their own brand of interest-group politics instead of cleaning up the moneyed mess in Washington.
But what the 104th Congress did not do is in some ways more interesting than what it did do. Congress, for example, did not comply with its own budget resolution passed just a few months ago. This isn't unusual. But it does pose a problem for Bob Dole and the economic plan he's trying to sell.
To square proposed mega tax cuts with the goal of a balanced budget, Dole came up with $867 billion in mostly unspecified budget savings within seven years. He claimed the public could have confidence in his plan, in part because Congress had already passed a budget resolution calling for $650 billion in cuts - a nice head start.
The problem is that the 104th Congress, most of whose members face re-election contests, did not even try to live by this resolution. Goodbye Medicare cuts, Medicaid cuts, defense cuts, etc.
When you add up what Congress didn't do, the Dole plan is missing at least $400 billion in budget savings that, even in his fanciful package, were cited as compensation for tax cuts that would disproportionately benefit the wealthy.
So, what will he fill this new gap with - Medicare cuts perhaps? Don't hold your breath.
LENGTH: Short : 34 linesby CNB