The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, April 11, 1995                TAG: 9504110001
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Editorial 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

KASICH TARGETS PORK FOR DEFICIT REDUCTION CUT CORPORATE WELFARE, TOO

Republicans have been attacked as reverse Robin Hoods for seeming to favor only those spending cuts that whack the weak. But that may be about to change.

Budget Committee Chairman John Kasich is charged with charting the path to a balanced budget and, with Speaker Newt Gingrich's blessing, has now promised the road will lead beyond the poor side of town.

``We're going to focus on those who have struck gold at Gucci Gulch,'' says Kasich. He's talking about the Capitol corridor where lobbyists for big business gather to influence tax policy.

There are billions in subsidies and giveaways to choose from when the cutting of corporate welfare begins. The libertarian Cato Institute has proposed 129 business subsidies for cutting that cost the government $85 billion a year.

Among programs that could be scaled back or eliminated are 21 agriculture subsidies worth $17 billion a year, 47 defense programs costing $13 billion and energy programs that cost $6 billion.

Many of the likely targets are familiar outrages that have been in the sights of pork hunters for years but never seem to get shot down, things like sugar-price supports and an absurd program that helps U.S. companies pay for their overseas advertising.

Not to be outdone by the Cato proposals, Democrats have now entered the bidding war with $50 billion in corporate welfare they favor cutting, including support for tobacco companies and foreign buyers of defense products. Clinton's budget has got $14 billion in proposed cuts. And Sen. Phil Gramm, who is out to replace Clinton in the White House, promises his own list.

Of course, there's never been any lack of pork deserving of elimination, but waving lists is one thing and actually voting to make the cuts another. This time, however, all the stars may be in alignment. Deficit reduction is in vogue. Since enthusiasm for it may not last, let the cutting begin. by CNB