For the Record

■ Election ’78 had one major theme—cut federal taxes, cut federal spending. But what actually happened to the big spenders at the polls? On April 15, 1977, NR published a study of the big spenders in the House, listing a dozen congressmen who had voted for measures which, if enacted, would have increased the federal budget of that year by $400 billion. Nine of the dozen ran this year; all nine—Stephen Solarz, Frederick Richmond, John M. Murphy, Elizabeth Holtzman of New York; Augustus Hawkins, Don Edwards, James Corman of California; Robert Roe of New Jersey; and Thomas Ashley of Ohio—were re-elected. NR also published the list of the top initiators of lavish spending schemes, including many of the above-mentioned (Murphy, Solarz, Edwards, Richmond), plus three others who ran this year and were also reelected: Richard Ottinger, N.Y., Peter Rodino, N.J., and Robert Drinan, Mass. One of the big spending initiators on NR’s list did not run in ’78, having retired to greener pastures where, as mayor, he oversees the fiscal fortunes of New York City: former congressman Edward Koch.

■ In the Senate, the Republican leadership now holds 41 seats, one more than needed to defeat cloture moves, a not-unimportant gain. . . . But who will provide that leadership? Most Hill-wise analysts think Howard Baker will win re-election as Minority Leader easily—there probably will be no contest —but conservative Sen. Harrison Schmitt of New Mexico is expected to challenge liberal Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska for Whip, and Sen. James McClure of Idaho, another conservative, says he’ll run against moderate Sen. Robert Packwood of Oregon for chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, a post held by retiring conservative Carl Curtis. … In the House, Rep. Thomas Kindness (Ohio), has announced he’ll challenge liberal Rep. John Anderson (Ill.) for chairman of the House Republican Conference, the Number Three spot there.

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■ Election ’78 had one major theme—cut federal taxes, cut federal spending. But what actually happened to the big spenders at the polls? On April 15, 1977, NR published a study of the big spenders in the House, listing a dozen congressmen who had voted for measures which, if enacted, would have increased the federal budget of that year by $400 billion. Nine of the dozen ran this year; all nine—Stephen Solarz, Frederick Richmond, John M. Murphy, Elizabeth Holtzman of New York; Augustus Hawkins, Don Edwards, James Corman of California; Robert Roe of New Jersey; and Thomas Ashley of Ohio—were re-elected. NR also published the list of the top initiators of lavish spending schemes, including many of the above-mentioned (Murphy, Solarz, Edwards, Richmond), plus three others who ran this year and were also reelected: Richard Ottinger, N.Y., Peter Rodino, N.J., and Robert Drinan, Mass. One of the big spending initiators on NR’s list did not run in ’78, having retired to greener pastures where, as mayor, he oversees the fiscal fortunes of New York City: former congressman Edward Koch.

■ In the Senate, the Republican leadership now holds 41 seats, one more than needed to defeat cloture moves, a not-unimportant gain. . . . But who will provide that leadership? Most Hill-wise analysts think Howard Baker will win re-election as Minority Leader easily—there probably will be no contest —but conservative Sen. Harrison Schmitt of New Mexico is expected to challenge liberal Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska for Whip, and Sen. James McClure of Idaho, another conservative, says he’ll run against moderate Sen. Robert Packwood of Oregon for chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, a post held by retiring conservative Carl Curtis. … In the House, Rep. Thomas Kindness (Ohio), has announced he’ll challenge liberal Rep. John Anderson (Ill.) for chairman of the House Republican Conference, the Number Three spot there.