Bush League

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The scene was Senator Bob Dole’s office in the Capitol building, a week after the White House had set off a firestorm by announcing that President Bush was not ruling out tax increases at the upcoming budget summit with the Democrats. In the room were Republican leaders from the House and the Senate, and the pro-tax faction—Senator Dole (Kan.), Senator Alan Simpson (Wyo.), and House Minority Leader Bob Michel (Ill.)—were trying to soothe ruffled feathers by telling the group that they “understood” if other members had to cover themselves on the tax question. But please don’t lead a public revolt.

This is the word Bush operatives have been putting out all over town in an effort to stave off a rebellion. Their problem is that no one else is buying it, having been burned before on a host of issues from China to clean air, and White House requests to keep silent have boomeranged. The Heritage Foundation’s Ed Feulner sent a strong letter to the President emphasizing the importance of keeping his word, which came on the heels of a Heritage Executive Memorandum called, “In the Battle of the Budget, Bush Should Read His Own Lips.” Groups such as Citizens for a Sound Economy and the Chamber of Commerce have mobilized their troops, and 18 Republican senators signed a letter from Connie Mack (Fla.) urging the President to keep his pledge. With all the opposition this has provoked, Bush probably can’t cave in on taxes now, but no one is betting the farm on it. “It’d be difficult,” says Senator Trent Lott (R., Miss.), “but I saw Reagan do it.”

WM

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William McGurn

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House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The scene was Senator Bob Dole’s office in the Capitol building, a week after the White House had set off a firestorm by announcing that President Bush was not ruling out tax increases at the upcoming budget summit with the Democrats. In the room were Republican leaders from the House and the Senate, and the pro-tax faction—Senator Dole (Kan.), Senator Alan Simpson (Wyo.), and House Minority Leader Bob Michel (Ill.)—were trying to soothe ruffled feathers by telling the group that they “understood” if other members had to cover themselves on the tax question. But please don’t lead a public revolt.

This is the word Bush operatives have been putting out all over town in an effort to stave off a rebellion. Their problem is that no one else is buying it, having been burned before on a host of issues from China to clean air, and White House requests to keep silent have boomeranged. The Heritage Foundation’s Ed Feulner sent a strong letter to the President emphasizing the importance of keeping his word, which came on the heels of a Heritage Executive Memorandum called, “In the Battle of the Budget, Bush Should Read His Own Lips.” Groups such as Citizens for a Sound Economy and the Chamber of Commerce have mobilized their troops, and 18 Republican senators signed a letter from Connie Mack (Fla.) urging the President to keep his pledge. With all the opposition this has provoked, Bush probably can’t cave in on taxes now, but no one is betting the farm on it. “It’d be difficult,” says Senator Trent Lott (R., Miss.), “but I saw Reagan do it.”