Nevada GOP leaders praise Bush tax cut plan

Benjamin Grove

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001 | 11:53 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Nevada Republican leaders praised the $1.6 trillion tax cut President Bush outlined in his address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. Bush said the tax cut size was "just right" -- the best action to take with a national tax surplus.

"At the end of the day," Republican consultant Mike Slanker said, "It's going to be a classic battle in Congress of what to do with the surplus."

Slanker said Democrats were being ridiculous to so quickly shun Bush's plan. The president said tax relief is affordable even while shoring up Social Security and Medicare funds, increasing government spending 4 percent and paying down $2 trillion of the publicly held debt over 10 years.

The sputtering economy is ripe for tax cuts, Slanker agreed.

"I was watching the (televised) reactions of the Democrats and thinking that the president of the United States just looked them in the eye and told them they could have their cake and eat it, too," Slanker said, moments after the 49-minute address. "Then these guys went on and asked for ice cream."

Bush pitched his tax plan to a narrowly divided Congress, although Republicans hold a slight edge.

"Some say my tax cut is too big," Bush said to Democratic applause inside the U.S. Capitol. "Others say it is too small. (Some Republican applause.) I respectfully disagree. This plan is just right."

Among those who rose for numerous standing ovations was Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., who called the $1.6 trillion figure the "perfect remedy."

Gibbons, a former Air Force pilot who serves on the Armed Services and Veterans committees, also praised Bush's $5.7 billion increase in military pay, benefits, health care and housing.

"This budget will help encourage and strengthen the core of our defense -- the men and women of our Armed Forces, giving them a higher quality of life," Gibbons said.

Bush gave a "good speech" -- if not as well-delivered as better orators Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the Senate's No. 2 Democrat.

"The place he got into trouble was when he started spouting off all these numbers," Reid said. "They don't add up." Reid and many Democrats favor more modest tax cuts, leaving more money for Medicare, Social Security, increases in spending and to pay the debt if surpluses don't materialize.

"We can't do it all," Reid said.

Former Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., giving the official response for Nevada Democrats, called the tax cut "very reckless" given unknown future surpluses.

Bush sounded three familiar themes in education plans: more accountability, a commitment to local control and offering vouchers to students in failing public schools to attend private ones. That last proposal will never fly in Congress, Reid said. "He might as well chuck that."

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., attending his first presidential address as a senator, said the mood on the floor was "electric for Republicans." It was the first time since 1954 that the House, Senate and White House were controlled by the GOP.

Ensign said Bush masterfully pitched his goals -- many of which he outlined as a candidate.

"Tonight he sold it," Ensign said.

Ensign, who serves on the Banking Committee, disagreed with Democrats who say America can't afford $1.6 trillion in tax relief.

"I've seen the numbers and that simply is not the case," Ensign said. He also refuted arguments that budget surpluses are unpredictable.

"That's one of the ways that we make sure the economy is strong -- you have a tax cut," Ensign said.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., gave Bush high marks for many of his proposals, notably a commitment to more money for veterans.

She disagreed with his proposal to pass a patients' bill of rights that does not give patients the right to sue health maintenance organizations in cases of conflict.

"I think that is a fundamental American right," Berkley said.

Of the tax cut, Berkley said, "It's ambitious. The devil is in the details. But it's a start."

Bush had a 55 percent approval rating going into the speech, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll -- lower than any president in 50 years at this point in his term.

President Clinton had 63 percent approval and Bush's father had 76 percent approval. Just 22 percent of poll respondents favor a tax cut; 35 percent said they preferred using budget surpluses for program spending, such as education and health care.