Word: bolls
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Political realities were just as persuasive. Many of the "boll weevil" Democrats who voted for Reagan's sharp cutbacks in social programs come from districts with a significant percentage of black voters. These constituents are mad enough already and would be outraged by any refusal to extend the act. The Administration is similarly under heavy pressure to prove that it has some sympathy for minorities, and thus cannot afford politically to oppose the voting act renewal. Still, Reagan, who says he supports the act "in principle," has postponed taking a stand on its specific provisions...
...Baker predicted there will "almost certainly" be an effort to cut defense spending further. Congress may also defer some of the income tax reduction, a move that Reagan strongly opposes. And finally, Capitol Hill may simply reject most of the proposed cuts, one by one. The spring swarm of "Boll Weevils," Southern conservative Democrats willing to support Reagan's first round of spending curbs, may be replaced by an autumn flight of "Gypsy Moths," moderate Republicans from the Northeast who are reluctant to reduce social spending further...
...Democrats are launching a wide-ranging counterattack to win both public and congressional support for their own tax plan. They are wooing two dozen moderate Northeastern Republicans considered "soft" in their support for the Administration's tax package, as well as 47 conservative Southern Democrats known as the "Boll Weevils," many of whom voted for Reagan's budget last month. A campaign-style "boiler room" has been set up so that members of Congress and their staffs can telephone constituents in 20 key Southern districts and urge them to persuade their lawmakers to vote the Democratic way. Says...
...billion over the next five years. "Out of the blue . . . just doesn't make sense!" exclaimed Richard Rahn, chief economist of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Added Jack Albertine, president of the American Business Conference: "The Administration is gambling that business has to support the Reagan-Boll Weevil compromise. They're probably right." There were indications too that the Administration might restore some help to business...
Further, Reagan told the Boll Weevils: "There is no way I can look myself in the mirror and go out and campaign against you"-that is, against those conservative Democrats who vote for his tax bill. White House aides asserted later that the President had not intended a flat pledge to abstain from opposing their reelection, but the carrot certainly was dangled in front of them...