Word: rostenkowski
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Democrats were leaving the Cabinet Room, however, White House Chief of Staff James Baker took Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski aside and asked, "Don't close the door." Rostenkowski took that request as a signal that the President still wanted a compromise. He met with the Democratic members of his committee trying to arrange one. On Tuesday evening, he phoned Treasury Secretary Regan to report that the Democrats seemed ready to go beyond a one-year reduction-but not so far as three years. The Treasury Secretary replied unenthusiastically: "Well, I'm not sure...
That afternoon, Rostenkowski produced one. He persuaded all 21 Democratic Ways and Means Committee members attending a special meeting to vote for a 5-10 cut and, moreover, to make it across the board rather than targeted. At that point the Democrats had agreed to give Reagan about three-quarters of what he wanted. But the White House had already decided, Meese notwithstanding, to go for the remaining onequarter...
...bacon-and-egg breakfast with Regan, however, showed that there was less room for compromise than Rostenkowski had hoped. "What about a two-year program instead of three?" he asked. Replied Regan: "If I went to the President with that offer, I'd be fired." Rostenkowski was surprised by this hardening of the Administration's position. He pledged to work for a palatable compromise, but said, "I can't sell that 5-10-10," referring...
...What do you think?" Rostenkowski asked a caucus of his Democratic colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee after giving a noncommittal presentation of the Administration's position. Richard Gephardt of Missouri spoke for the majority: "If that's the bottom line, then there are no further negotiations." The Democrats did not like the deficits inherent in a massive, multiyear cut, and were concerned that the middle class was not getting enough of a break. Rostenkowski did some polling. "How many for a three-year tax bill?" he asked. One member raised his hand. "How many...
...House late last week. Plans were also made for a $4 million media campaign financed by the Republican National Committee, featuring the Oval Office's best salesman. Reagan was ready to fight. At a Cabinet meeting, Regan told him: "If this thing doesn't work out with Rostenkowski, you may have to go to work on Congress like you did on the bipartisan budget bill." Smiling, the President replied: "Order up the cufflinks, and we'll go to work...