Word: weevils
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...President's dealings with the 98th Congress could take one of three paths: forging a coalition with conservative Democrats, negotiating a true bipartisan consensus, or settling for a standoff. The first would by pass the congressional leader ship by working with Boll Weevil Democratic defectors, much as Reagan did to pass the budget and tax cuts in the past. White House Chief of Staff James Baker claims that despite last week's defeats, the President still has a pool of 245 sympathetic Congress men to draw upon to reach a 218-vote majority...
Several Harvard professors and administrators participated in the five days of activities designed to marshal opposition to allies of President Reagan, especially "boll weevil" Democrats--who have supported the Administration while maintaining their party affiliation...
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...
...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...
...Boll Weevils refused to make any commitments. They told Baker and Regan that there was no consensus among Democratic conservatives and that they were hoping to support any compromise their party leadership could devise. So the Administration used Boll Weevil leaders to relay to Rostenkowski a "shopping list" of negotiable items. Among possible concessions: the first year cut could be reduced to 5% and delayed until October. Regan called Conable to say the meeting seemed a success. He had high hopes for the four Democrats. Said he: "They'll go for '5-10-10' and a couple...