European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 29, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes sunday june 29, 1986 David Broder Senate vote on fax Low a Triumph for Reagan the Strong consensus on lax policy reflected in last week s 97-to-3 Senate Vole is a political Triumph for president Reagan a landmark in the pie Cemeal destruction of new Deal philosophy and a potential Boon to Republican candidates in the novem Ber election s. Ironically it also serves to spotlight the Distant an political danger the president and his party face on fiscal and foreign policy issues. Just a few hours before the Sunaie put its decisive stamp of approval on the massive restructuring of the tax system which Reagan has designated As the lop Domestic priority of his second term there were two jarring intrusions in the Senate press gallery. One was the Loudspeaker announcement that House and Senate conferees on the fiscal 1987 budget Resolution had cancelled their scheduled meeting a re minder of the deep political divisions Over the highe defense spending and deeper Domestic cuts Reagan is seeking and his Flat opposition to higher revenues. The other was the president s televised plea for Pidto the contras in Nicaragua approved by the House last wednesday night the latest round in a wid ening Battle bal Wen Reagan and congressional democrats Over the control and direction of foreign policy. The historical irony is that what seemed most Radical in Cagan s original program his drive for deep cuts in  rates has become the accepted political philosophy of both parties. Sen. Bill Bradley d-n.j., was inc intellectual cod father of the Flat tax Bill passed by the Senate and chairman Dan Rostenkowski d-lil., of the House ways and Means committee will try to put his party s imprint on the measure in the House Senate Confer ence. However Reagan will be the chief political beneficiary almost All observers agreed. I m sorry our party did t put it in our 1984 plat  said sen. Gary Han d-colo., reflecting on Bradly s unsuccessful Effort to sell the idea to demo cratic nominee Waller f. Mondale. Bui in got away from us and it s theirs  Rostenkowski agreed thai the president will get most of the  Reagan s decision to press for deep across the Board cuts in individual and corporate tax rates in 1981, even while he was starting an accelerated defense buildup constituted what then Senate majority Leader Howard h. Baker jr., r-tenn., called a riverboat Gamble. By their Voles such Liberal senators As Hart Edward m. Kennedy a mass. And Daniel Patrick Moynihan d n.y., endorsed the bet thai Reagan is right in contending that slashing Rales again to heir lowest level in almost 50 years will Spur the Economy and Benefit most americans. He Reagan sure has set the Agenda Moynihan said. The liberals justified their action on is grounds that higher taxes on corporations the closing of Many loopholes used by Well Why individuals and the Carl Rowan reduction or elimination of taxes on Many Low income i nil lies made this what Moynihan called the most  Cuenl i be Ever seen in this  but the driving Force they said was he lure of lower rates a goal Reagan has pursued with passion since Chelate new Deal Days when he found much of his movie salary siphoned of by High Margi Nal lax Rales from that Day until this year Progris Sicily in axes was a Cardinal principle or liberals. The abandonment of that principle was cited by sen. Paul Simon d-i11., one of three dissenters As he main reason for his opposition. The Issue May be revived in conference by House democrats but the Odds Are against them. Horace Busby a business consultant who served on Lyndon b. Johnson s White House staff said thai the progressive income Tan was invented by democrats to eaten Rich republicans. It lout its political Appeal when Middle class families Between $15,000 and 550,000 year came to pay 60 percent of the income  Busby saw tuesday s Vole As a historic signal of a coming Sli Ift toward consumption taxes the end of Reliance on the income lax As a principal source of  if thai proves to be True it will fulfil a Long cherished conservative dream. Short term Loo the political benefits figure to flow mainly o Reagan and the gop. Sen. John Heinz a a chairman of tic National re publican senatorial committee called it a plus for our incumbents across the  Sunaie finance committee chairman Bob pack Wood a orc. Crave this Victory after an unexpectedly Lough primary in May. He arranged for Many of the other 17 Republican senators up for election this year to showcase their televised efforts on tax issues vital 10 their  need the lax Bill for bragging purposes because on the other issues before Congress defense spending Aid to the contras Trade policy arms control and even South african sanctions democrats Are confident they have Public support for their Challenge to Reagan s policies. The president has won his Way on taxes dramatically and perhaps historically. Bui in other policy areas the struggle continues.