European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 11, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                See Magazine White House in eclipse As 100th Congress convenes by Unda greenhouse new York times he opening of the 100th Congress last week brings an end id an extraordinary interval. In Only 12 weeks since the 99th Congress adjourned the . Political world has been transformed. The november elections and the Iran Centra arms affair overturned Many of the realities and Assumption of the past six years. Throughout those years president Reagan s immense popularity and credibility made the White House the government s undisputed Center of Gravity the president s Agenda was the National Agenda. He did not win every Batlle with Congress but his priorities established the framework for the debate. But now the administration is on the defensive Reagan s standing in the polls has plunged both houses of Congress Are in democratic hands for the firs time since the Reagan Era began end Congress is about 10 place the administration s most glaring failure under a Microscope. Suddenly the Center of Gravity has shifted to Capitol Hill. Thl unanticipated development brings responsibility and risk. With new leaders in both houses and with the next presidential election Cycle already under Way this congressional session promises to be a Lime of intense personal and institutional testing. The investigations of the Iran Contra affair by two select committees with All the resonances of watergate that the very words summon up. Will dominate the atmosphere for the foreseeable future. The committees 11 senators most of hem quite senior and 15 House members a flammable mixture of democratic committee chairmen and scrappy Young conservative republicans were born in a bipartisan glow of professed determination to get at the truth but the bipartisan spirit May eventually Wear thin. If so. Congress could easily squander the unusual degree of Public support and Confidence with which it entered the new year. Polls usually place Congress Lar Down on to list of institutions trusted by the Public. Bui a new York times lbs news poll nov. 30 indicated that by More than 2-1. The Public trusted Congress Ratter than Reagan to make the right decisions of to Reigi  Tea dominance of the Iran investigations will give congressional leaders still another Challenge. Time and Energy must be found for legislative accomplishments that go beyond reconstructing Tho errors of the past. Democrats Are keenly aware that there will be no one to blame but themselves it the party enters 19s8 without a solid record of achievements in Congress. Sen. Robert c. Byrd of Wesl Virginia who is about to resume the Post of majority Leader that he lost six years ago told a group of National democratic leaders last month the american people Havo Given the democratic party two years to answer one question can the democrats govern the nation in the Post Reagan years some of the problems lacing the new Congress Are depressing familiar. Chief among them is the budget deficit. Under the timetabled the 1985budget-balancing Law the deficit now More than $170 billion is supposed to shrink to $108 billion. Many lawmakers doubt the target can be met. The budget Reagan submitted meets the target by relying on assumptions and policy choices that Congress has been rejecting or years is a enl to Congress a budget that offers no political solution of the deficit crisis. Instead he presented another version of the fiscal plans he has submitted in recent years Ell of which Congress has fundamentally revised. With his political capital depleted by the Iran arms affair and the clock running on the last Quarter of his term Reagan chose to submit a budget that protects his Tong-9andlnq Phi Grilies of lower personal lax rates and a military buildup. He acknowledged in his budget message thai the deficit was a major threat to the Economy but his package to attack it 19 modest by past standards a supreme court decision last summer removed the budget measure s enforcement mechanism. In a Tecl leaving Congress free to walk away from the Law. Despite its political risks that course May find growing favor if Congress can agree on another less rigid approach to budget culling. Then id widespread dissatisfaction in both houses with the Pace on arms control and some lorm of arms control legislation is a Strong possibility. A bipartisan coalition in the Senate is pushing for legislation to restore . Compliance with the unreal Iliad 1979 arms treaty. These Are among the other issues Likely to come before the new Congress Trade. The new speaker of the House Jim Wright of Texas says that developing a Trade policy was the sunday january 11, 1987 first imperative of the now Congress. He has reproduced As a framework for further discussion a comprehensive Trade Bill that passed the House in May but never reached the Senate floor after the president threatened to veto the measure As protectionist. The Senate will also hold Early hearings on Trade policy. Taxes. A Bill making technical Corro Cllon to repair acknowledged flaws in the new lax Taw failed in the final Days of lha last session and will probably be revived. However the final proposal contained More than 300 separate items a number of them More than cosmetic and some members Are afraid that the Bill could become a vehicle for making substantial tax changes. Many lawmakers believe that new 1ax Revenue is the Only solution to the budget problem. But Reagan s opposition makes it extremely difficult for the democrats to take the Lead. Banking and securities. Review of the Structure of the banking system including the weakened condition of the Federal savings and loan insurance corp., is listed As a lop priority by members of both houses. In addition there is some sentiment for legislation 1o restrict corporate takeovers in Light of last year s insider trading scandals. Transportation. A deadlock Over whether to repeal the National Speed limit of 55 Mph blocked passage of a major Highway Bill last year. The Effort has begun again As Wright reproduced Hie Bill in the House. The earliest ideological test for the new Congress May Tome in february when a to million Aid payment to the rebels lighting the nicaraguan government will go Forward unless both houses vote to Block ii. The margin of support for Aid to the contras was narrow in both houses last year and an Effort to Cut off the Una instalment will almost certainly be made but any vote would be subject to a presidential veto and even if opponent is of Aid now command a majority in Congress they probably Lack Tho two thirds Vole needed to override a veto.  Wright Otto at a photo the stars and stripes Page 13