European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 20, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Daily Magazine Fine Juan in two More tears paring Down the Reagan Agenda by Steven v. Roberts new York times hampered by political and physical ailments president Ronald Reagan has pared Down his Agenda for his final iwo years in office and will locus on protecting gains made in past years rather than on promoting new programs according to while House officials these officials said in recent conversations thai tie administration would concentrate on such  As preserving lower tax Rales continuing Aid a the nicaraguan rebels and maintaining a at Jady buildup in military strength. One of the few areas that could Leac to a major new Effort is Aims control the officials say out All they can Muster right now is a restrained opt Elsm As one put it in Public administration imag Makeia 2-� portraying Reagan As a commanding and energetic figure who intends to push ahead on a Broad front Lor the real of his term he will continue to be a very powerful Force in setting the Agenda a while House aide insisted. To reinforce that impression. The administration will try to use the slate of the Union message scheduled to be delivered Jan. 27, to highlight some new proposals under the Rubric of  the package is Likely to include ideas that would enhance the . Trading position through better training and higher productivity rather than through retaliation against trading partners but in private even some of Reagan s senior advisers concede thai he has loss a significant amount of his ability 1o shape Public policy and that ing administration will to playing More Delonso than offence in the months ahead some waning of political Power is inevitable Over i to last two years of any presidency but Reagan s problems have been aggravated by three factors the electoral victories int gave the democrats con Rof of the Senate the draining distraction of the Iran arms controversy and Reagan s health which has Pul the White House Sleff on hold in Lecell weeks and delayed work on the slate of the Union message.  Hatgan ant lilt Wile Nancy returning Tollie White haute from Bathe a naval Hospital on Jan. 8. Tuesday january 20, 1967 accordingly said one Sara Loisl the administration will be taking a Rifle shot approach nol a Shotgun  a second aide said the while House was m danger of running out of intellectual capital and could quickly lapse into being a custodian  a third official acknowledged that the administration was tacking in fresh ideas but argued that Congress was no More creative in producing ways to Deal with such intractable problems As the budget deficit and the Trade imbalance. There is a certain Validity to the charge that the president has a very slim Agenda he said. But my question is does t everybody on Capitol Hill republicans and democrats alike say the administration is in a severely weakened position to promote its own priorities in the 100th Congress. They paint a portrait of a lethargic and leaderless White House out of step with the consensus in Congress on Many important issues i m  said rep. Trent Lott of Mississippi the Republican whip the direction is unclear. Right now we re  rep Van Weber of Minnesota a leading Republican conservative said there s no Reagan Agenda actively promoted that can command a grass roots  rep. Thomas s. Pole of Washington the new Leader of the democratic majority said Long before Iran this administration was without any particular capacity to make its existing threadbare Agenda  for All the lath about dim in the White House most political experts agree that Reagan retains enormous personal Appeal for the voting Public. And administration officials maintain thai he stands ready to exploit that popularity As he has Many times in the past should Congress try to repeat his accomplishments. This president said a senior adviser can talk about issues directly with the people and Force the process to follow. He is As effective on to now As he s Ever  moreover while Congress might have the capacity to Block new administration Steps Reagan retains a similar veto Power Over Many proposals emanating from Congress. As a result bipartisan cooperation Between both branches of government will probably be necessary for significant Progress on most major issues. Democratic leaders have been calling for a meeting Between Congress and the White House to forge a Compromise package of deficit reduction measures to protect All sides from political retaliation. White House aides say the Yare encouraged by such talk of cooperation but they add that Reagan remains adamantly opposed to any new taxes. And for now that remains an insuperable obstacle to any budget Compromise. In the Reagan View lower tax rates Are the key to economic Prosperity. An adviser said probably his most important policy is protecting the  a second area when Reagan will be fighting 10 preserve Paal victories is Aid to the nicaraguan rebels they received $100 million fast year and the White House budget proposes a continuation of the Aid to the rebels or contras Reagan also called for a 3 percent increase in the Pentagon budget and a White House aide predicted a wholehearted Reagan push for something approaching that figure. The president remains particularly committed the aide added to More Money fora space based shield against missiles. In addition administration officials said the state of the Union message will probably include proposals in these areas the budget process. Reagan still wants a constitutional amendment mandating a balanced budget but aides acknowledge that the idea is going nowhere. The think they have a better Chance with a proposal to give the president greater Power to rescind spending that has already been approved. Catastrophic health insurance. A bitter fight is going on in the administration Over How Large a program to propose and what role the private sector should play welfare. The president is Likely to suggest giving states greater leeway to Experiment with ways of reducing the dependence of welfare recipients. The stars and stripes Page 13