European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine  Ait  Uyi Cuomo. He he to gel you armst the got  Mario Cuomo the casual political innovator by Marlc Humbert associated pressm Ahi Cuomo. One of the democratic parly s most eloquent voices has toiled for 5v4 years As chief executive of the Nalion a second Argost stale much of inc time at the Center of waxing and waning speculation about a possible run for Iho White House. From his base in Albany n. Y., Cuomo has Lack cd National issues such As he Federal deficit International issues such As third world debt and the most Basic Issue of All life and death. Wedo innovation so casually that we Don t even gel credit or it says Cuomo who with one 1984 speech became an instant National celebrity and Kepi people talking about him As a Likely presidential candidate even while he insisted he had no intention of being one until recently Cuomo s avowed non candidacy was regarded with much scepticism now the March toward the democratic nomination by a fellow governor Michael Dukakis at Massachusetts seems to have All but obliterated lingering thoughts of a Mario  whatever Cuomo might have wrought As a candidate in new York slate his Handiwork has accumulated and is Plain id see though not As usual in Kalteis pot Lical uncontested. A list of administration accomplishments compiled in Cuomo s office includes the mandatory seat Bell Law the nation s Tirol the Start of the largest Taa Cut in the stale s history and raising the drinking age from 18 to 21. The boat Belt Bill originated in the slate legislature and the governor at first expressed reservations Aboul its effect on Short people who might find wearing Irto Bells uncomfortable. Reminded of this recon Fly Cuomo said i signed  in 1984. Cuomo ought hard to raise the slate s drinking age but members of a state Assembly s majority complaining of the administration s Strong Arm lobbying voted it Down. Ii passed the fallowing year alter the Federal government threatened to withhold Federal Highway Money from any stale that failed to raise its drinking age to 21. The Ian Cut approved last year was on Iho legislature s initiative says slate Assembly speaker Mel Miller a Brooklyn Democrat. Aher initial opposition to the Lai Cul proposals Tirol championed by Iho Senate s Republican majority Cuomo came on Board and signed the measure into Law. In March a Lei Evision reporter noted in a broadcast thai critics were saying the governor had l come up with Many now ideas. It s an accusation Cuomo has heard repeatedly and it makes him bristle. The of Lucial Leopar of the Cuomo administration s scorecard isl assistant to the governor Elaine Ryan Send the report or a Throe Page list titled highlights of Cuomo adminis Lvalion  said the governor himself when asked about Ini Lialios it would probably be dial cull to Lind a five year period in the history of the state where you had in Orff  he cited a string of them. One such initiative was his right for creation of the National economic commission to study the National det Icil third world debt and productivity. With a Strong push from Congress. President Reagan signed legislation in december creating the commission. The governor of a slate gels an idea. The vice president does t want in. The president does t want it. And we got it the president signs in. I think thai was kind of innovative says Cuomo. That certainly has the sound in not 88, then 1992," says Cuomo s Chiel Albany antagonist Warren Anderson the Republican majority Leader of the slate Senate suggesting that Cuomo has his sights set on the while House. The commission derisively labelled the Cuomo commission by vice president George Bush this year s expected gop presidential nominee is composed of luminaries such As new York financial expert Felix Rohatyn and Chrysler chairman Leo Iacocca. Co chaired by former democratic party chairman Robert Strauss and Republican Drew Lewis a former Secretary of transportation the commission will report Aller the november election. A real Cuomo commission is the governor s commission on Trade and competitiveness a group of nationally known executives labor leaders and economists brought together by lha governor to study the same problems As they Altel new York among other things Cuomo s commission has monday May 23, 1988 recommended the creation of Industry task forces to adjust to new technologies and foreign compe ution. Worker participation would be expanded to increase productivity and corporations would be granted Trade Relief by Only if they produced plans to revitalize their production. The commission has also suggested consideration of a 5 percent value added ism to reduce imports stimulate exports and Cut the deficit. Other initiatives that Cuomo has played a major Rolein include at his insistence new York became the first stale in the nation to create a task Force on life and the Law. The group of theologians lawyers physicians Selen lists and civil rights activists has come up with a legally acceptable definition of death the absence of brain activity and legislation that permits people to Reluse intrusive medical efforts thai might prolong their lives. The task Force is also studying surrogate Parent contracts and policies Lor Organ transplants. Cuomo has begun a program using schools As Community Cen Lerg. Thai provide Caie Lor students alter regular school hours and he s proposed Liberty scholarships a plan thai would guarantee poor seventh graders a Public College education if they slay in school and gel accepted into a College a has secured passage of major Bond issues Lor environmental work and Tor rebuilding the slate s decaying roads and Bridges. Cuomo persuaded the legislature to establish a state subsidized prescription drug program Lor the elderly to adopt a fiscal strategy Hal will gradually reduce the stale s recurring Short term debt and to approve legislation that would Altow victims of Long ago exposure to toxic substances to sue for damages. Cuomo has used his executive Powers to create an inspector general s office to Lerrell out corruption in slate agencies to adopt regulations that insure against Raca sex or sexual preference discrimination by the stale and to improve productivity in stale government in the Wake of corruption scandals in new York City and allegations of wrongdoing by stale legislators he also battled bitterly with Trie leaders of the legislature last year to win new Laws to police the conduct of elected and appointed of Delate. A Newsweek poll of the nation s governors conducted two years ago. Rated Massachusetts gov Dukakis As the most Ell Clive governor. Cuomo was eighth. It s a question of communication Cuomo says. Iii had said Lor live years what George Bush is now saying in 1 had said Lor five years. 1 want 1o be known As inc education governor and just done All the things we be done Lor live years i would Necmi be nationally regarded As an education governor. I did t do thai. The programs and substance Aro there but 1 never identified it As the thing we wished to be known  fellow Democrat Miller who has not always been on Good relations Wilh Cuomo suggests another Noory. New Yort stale s Economy has been healthy and Iho Money has allowed in a says. Your Ull Imato Lesl is always in emergencies you can be great it there arc no  he does t think Cuomo s has been a peculiarly innovative  but he says Cuomo has borrowed ideas freely from the legislature and other Stales and somebody who takes the Best of Nhat s around is  ultimately Miller says the governor " s result minded and Compromise minded a real strength but Aiso a weakness because sometimes you let a lot of stud  getting things done is what counts Cuomo argues the governor is the quarterback. He has to gel you across the goal line Milter says the governor has yet to get ahead of Tho game in dealing Wilh the mentally ill the retarded the homeless housing. And. Democrat Miller and Republican Anderson say he has t consistently appointed top flight optic gals Bolh Praise his ability As a communicator. As for the 55-year-old governor he says he loves his Job and is making plans to run for a thud Lour year term in 1990. Hals careful nonetheless not to commit himself to seek reelection or to close the door completely on a presidential bid in 1992 should lira democrats lose this year Only god snows what s going to  the stars and stripes Page 13