European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 28, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday july 28, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 13  can t escape environmental problems at the London economic Summit meeting George Bush was impressed by the commitment of other leaders to action on environmental issues a a commitment that appears to have been stronger than the presidents own. His administration with the major exception of its support for a new and innovative clean air Bill has not been an Active environmental advocate. Yet the United states with its uncounted automobiles its near Universal refrigeration and air conditioning and its vast accumulations of toxic wastes is one of the worlds great polluters. During a 45-minute White House meeting with his new commission on environmental Quality the president remarked that he had been surprised by his Summit associates interest in the subject. Bush also confessed that he had found himself under pressure from other Summit leaders to attend a global environment conference to be held under . Auspices in june 1992. Whether his experience with other leaders will push him to a More aggressive environmental policy remains to be seen. For instance its not Clear whether his environmental commission which met for the first time last week is a feint or will become a Force. Appointing such commissions is a Well known time honoured tactic by which Many presidents have appeared to be doing something about problems they did no to actually intend to tackle. At first glance the Large number of industrialists and businessmen in the new environmental group appears to put it in this a for show category. So does Bush a stated Hope to use the commission to help develop environmental responses other than a regulatory solutions a at reduced expense. That sounds suspiciously like an Effort to Back away from enforcement of environmental regulation which can be both David s. Broder costly and unpopular with Industry and unions. The Bush White House often has been charged with seeking Relief from rather than firmly enforcing rules and regulation a blocking for example proposals by the environmental Protection Agency that municipal incinerators be required to set up recycling programs. On the other hand a number of executives named to the commission have taken an Active interest in environmental Protection a for example William d. Ruckelshaus twice a director of the Epa and now chairman of Browning Ferris industries. Some in the environmental Community believe moreover that the groups formation was engineered by Michael Deland chairman of the White House coun a cil on environmental Quality in an Effort to strengthen White House policy. Thus its at least possible that Bush a appointees May push him further than he expects or wants to go. At its organizational meeting for example Richard a. Clarke the head of Pacific Gas and electric co., proposed that a Concrete goals should be established for the reduction of pollutants in the atmosphere a Carbon dioxide in particular. Coming from an executive of the largest Utility in the United states which would be directly affected by such a goal this was a Strong proposal. If adopted moreover a goal of restricting Carbon dioxide emissions would be a direct Challenge to John Sununu the White House chief of staff. High Levels of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere Are believed to be the major cause of the so called a greenhouse effect a which results in global warming. Sununu has been highly sceptical of evidence that the Earth is heating up. And has used his authority to limit action against a problem he has not been willing to acknowledge. C new York times hear the Armini Strath to Winsip Boytt sore ia0re stupie5 of possible global War Mike n \ s it a a c9<99rockefeller has different democratic views if sen. John d. Jay Rockefeller in of West Virginia decides to enter the presidential race democratic activists will find him quite a different candidate than most suppose him to be. And i suspect Rockefeller will also provide the democrats with another object lesson in the difficulty of making a late Start in the High stakes race for the White House. When i caught up with the 54-year-old Rockefeller the other Day he was travelling from breakfast with Maryland party leaders to visit a neighbourhood family and child care Center. It was part of the whirlwind National tour he a been making to publicize the widely acclaimed report issued last month by the bipartisan National commission on children which he headed. Along with his earlier work on a National health care plan a now embodied in a Senate democratic leadership proposal a the children a commission has Given Rockefeller sudden status As the Democrat with the most appealing Domestic program. The publicity burst has caused him to Advance his presidential timetable from 1996 to 1992. If the a family decision he and his wife and four children make next month is affirmative As most expect he would enter the race with instant name recognition and a personal history As appealing in its own Way As that of supreme court nominee Clarence Thomas. In counterpoint to Thomas Horatio Alger Story Rockefeller is the fabulously Rich kid who gave up a promising career As a japanese speaking Asia scholar Diplomat to go to a West Virginia mining Camp As a Vista Volunteer then stayed on to become a legislator governor and senator in that poverty wracked state. Although his formal speeches tend to be stiff and stilted the 6-foot-6-Inch Rockefeller has great Charm an easy smile a and a blessed absence of the pompous ego that afflicts so Many senators. All that however does not make him ready for the prime time demands of a presidential Campaign which could be Only weeks away a a fact of which he is Well aware. While his top aide Lane Bailey is trying on a part time basis to Catalon and organize support around the country Rockefeller himself is cramming with experts on defense foreign policy and economics. On the ride the other morning the senator was saying that his votes for the Gramm Rudman Hollings budget cutting amendment and for last years budget Summit agreement Are stands he a a proudly took. Other liberals May chafe at the restraints they place on Domestic spending but Rockefeller said a a it a the discipline we  then he volunteered the comment that a for the first time in the past week talking with economists in a beginning to think we might have to look at a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. I always voted against it but now i have an open mind about it because we might need  that a Man on the Brink of a presidential Campaign might be wavering on so Basic a question of fiscal policy As the balanced budget amendment May seem surprising. But it is far from the Only indicator that Rockefeller has barely begun to examine the implications of past policy positions in the National Arena he May be about to enter. As a West Virginia senator in 1989, Rockefeller was one of Only 18 democrats to support the unsuccessful move to Amend the Constitution to outlaw Flag burning. A a in a very comfortable with my vote on that a he said rejecting a the Purisma that caused others to support the supreme court ruling that Flag burning statutes violate the first amendment. A to me Flag burning is not a passive act its an incite Ful act a destructive  i asked Rockefeller about the pledge of allegiance Issue that president Bush used so effectively against Massachusetts gov. Michael Dukakis in the 1988 Campaign. Bush hammered Dukakis repeatedly for vetoing a Bill requiring teachers to Lead their students in the pledge. A i would not have had a problem signing that legislation a Rockefeller said. And then he volunteered this comment a and prayer in schools in a not offended by that. I want silent prayer so everybody can Pray however they want. I think an islamic kid a jewish kid has to be protected. The principal has to work it out so its silent or so generic that its offensive to nobody. But that can be  a conservative social and fiscal policy might Well Combine with his Liberal stands on health care and Aid to children to give Rockefeller a comfortable centrist image. But when a politician in the space of a one hour car ride volunteers his Way onto such treacherous policy minefields As school prayer Flag burning and the balanced budget amendment you have to Admire his openness a and wonder about his understanding of the electoral volatility of such issues. The interview also suggested that Rockefeller is unrehearsed in explaining his record As governor of West Virginia or in reconciling past votes that served West Virginia a interests like protectionist measures on textiles and shoes with the Broad policies he wants to espouse As a National candidate. He has time to prepare himself for All that lies ahead a but not much. A the Washington Post