Conservative Digest Box: 5
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Digital Library Collections This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections. Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files Folder Title: Conservative Digest Box: 5 To see more digitized collections visit: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit: https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected] Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/ NEWSFRDM FOR RELEASE: Immediately CONTACT: Art Kelly (703) 356-0440 ext. 277 CONSERVATIVES OPPOSE NEW TAX INCREASE Richard A. Viguerie, publisher of Conservative Digest magazine, has announced the opposition of-:=-,:.- conservative leaders to proposed increases i--n---either- the federal gasoline tax or the -Social Security tax. ' Viguerie said that these tax increases would seriously damage the economy and hurt families who are struggling to make ends meet. "At a time that economic conditions are already extremely precarious, we do not need to make it more difficult for people to make a living. Increasing the cost of gasoline will hurt working men and women who need an automobile for their jobs or for the basic transportation of their families. And hiking the Social Security tax will take more disposable income out of the hands of the people, while adding additional pressures on businesses. More bankruptcies and unemployment would inevitably result from these tax increases," Viguerie said. "In funding defense, a jobs program, and Social Security, all kinds of alternatives have been discussed. But one option seems to be missing from the list of possibilities -- reduce spending on low priority and counterproductive projects. Our critical needs can all be provided for by transferring funds out of the budgets of the Energy and Education departments, from foreign aid, and out o.f our contributions- to t-l1e TJ:i:i.--i-t..ed-Nations-~ - nQ-- absolut.ely do not need to increase taxes on the people," he said. "Coming on the heels of the Administration's recent $228 billion tax increase, many conservatives are shocked and disappointed that new taxes would even be remotely considered by the President and some Republican leaders in the Congress. I am afraid there is a strange inclination on the part of some Reagan advisers to repeatedly turn to tax increases as the solution to our economic problems," the statement added. Among those joining Viguerie in this statement are: 7777 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA. 22043 (703) 356-0440 THE WASHINGTON POST, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1982 William Raspberry Rowland Evans and Robert Novak Has the President ... No, He's -Just Been Deposed? Being Misadvised Moments after President Reagan told But, Reagan asked, wouldn't the day before Reagan's pre!J.q conference, his press conference Thursday that it $100 billion tax increase he reluctantly Stockman was the on ly solid voice would not take a palace coup after all for swallowed last summer at least trim against the tax. Even White House the projected future deficit? No, The first coup d'etat in U.S. history the gasoline tax increase, which 43 hardly be a coincidence that the reve him to support higher gas taxes, one of aide Rich Williamson, usually strong appears to have been accepted by the · days earlier had been "flatly" ruled out lation was made to the senior White his anti-tax economic advisers voiced his Stockman replied, the deficits will get against higher taxes, was benevolently American people with surprising calm. was under active consideration-even House correspondent. There is some own disapproval of the scheme, but bigger. Stunned, the president said: "If neutral in his role as the presidential There has been hardly any panic since to the extent of renaming it a "user speculation that the entire exchange added: "If we get away with just that, I had known that, I never would have liaison with hard-pressed state govern the overthrow of the Reagan govern fee." That was the first official indica between Reagan and Thomas was pre we'll be well ahead of the game." backed the tax increase." For the next ments .. ment, the stock market remains opti tion that, sometime between the Sept. arranged so as to minimize public The nickel-a-gallon tax to finance 10 minutes of the briefing, Reagan's At last week's press conference (his mistic, and life seems to be going on 29 and the Nov. 11 conferences, there panic. public works spending is, therefore, a eyes glazed over and his mind seemed first since Sept. 28), the president ap pretty much as usual. had been a "palace coup" or that Rea Early indications are that the coup ploy to appease growing bipartisan detached. parently had forgotten that his "palace Accordingly, at that night's press ThL•1 unexpected equanimity in the gan had somehow been "overtaken or was prompted by Reagan's refusal to hunger on Capitol Hill for old-fash coup" crack answered a specific gaso face of unprecedented crisis may be at overthrown." take actions to combat the country's ioned pump-priming in the New Deal conference, when he was asked about line-tax question, claim1ng he was new tax hikes and "specifically, an in tributed to the smoothness with which Edwin Newman and William Safire, near-record and still-growing unem tradition. It is supposed to preempt referring only to "general" tax in the coup was carried out, and also to two of the country's best-known ployment rate. The tax increase, which ambitious schemes for far more spend crease in the gasoline tax," he replied: creases. More remarkably, Reagan had the calmness with which the depoeed semanticists, have insisted that the the former president earlier had ing and far higher taxes. "Unless there's a palace coup and I'm swallowed whole Lewis' contention leader himself has accepted his ouster. original Reagan response should be refused to consider, would be used to However improbable that goal, the overtaken !laughter) or overthrown, that the tax is a "user fee" (Treasury Indeed, not even the most sophisti read to mean only that he didn't "see finance repair of the nation's bridges gas tax ploy marks another benchmark · no." Hearing that, and coupling it with experts consider it, plain and simple, cated Washington observers knew the necessity for" flatly ruling out the and highways, both because they des in the administration's departure from his shock during the afternoon briefing an excise tax). Reagan also reverted to, about the coup until former President tax increase absent a coup. However, perately need repairing and because it basic principles. It undercuts both the session, White House insiders assumed New Deal logic · in declaring "There Reagan revealed it during a nationally moei Washington observers, noting is a time-tested way of creating jobs. "new federalism" and free-market eco the presidant had drawn the line. would be jobs created" by the tax. What's more, there were plenty of televised news conference last Thurs Reagan's frequently muddled syntax, Apparently, leaders of the new gov nomics; it signals that the White House The hope of conservatives inside the arguments inside the administration to day evening. usume that the former leader meant ernment have decided to let Reagan re is moving toward accommodation, not administration that this at least would At an earlier news conference, this bolster the president's instincts agaim1t to indicate that a coup was imminent main at the White House, as a sort of confrontation, with the expanded forestall worse retreats is dimmed by the gas tax, plugged relentlessly for two one on Sept. 29, the now-depoeed and that active consideration of a gaso figurehead caretaker. The best expla Democratic majority in the House and decisions facing the president this leader was asked whether, in view of tax nation may lie in the national polls. increasingly fractious Republicans in years by Transportation Secretary line increase would be the cue that week. He will be asked by his budget his "great distaste" for raising taxes, he the Senate. Drew Lewis. Stockman, for once op it had occurred. As matters appear to be unfolding, makers whether he wants to sla.'!h de could "assure the American people posing higher taxes, has argued that Details of the apparent ouster are the American people will still have It also provides fresh evidence that fense spending, raise taxes or abandon that you will flatly rule out any the non-interstate highways most in now still not clear. Indeed, it is still not Reagan, whom they like personally, Reagan is no match for the concen the balanced-budget goal. need of repair are the responsibility of tax increa.'les, revenue enhancers or, known who heads the new government. and be rid of his policies, which they trated barrage from his advisers. In still ignoring the the states. Reagan's ''new federalism" Ronald Reagan, specifically, an increase in the gasoline What is clear is that the change was found increasingly dismaying. deed, his turnaround on the gas · tax monetary policy that has created this tax." The answer, more ominous in ret would dictate that if states want to re handled with consummate grace, both Such sensitivity augurs well for the raises this question: can he withstand deep recession, is entrapped in the rospect than was obvious at the time: pair their roads, they should raise their by the coup leaders and by the former future of America. the renewed spend-and-tax syndrome budget process that led to the huge tax own gasoline taxes. ''Unless there's a palace coup and president himself.