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Show THE VOICE OF BUSINESS Some re I 'wisdonra' in from Bicp Brother js By Richard L. Lesher, Pres., Chamber of Commerce of the United States Regular readers of this column know that from time to time, I devote this space to the "Wisdom of Big Brother" and recount some of the more outrageous ways in which the government govern-ment wastes our money and interferes in our lives. Please be assured that this feature will continue. However, in keeping with the spirit of kindness and generosity that marks the holiday season, I would like to demonstrate that if we look hard enough, there really are a few pearls of wisdom amidst all the seaweed. First honors go to are you ready for this? the Congress. Despite a recent epidemic of cold feet on Capitol Hill, Congress was dragged kicking and screaming to some very wise decisions in 1981, among them: The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, the largest tax reduction package in history. I am told that even some members who voted against it are now sending newsletters home to their districts to crow about the many new incentives for saving and investing. Across-the-board tax cuts, the availability of individual retirement accounts to all workers, and the indexing in-dexing of tax brackets beginning in 1985 are truly revolutionary provisions that will profoundly affect the future spending plans of the federal government. govern-ment. The budget cuts: Federal spending is still not under control, but the first step away from a 40 year habit is the hardest, har-dest, and Congress took it. Planned increases in federal spending have been reduced by some $140 billion over the next three years. Block grants: Congress made significant progress toward reducing federal paternalism and returning authority to state and local governments govern-ments by folding many specific programs in the health, education and community development areas into block grants. In addition to Congress, other "Brothers" deserve a tip of the hat: Ronald Reagan's "junkyard dogs," better known as inspectors general, have rooted out more than $2 billion in waste, fraud, and abuse in federal agencies after just six months of scrutiny. No doubt there are rati more bones buried in the fede junkyard. Then, there's the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Servk This agency recently took the peeu;: step of returning $21.7 million from 1981 budget to the Treasury, ratT-than ratT-than embarking on a last-min?-spending spree for pencils and d blotters as is the usual practice in t: bureaucracy. Finally, consider the case of Fre ' Mankiewicz, president of the taxpay' funded National Public Radio netwC (NPR) and liberal war-horse of C" Democratic party. In a deferential b'J to reality, Mankiewicz announf' recently that rather than cry overl'; budget cuts that had afflicted NPR, ' : would embark on a new campaign wean the network from federal dolli1 through fund-raising activities in private sector. "We're the first 1 ' mally federal grantee' to embark-1 this step," Mr. Mankiewicz star" "It's fairly thin ice out there, f-chancy, f-chancy, but it's the only way we f go." Welcome to the marketplat? NPR! - |
