Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 31, 1992 TAG: 9203310191
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Bush, who is leading the charge to force Congress to give up many of its tradition-bound privileges of office, is resisting an attempt by Democratic lawmakers to turn the tables on him.
Bush administration officials said Monday that they had no intention of cutting back on the special benefits of working at the White House. Nor were they particularly willing to cooperate with efforts by Congress to get a fuller accounting of exactly how much money was spent on those benefits.
The difference, according to presidential spokeswoman Judy Smith, is that White House perks are often necessary to do the job, while the special privileges available in Congress have lead to "abuse of the system" such as the bank scandal.
Indeed, the administration is expanding the benefits for White House employees.
Door-to-door chauffeur service for top Bush aides recently has been extended to include Clayton Yeutter, the new domestic policy chief, and Henson Moore, the deputy White House chief of staff, as well as six others.
Critics say that by allowing himself to appear insensitive to questions about perks at the White House, Bush may be risking a central part of his re-election strategy, which is to run against Congress as a corrupt branch of government that is holding back his proposals for reform.
Privately, Bush aides and campaign advisers are furious over what they see as a diversionary tactic by House Speaker Tom Foley to deflect attention from the House bank scandal.
Foley is one of several Democratic leaders suggesting that the focus of public scrutiny on excesses in office also should be directed at the executive branch; and a House subcommittee will open hearings today on the cost of presidential travel and entertainment.
by CNB