
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 3, 1993                   TAG: 9307070432
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WHOSE FINGERPRINTS ON THE DEBT?

I CHUCKLED when Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell was quoted as saying that Republicans were prepared to oppose anything Clinton proposed (June 25 news story, "Senate alters deficit-fighting bill"). Where has he been sleeping the past 12 years as Democrats declared new budgets "dead on arrival"?

After those declarations, Democrats concocted their own budgets, which Reagan and Bush spent in accordance with the 1972 Supreme Court's ruling (requested by six Democratic congressmen), that presidents must spend every dime that Congress approves.

Reagan and Bush spent as Congress had ruled, resulting in nearly $3 trillion of deficit spending. Democrats promptly dubbed that "Reagan debt" then "Reagan/Bush debt."

I read of a projected $1.2 trillion deficit in the next four years as Congress dictates and Clinton spends. Will Democrats dub that the "Reagan/Bush/Clinton debt"?

GEORGE F. SNYDER\ VINTON

by CNB