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WETA credit/sponsor credits/title sequence
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PAUL DUKE in studio. On program: REAGAN pushes CONGRESS for further BUDGET CUTS through TV address.
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Clip of REAGAN address-says principal task is to hold down DEFICIT. Says that in the "euphoria" after the first round of BUDGET CUTS, it wasn't remembered that REAGAN didn't get all the cuts he wanted, blames CONGRESS for "BIG GOVERNMENT". Says goal of "balanced budget by 1984" (HA!) is in jeopardy.
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DUKE in studio-REAGAN proposals-dismantle DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION and DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, eliminate 75,000 federal jobs, subsidies, and user fees on federal airports. REAGAN said he would trim his proposed budget for PENTAGON, dropped proposal to reduce SOCIAL SECURITY benefits, and did not mention delaying COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT for SOCIAL SECURITY. REPUBLICANS in CONGRESS clearly pressured REAGAN to change his goals. Intro of COKIE ROBERTS/LINDA WERTHEIMER and guest commentators: Sen. ERNEST HOLLINGS (D-SC), Rep. LARRY DINARDIS (R-CT).
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DUKE asks if REAGAN will have a harder time with second round of BUDGET CUTS. HOLLINGS says that REAGAN won't have his way, says that REAGAN has changed course and wants to blame CONGRESS for it. REAGAN'S plan won't cut the deficit in the long term. DENARDIS-REPUBLICANS from North anxious to see how REAGAN'S cuts will impact urban industrial constituencies. Now it appears REAGAN'S program is "balanced", wants more defense cuts. WERTHEIMER asks about SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS opposing DEFENSE CUTS. HOLLINGS discusses a standoff over DEFENSE CUTS. ROBERTS asks DENARDIS about DEFENSE. DENARDIS says CONGRESS can force more DEFENSE CUTS on bipartisan basis. DEFICIT is too big for CONGRESS to avoid making cuts. Sen. HOLLINGS says REPUBLICAN unity in SENATE has broken down over SOCIAL SECURITY. DENARDIS and HOLLINGS spar-DENARDIS-SOCIAL SECURITY fears result of "demagoguery", HOLLINGS-SOCIAL SECURITY recipients themselves provided the pressure.
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ROBERTS asks DENARDIS about pressure on REPUBLICANS over SOCIAL SECURITY. DENARDIS says that REAGAN'S speech has made clear to public that DEMOCRATS are also to blame for DEFICIT. HOLLINGS comments that DEMOCRATS see that the blame sits on REAGAN and the REPUBLICANS, so SENATE DEMOCRATS don't have incentive to cooperate. More DEBATE on whether REPUBLICANS or DEMOCRATS are responsible for DEFICIT. Question from ROBERTS-is REAGAN still so popular that REPUBLICANS can afford to stick by his policies?
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DISCUSSION of SOCIAL SECURITY as dangerous political issue. DUKE-debate shows that REAGAN can't expect easy passage of his budget proposals.