Letters To The Editor Balancing Act

Posted: July 23, 1986

This is in response to John P. Warner's letter of July 7 about the Senate's tax reform effort. Although Mr. Warner correctly identifies the compromises that have altered the substance of the bill, he wrongly places the blame solely on the shoulders of our senatorial representatives.

Belying the common impression, senators do not make only self-serving decisions. Like all of us, senators are anxious to keep their jobs. A large part of that involves listening to lobbyists representing large constituent bases in their home states.

Having worked and gone to school in Washington, I can attest that most of a senator's time not spent in committee or on the floor is spent with lobbyists

discussing issues like tax reform. More often than not these lobbyists hold not a campaign donation in their hands but a list of registered voters who feel the way they do on a particular issue.

Tax reform is unique because it affects everyone and not just a handful of special interest groups. Thus, senators are confronted by business lobbyists, civic groups, elderly groups and so on, all with influence over hundreds or thousands of voters. Senators are obligated to listen, balance the arguments and respond accordingly.

Thus, when the final bill comes out, it will be less representative of the politicians and more representative of active constituent groups. Those who aren't heard probably failed to speak up.

Paul Alfieri

Radnor.

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