Gibbons says GOP making gains in public debate over tax cut

RENO, Nev. - President Clinton may be winning the public relations battle over a Republican-backed tax cut but GOP lawmakers are taking their message to the people and starting to make some gains, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said today.

Gibbons, hosting a visit from House Speaker Dennis Hastert to Nevada this week, said Clinton and minority Democrats have been trying to scare voters into believing a tax cut would undermine efforts to cut the national debt and end up harming them in the long run.

"It has had a measure of success," Gibbons acknowledged in an interview.

"A lot of people are scared by the anti-tax cut rhetoric - the big-government proponents - because they are saying the bill threatens Social Security or your children's education," he said.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. But anytime you've got a bullypulpit of the White House where it is repeated every hour on the hour on the local news shows, even though it may not be true, it becomes believable," he said.

Gibbons said he's been using a series of town hall meetings across the state this week to better inform Nevadans about the impact of the proposed nearly $800 billion tax cut.

"The untruths and the half lies put out by the administration need to be challenged," Gibbons said.

The only Republican in Nevada's delegation, the former Air Force pilot who served in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War is hosting a visit from Hastert, R-Ill., in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

"I'm learning first hand that despite what you hear from Democrats there is a great deal of interest out there in reducing the tax burden on American people," Gibbons said today.

"But there are a lot of misconceptions out there because of the untruths and the half truths being told by the opponents of this tax relief bill," he said

Nevada Democratic Sens. Harry Reid and Richard Bryan have been loud critics of the proposed tax cut. They have indicated they would support only as much as a $300 billion tax cut.

"The American people, the people of Nevada do not want a tax cut first," Reid, the Senate minority whip, said recently.

"The people of Nevada aren't stupid. They understand we have to pay down a $5 trillion debt," he said.

Bryan called the GOP proposal a "highly reckless and irresponsible approach.

"I think the responsible course of action is to save Social Security, ensure the solvency of Medicare, pay down the national debt, and then provide for a modest and realistic tax cut," Bryan said.

Gibbons said that contrary to what the Democrats say, majority Republicans have saved Social Security and improved education.

Republicans have done more and a proposing to do more than Clinton to bring down the national debt, Gibbons said. He said the Clinton administration would rather fund new government programs than reduce future taxes.

Gibbons said the public opinion dilemma reminds him of the extra work Republicans had to do to persuade Americans that welfare reform was a good idea.

He said Hastert was right to urge GOP lawmakers to take the tax message directly to the people.

He also said Hastert was the right man to succeed former Speaker Newt Gingrich. Hastert has shown an "ability to rally the troops and keep his shoulder to the wheel to get work done."

Gibbons also likes Hastert's support for the gambling industry.

"He has gaming in his state. He is a very pro-gaming speaker of the House, unlike (Minority Leader Richard) Gephardt," he said.

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