ANALYSIS Its not your problem. The Inside-Outside Shift Pays Off For Larry Smith Rep. Larry Smith (D-Fl) has become less vocal and more effective on behalf of Israel in the House. JAMES D. BESSER Washington Correspondent 0 But you made it your problem. You gave to the 1989 United Way Torch Drive. And because you did, 153 agencies in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties can continue helping those in need. Thank you for giving. United Way for Southeastern WNW Michigan State Solicitation M1CS 2123 /411/415 Show them your thoughts are with them Send a tray of fresh baked bite-size muffins, scones and cookies (sugar-free and fat-free baked goods available) ready to serve 689-8638 s- nn 1 ORDER FOR THE HOLIDAYS NOW! 24370 W. Ten Mile Rd., Just W of Telegraph 136 FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1991 ...Certiffed Kosher Metropolitan Koshruth Council ne year ago, Rep. Larry Smith was known primarily for his volatility and his outspokenness — a legislative pit bull in the arena of pro-Israel politics. Today, Mr. Smith has recast himself as a House in- sider with a firm handle on the complex appropriations process. That new status was evident in last week's inten- sive bargaining over Israel's request for $1 billion in emergency military aid to help the country cope with the staggering costs assoc- iated with the Persian Gulf war. According to several leading pro-Israel activists here, Mr. Smith played a pivotal role in brokering the compromise that will pro- vide Israel with some $650 million in extra aid in the current fiscal year. Mr. Smith's transforma- tion tells an interesting tale about how the foreign aid process works in Congress — and how Israel's defenders are, by necessity, becoming more sophisticated in their exercise of legislative power. Two months ago, Mr. Smith took a political risk that raised a few eyebrows on Capitol Hill. Mr. Smith, now in his fifth term, gave up seats on the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees for a slot on Appropriations. The primary reason for the shift had to do with the way the House uses the ap propriations process to help shape foreign policy — and foreign aid policy in par- ticular, a politically ex- plosive issue in the best of times. In theory, the Foreign Af- fairs committee sets aid policy through the aid au- thorization bill, while the Appropriations committee merely allocates the money to implement those policies through an appropriations bill. But in reality, Congress has not passed a foreign aid authorization bill in a number of years because of the Senate's unwillingness Rep. Smith: More active behind the scenes. to tackle the unpopular sub- ject. So the authorizing process has diminished in impor- tance — and members inter- ested in leaving their stamp on the foreign aid process have increasingly turned to the appropriations bills. "I'd been trying to get on the Appropriations com- mittee for a while," Mr. Smith said in an interview last week. "It's apparent that if you're on an authoriz- ing committee, you have a lot less capability to shape and influence the kinds of issues I've always been con- cerned about. When you're on a committee like Foreign Affairs, you tend to get frustrated because you don't have that final impact." For Mr. Smith, the move was a risky one; when he switched committees, he did not know whether he would land on the critical Foreign Operations subcommittee — or on the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government subcommittee, a legislative backwater with no connection to the all- important foreign aid issue. But the gamble paid off. In late January, Mr. Smith won a seat on the Foreign Opera- tions subcommittee, where he now has his hands close to - the levers that control for- eign aid. The first real test of Mr. Smith's new role came last week, when the administra- tion and the Israeli govern- ment were dickering over Israel's request for emergen- cy military aid. According to sources here, Mr. Smith used his new posi- tion on the Appropriations ' committee — and his status as an emerging power in the Democratic party — to line up the House leadership behind Israel's aid request. Pro-Israel activists here suggest that Mr. Smith's efforts were a major factor in the administration's deci- sion to step back from a major tussle with Congress. "What was different in his style was that he worked the leadership and the corridors in the House as an insider," said Jess Hordes, Washing- ton director for the Anti- Defamation League. "In the past, he was much more of a public advocate — trying to generate support through public statements. In this case, he played the role of an insider in making things happen but not necessarily being out front and visible in his advocacy." Mr. Smith agreed that he has changed his style somewhat to suit his new role. "I guess I have made a conscious effort to take it down a notch," he said. "When you move over to Appropriations, you see that there is a different way to move policy. And I have moved more into the leader- ship of the House." ❑ NEWS l'• ■■ • Israel Needs Investments Jerusalem (JTA) — Israel has been advised to adopt an American blueprint for economic recovery if it hopes to attract foreign in- vestments. Fight inflation, expand free trade and privatize government- owned enter- prises, Israelis were told at a meeting of the American- Israel Joint Economic Com- mittee, which has met every six months since 1985 here or in Washington. Herbert Stein, a member of the American delegation, suggested that further privatization would rid the government of an economic burden and advance the economy generally.