SPECIAL COMMENTARY "It's The Economy, Stupid" —Again Assisted Washin on with catered services in beautiful surroundin g s created especiall y for older adults. Studios and suites with private baths Three well planned daily meals Emergency call systems Housekeeping and linen services Round the clock staffing Licensed Nurses 24 Hours Daily Personal care assistance Medical supervision Spa with pool and exercise room Scheduled activities Game room Library Hair salon Sundries shop Transportation Plus -- For the Memory Impaired Joint Commission on Accrec(talion at Marlboro Oryan anions TOURS AVAILABLE DAILY call 248.683.1010 Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organtations r y6) r best price, selection itiriad persorz4rlizeel service CINDY SCHLUSSEL I * THE * * CAREFREE * * STAIRWAY LIFTS* -o7-*-7— CAREFREE WAY TO r I love my CLIMB STAIRS Stairway Lift! When you're disabled, or just not able to move around 6 as freely as you once could, stairs can be a real prob- lem. 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But some of those issues could a mostly GOP Congress, takes the reins of government? have much more immediate conse- That scenario is on the minds of quences for the Jewish community many Jewish leaders who than the nexus of social worry that abortion, school issues pushed by the Christ- ian right. prayer, vouchers and other issues championed by Chris- Bush's campaign platform tian conservatives will be the called for a $1.3 trillion tax engine behind the 107th cut, a demand Vice President- Congress. Elect Dick Cheney recently Conservatives on Capitol called nonnegotiable. Republi- Hill, led by House Majority can leaders on Capitol Hill are Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, divided; some support the have reinforced their fears by huge, 10-year cut, others want JAMES D. promising to press their par- to press for a series of smaller BESSER tisan advantage to advance a tax cuts. Special to wide range of conservative Lawmakers on both sides the Jewish News domestic issues. of the aisle will be looking Jewish leaders would do for high-profile actions they better to focus on Bill Clinton's mem- can take that have a chance of biparti orable 1992 campaign theme: "It's the san support — and tax cuts, support- economy, stupid." ed by a significant number of Democ For a variety of reasons, not the least rats, could top the list. Most Jewish of which is the bitter end to this year's groups do not have official positions on the issue. At the same time, many presidential election, the top issues of groups such as the Christian Coalition Jewish leaders privately fear that any- may not be front and center as the new thing more than token curs could be a Congress and administration try to find time bomb tossed into the middle of a way to govern amidst political grid- the nation's social safety net. lock on Capitol Hill. Today, the federal treasury is flush, thanks to the record economic boom Instead, the administration is likely to focus at first on the economic and the run-up in the stock market. changes it would like to implement — But the surplus will evaporate with changes that are likely to garner bipar- astonishing speed if the economy skids. tisan support, but which could prove Tax cuts in the coming year, many troublesome for Jewish organizations. worry, will lead_to a ballooning of the budget deficit when the economy School prayer amendments will be dead on arrival. School voucher plans slows. And that, in turn, could pro- may do better, thanks to support from duce intense pressure to cut discre- some Democrats. Several voucher tionary spending programs. demonstration projects were passed in The programs most at risk are pre- recent years but vetoed by President cisely those that the Jewish community Clinton; President-Elect George W. successfully provides across the country, Bush supports vouchers, so the veto using government dollars along with threat will disappear. philanthropic money: health and hous- Some abortion restrictions may ing programs for the elderly, services for children and teens, vocational services, move through, but the evenly divided Senate will remain a major obstacle to services for immigrants. Big cuts could any sweeping changes. also jeopardize important foreign poli- But the Bush administration can cy priorities of the Jewish community, wreak considerable havoc on abortion starting with foreign aid to Israel. rights through executive order. And Bush's economic thinkers say the the wild card remains the Supreme cuts will spur the economy and pre- Court; a vacancy or two during the serve the boom. But it's a gamble; if Bush administration would likely tip they're wrong, the government will the balance on the Court on abortion. quickly face a new deficit crisis and New gun control legislation is unlike- ferocious new pressure to cut vulnera- ble programs. ly, but so is any major pullback from That, and not the religious right values" agenda, is where the real James D. Besser is Washington corre- action is likely to be for Jewish groups spondent for the Detroit Jewish News. in 2001. ❑ " Evelyn Grodan ResidentiallCommercial