Dole Asks O’Neill to Take 1st Step to Budget Summit

Senate Republican leader Bob Dole today called on House Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill to make the initial move toward a budget summit, but O’Neill said the GOP has to have the backing of President Reagan first.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) today urged President Reagan and O’Neill to hold a high-level budget meeting about a new Senate budget plan that would limit Social Security raises and tax oil imports.

But Dole called on O’Neill to go first.

“I don’t see any reason for the President to rush to have any meeting,” Dole told reporters, noting that the last time such a gathering was held it resulted in more discord. “We’re waiting for the leaders on the House side to indicate a willingness to negotiate.”

Needs ‘Absolute Approval’

O’Neill told reporters that he is willing to meet, but said: “There is no sense in Tip O’Neill going over (to the White House) and seeing anybody. (The GOP) must have the absolute approval of the President of the United States.”

The Senate proposal, put forth to break a prolonged impasse between the House and Senate on adopting a new budget, would cut $65 billion from the 1986 deficit.

Domenici acknowledged that initial reaction to the proposals has been negative, with Reagan opposing any tax increase and O’Neill against tampering with Social Security. (Story, Page 4.)

‘Stubborn Streaks’

“But frankly I’m optimistic that if the President, Speaker O’Neill, (House Budget Committee) Chairman (William H.) Gray, myself and a few others will sit down and everybody will get rid of a little bit of their stubborn streaks in the interests of the American economy, we can get something done,” Domenici said in an interview on NBC’s “Today” program.

“This is a serious offer. I think Chairman Gray accepts it as that. It’s the kind of thing that would have a real chance of moving this economy on for a few years. Without the two leaders, joined by some others, making some compromises, I see little chance of anything but serious chaos this year.”

Despite the budget deadlock, Domenici said, he does not believe that the Senate will postpone its summer recess scheduled to begin Aug. 2. Gray had indicated that the House might be willing to do so.

The new Senate budget would grant a Social Security cost-of-living raise every other year instead of annually and impose a $5-a-barrel tax on imported crude oil.