Gramm-Rudman Budget Measure

Your editorial (Jan. 8), “A Mess in a Quagmire,” clearly pointed out the severe constitutional weaknesses of the Gramm-Rudman Act. The act was a definite example of “haste makes waste” by Congress in getting some legislation, any kind, to cover the budget and deficit before the session ended.

After piddling around for months the joint committees really came up with a mess. Perhaps they were too anxious to get away from the bickering in D.C. and go home for some peace and solace.

As a retired federal employee, I deeply resent the rank discrimination of the act. For instance, a person retired from private employment on Social Security received the 3.1% increase in the cost-of-living, effective last month and payable this month. If he retired from government employment he was denied the increase for some mysterious and unpublished reason. He was told to pay his her income taxes in full, pay the bus fare and go to the rear of the bus.

How indecent can Congress and the President get for signing such a very bad act? Their integrity has been severely damaged. Who’s tending the store? Perhaps they thought that retired federal employees can eat better for less.

ARCH J. MARSHALL

Mission Viejo