Increased Contra Aid Will Be Sought in Budget, Miller Says

Budget Director James C. Miller III said Thursday that the Administration will seek an increase in contra aid in the budget it sends Congress next month, but he conceded that the Iran-contra scandal may make it hard to get the money from Capitol Hill.

“I think the current situation makes it more difficult . . . but we will try,” the Office of Management and Budget director said on NBC’s “Today” show.

Miller refused to say how much aid would be sought but described it as “an increase . . . . We’re not going to abandon them.”

The last Congress approved $100 million in assistance--$70 million in military aid and the rest in humanitarian aid.

Miller is in charge of preparing what will be the nation’s first $1-trillion spending plan, covering fiscal 1988, which starts Oct. 1, 1987. He said the size “is a little scary. It’ll have the attention of Democrats on the Hill as well as Republicans.

“I hope they will look at the President’s proposals very seriously, including the proposals to reform the budget process, and will pass a budget that meets the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings target.”