Reagan Calls Highway Bill a Real Lemon

President Reagan today described the just-passed federal highway and mass transit bill as “really a lemon” and told a group of business executives he won’t accept it.

Appearing before members of the American Business Conference, Reagan repeated his plan to veto the multibillion-dollar measure, saying, “The budget deficit is a major threat to our national competitiveness, and yet last week Congress passed a budget-busting highway bill, and it is really a lemon.

“The sticker price is $88 billion, loaded with every option in the book, and it has just sputtered down Pennsylvania Avenue while you were sitting in here and is parked over at the White House,” Reagan added.

‘Will Have It Towed Back’

“And before the day is over, I think I will have it towed back and dropped at Congress’ door with a note on it that says, ‘Stop the spending spree. Get to work.’ ”

Earlier, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater declared that the Administration will “wage an all-out fight” to uphold Reagan’s planned veto of the bill.

Briefing reporters not long after Reagan concluded a strategy session with Republican congressional leaders, Fitzwater quoted the President as telling lawmakers “this is just not a bill I can sign into law. It is simply a bad bill that needs redrafting. I strongly favor an adequate and fiscally responsible federal aid highway and transit program, but this bill is not it.”

Fitzwater said “there was considerable discussion of the bill, both pro and con” in the meeting, but he declined to say which lawmakers opposed Reagan’s veto plan.