WASHINGTON INSIGHT

ELECTION YEAR BUDGETING: Federal crime-busting operations will draw the single largest budget boost of any domestic function in President Bush’s proposals, Administration sources predict. This will mark the second consecutive year that Atty. Gen. William P. Barr has coaxed more money out of the increasingly tight-fisted Office of Management and Budget.

Although some Administration officials contend that Barr had an easy time persuading the budgeteers in an election year--with voters likely to focus on the issues of crime and drugs right after the weak economy--others credit Barr’s mastering of the arcane budget process and horse trading for loosening the purse strings.

Campaign politics probably will prevent Congress from repeating last year’s action, which pared $472 million from Bush’s proposed increase in Justice Department outlays, reducing the 15% hike he sought to about 7%.

With or without the additional funding, the Justice Department is expected to announce in the coming months new efforts to counter such emerging areas of widespread public concern as health care fraud, insurance fraud and computer crime.