GRAPEVINE

By DAVID ELLIS

Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell is about to abandon his cooperative relationship with House Speaker Tom Foley over the issue of a cut in the Social Security payroll tax. Last year both leaders blocked the measure because they feared the tax-revenue loss might aggravate the budget deficit. Now Mitchell has changed his mind because he feels Democrats must do something to attract middle-class voters. With his support, a bill mandating a hefty $60 billion cut in the tax should pass easily this session in both houses.

With reporting by Sidney Urquhart