HOME FIRES SPUTTERING

By Howard Chua-Eoan

When Mark Neumann was a math teacher, he'd lecture on the arithmetic of the federal deficit to his high school class in Janesville, Wisconsin. Hauling out charts and graphs, he'd explain the atrociousness of the situation, how the budget crisis had to be solved, and why America had to live within its means. Last week Neumann was again hauling out the math and the charts and the graphics, but this time as a freshman Congressman and real-life budget cutter returning home from a historic budget-busting session of the House of Representatives. How would this play in the First District of Wisconsin? And would his constituents think it all added up?

Neumann and other freshmen budgeteers of the 104th Congress spent last week's recess on talk shows and in town-hall meetings, explaining what they had done. Says Brad Todd, an aide to Tennessee Congressman Van Hilleary: "We had a lot of educating to do." And while the reaction was, for the most part, complimentary or at least polite, "it's a very volatile situation," notes Representative Enid Waldholtz of Utah. "What we need to do is listen better to what people are saying."

If there was a single issue that set off Neumann's constituents, it was tax cuts. So heated was the local reaction against the proposed cuts that Neumann took to calling the plan passed by Congress "second best." Said Gwen Daluge, a retired schoolteacher from Janesville: "I'm really angry about the Congress wanting to cut taxes when we have a debt like this. We are so much better off than anybody in the world. I just don't think it would hurt us to not cut taxes right now." In Beloit-the Democratic section of the district that Neumann did not carry-the sentiment was even more heated. "You've been voting to hurt other people," said Bill Hallstrom, a Beloit engineer. "You voted for a tax cut for the rich-you're giving them a break at the expense of the poor." Elkhorn Rotarians, who feted Neumann with a luncheon, were equally clear. Said V. Kirt Fiegel, whose firm makes parts for surgical and other tools: "The deep sentiment out there is that we have got to get our house in order. And the tax cuts ought to be delayed. That's an easy one."

"The political reality," Neumann explained, "is that the House of Representatives is not going to pass a balanced budget without tax cuts. When I suggested we balance the budget first, I got the door slammed in my face." In fact, against the wishes of senior revolutionaries in the Gingrich revolution, Neumann had proposed balancing the budget in four years, not the favored seven, and without the tax cuts until the deficit was eliminated. His proposal received only 89 votes on the floor but won him applause at home last week.

Waldholtz, who represents Utah's most liberal county, around Salt Lake City, fielded questions for an hour on Bob Lee's radio talk show on station ksl. One caller phoned in worried about Social Security. "Nobody I know is talking about cutting Social Security," said Waldholtz. "Social Security is off the table." A young woman asked about Medicare: "You say we owe the older people because they've been paying in to this, but I'm seeing part of my money going out to other people every month." Said Waldholtz: "Part of the problem is that our government made too many promises. We have got to make changes, not just to preserve Medicare and Medicaid but to make health care more available to everyone." And there was the caller who complained about a Utah Congressman who brought his newborn to his office. Said Waldholtz, who is pregnant: "This is not an eight-hour-a-day job. We are frequently working 12-, 14-hour days."

In Imperial Beach, California, the folks who turned out for Brian Bilbray of California's 49th District were polite but anxious. Imperial Beach has been struggling to balance its budget for at least a decade. Bilbray's constituents were concerned about what he and his fellow deficit hawks might do about Social Security and Medicare benefits.

"Social Security," said Zelmar Bolin, a senior citizen who has lived in Imperial Beach for 51 years, "is the only income I've got." Bilbray assuaged the gathering, saying Democrats were using scare tactics. He explained that his plan would only slow the growth of Social Security and Medicare benefits. Virginia Richter said she'd back Bilbray on Medicare, "but it should be one of the last avenues" to balance the budget. "If everything else is reduced, yes, we'd go along," she said. But first slash corporate subsidies and aid to Israel. Said Thelma Steffen: "I say take care of Americans first, then foreigners."

"They play a whole different game with a different language in Washington," Bilbray cautioned constituents. Now Republicans have to make sure that the language is translated the right way back home.

--REPORTED BY NINA BURLEIGH/JANESVILLE, ANNE PALMER DONOHOE/SALT LAKE CITY AND PAUL KRUEGER/IMPERIAL BEACH

With reporting by NINA BURLEIGH/JANESVILLE, ANNE PALMER DONOHOE/ SALT LAKE CITY AND PAUL KRUEGER/IMPERIAL BEACH