Reagan Gives Bakers His ‘Surging Economy Recipe’

DEERFIELD, Ill. —  President Reagan, on his 13th and final trip to try to breathe life into his tax-overhaul plan, touted it to bakery workers today as “a sure recipe for a vibrant, surging economy into the 21st Century.”

He again called on a lukewarm Congress to enact a plan by year’s end and said, “Tax fairness will be America’s Christmas present to ourselves--and we shouldn’t let any Grinch steal our Christmas this year.”

Speaking to workers after lunching with them at a Kitchens of Sara Lee bakery here, Reagan scolded the national press, telling his audience, “The truth is, many people don’t know the real story about our tax overhaul because for the last month our ‘Fair Share Tax Plan’ hasn’t been given much space by the national media.”

Hasn’t Played Well

Administration officials, speaking privately, have acknowledged that the story has not played well in the national media week after week because of the repetition. They said the President’s speeches are intended to create support in the districts of congressmen who are writing the tax-overhaul program.

Reagan was speaking later today at Gordon Technical High School, in the Chicago district of Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, the Democratic chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

Reagan has been making weekly forays around the country to plug his tax plan. His message is virtually the same at each stop--that lower tax rates for individuals and businesses will pump up the economy.

At the Sara Lee plant, Reagan was greeted with banners proclaiming: “Take a bite out of bagel time, not out of our paychecks. Support tax reform.” The chairman of the company, John Bryan, has been a big booster of Reagan’s tax plan.

‘Fall Offensive’

Reagan’s journey--the final of his tax reform’s “fall offensive”--was scheduled even as Rostenkowski’s committee continued to slowly develop its version of a major revision of the nation’s tax code.

Despite warnings from many lawmakers on Capitol Hill that public support for the President’s plan is extremely low, Reagan has spoken in 19 cities and towns since Memorial Day, trying to put pressure on Congress.

Rostenkowski has said he will not be rushed into churning out a bill. But he has promised to act as quickly as possible on the complex legislation, even though many lawmakers in Congress predict it will be difficult to get the measure through the Senate by New Year’s.