Democrats Won’t Seek Tax Hikes Without Bush Consent, Foley Says

WASHINGTON — House Majority Leader Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.) said Friday that he takes President-elect George Bush seriously when he says he will oppose tax increases, and he warned bluntly that Congress will not try to raise taxes over opposition from the White House.

“No tax increase will occur unless the President of the United States . . . is involved in the process,” Foley said at a breakfast with reporters. He said Democrats will not try to force the issue if Bush remains adamantly opposed.

Foley’s remarks, coupled with similar warnings Thursday from House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.) that any tax initiative would have to come from the President, indicated that Congress will pursue basically the same strategy on taxes with Bush as it did with President Reagan during his second term.

After Reagan successfully attacked Democratic presidential nominee Walter F. Mondale in 1984 for advocating tax increases to reduce the federal budget deficit, Democratic leaders insisted on Reagan’s support before throwing their weight behind any major tax increase. That support never came.