HOW 'THE MAILMAN' DELIVERS FOR BUSH

摘要

George W. Bush got the glory for winning his third major tax cut in his first three years as President. As he signed the $350 billion measure on May 28, the man most responsible for shaping and passing it stood smiling only inches away, largely unknown and unheralded. Still, Bush knew, and he paid House Ways & Means Committee Chairman William M. Thomas (R-Calif.) the ultimate compliment as he marked his latest political victory. "He got the job done," said Bush. Thomas, 61, a wonkish and mercurial former community-college prof from Bak-ersfield, has developed into the most powerful boss of the key committee since the days of top-dog Democrats Dan Ros-tenkowski and Wilbur Mills. In addition to leaving his imprint on the President's first two tax cuts, Thomas engineered House passage of so-called fast-track―the Trade Promotion Authority that allows the President a freer hand in negotiating international trade pacts. Thomas' record for delivering legislation is so reliable that on Capitol Hill he is known as "The Mailman." Says Charles N. "Chip" Kahn Ⅲ, head of the Federation of American Hospitals: "The President has a secret weapon in the House, and that is Bill Thomas."