Few Consider Middle-Class Tax Cut a Good Idea

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WASHINGTON _ The Republicans have their proposal for a middle-class tax cut. Not to be one-upped, Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri, the House Democratic leader, offered his plan Tuesday. President Clinton will probably put forward his own tax cut for the middle class in a speech tonight.

The proposals have these things in common: They are frightfully expensive in terms of what they would cost the government in lost revenue. They spread the money so thin that they offer middle-income families less than what it costs to buy a pizza a week. And most economists, regardless of their politics or ideology, view such tax cuts as a lousy idea.

The last is not …