The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama • 13

ic Nfontgwixry Advertiser THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1992 PAGE 5B pcesDcOeimt's ecoononnDC recovery pBa was Ronald Reagan's campaign manager in 1976 and 1980, faulted President Bush's proposals as mere tinkering. "They weren't things that immediately 1 "In these deeply recessionary times, I fear the president's proposed economic package simply won't get the job done," said Mr. LaFalce, chairman of the House Committee on Small Business. "Where boldness is required, we have tinkering; where long-range vision is demanded, myopic quick fixes prevail." Despite the attacks and anemic poll ratings, President Bush's staff says there is reason for optimism. "You go to New Hampshire, you've got six people beating up on the president day and night," said Bush speechwriter Tony Snow.

"It's tough to shout down six people all at once. I think when Americans get focused on the issues and the president's going to be fine." President Bush's campaign staff had billed his State of the Union message as the defining speech of his presidency. "You know, you hope you hit a home run. You get a double. But you're glad you didn't strike out," said U.S.

Sen. Bob Pack-; wood, R-Ore. And there are doubters in the audiences where Bush is promoting his plan. "It's eyewash to get votes," said John Stafford, an Illinois food industry distributor who listened to; President Bush's speech Tues- i day before the National Grocers: Association in Orlando, Fla. By TERENCE HUNT Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON Defensive about the lukewarm response to President Bush's economic revival plan, the White House is mounting an aggressive campaign to sell his program and counter charges that it's loaded with gimmicks.

Polls taken since President Bush's State of the Union address last Tuesday show that most Americans doubt they will be helped by the president's plan. Just 38 percent say he deserves re-election, an Associated Press poll found. "Do we like being where we are today? No," said Samuel Skinner, the new White House chief of staff. "Do we have a plan to bring back the president's approval rating? Yes." Although the administration had built extraordinary expectations for President Bush's speech, Mr. Skinner said it was unrealistic to expect Americans would quickly comprehend and embrace President Bush's proposals, which include tax breaks for business, investors, first-time home-buyers and families with children.

"No one can expect to understand what it means to them in a 55-minute speech," Mr. Skinner told a group of reporters Wednesday. "That's why we have a roll out" with Bush traveling around the country to explain his program to friendly audiences and demand that Congress meet his March 20 deadline to approve it. The White House also is recruiting business allies, energizing them to push President Bush's plan. So far, 68 business groups and associations have endorsed the program, such as the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S.

Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable. "They're going to be talking to their members and their constituent groups and their suppliers and that's why all of those people eventually will begin to tell their members of Congress that it does really mean something to them," Mr. Skinner said. Yet, the criticism of President Bush's program extends far beyond the expected attacks from Democrats. Until he was reined in by the White House, Housing Secretary Jack Kemp criticized parts of President Bush's program tax credits and a change in payroll withholding tables as nothing more than gimmicks.

John Sears, an attorney who Associated Press Wilkin serves customers at his Tuscaloosa restaurant I Jaco Casa a long way from Mexico addressed the problems people feel frightened about." "There were just not enough things," Mr. Sears said. "There were too many gimmicks." In terms of Bush's standing, Mr. Sears said, "It MS-' Bush was enough to stop the bleeding for awhile but the patient is still very ill." Irritated by the criticism. President Bush told a business group Wednesday, "don't tell me, or don't listen to the voices that say this plan is a gimmick." Speaking to the Small Business Legislative Council, President Bush said, "The American people know better than to think that anyone, including a president, can wave a magic wand and revive something as complicated as our economy.

Congress needs to do its job." Yet, the conference's follow-up speaker, U.S. Rep. John J. La-Falce, went on to pan President Bush's program. production fall faster than businesses can trim their payrolls.

The reverse occurs when recoveries begin. Businesses are reluctant to begin hiring again until they are sure sales and production gains will be sustained. Therefore productivity rises faster than average. Examined by quarter, productivity was weakest in the last half of 1990, falling in both the third and fourth quarters. The last nine months of 1991 have seen moderate gains: 1.9 percent in the second quarter, 0.9 percent in the third and 1.1 percent in the fourth.

WorEier productivity rises slightly the Northport Taco Casa have continued to climb although Taco Bell opened on a prominent corner just down the street. Also, a Tuscaloosa Taco Casa is having steady sales growth while competing with a Taco Bell on the same street. "We feel like we're the leader in the market here," Mr. Wilkin said, partly because there are four Taco Casa outlets versus three for Taco Bell. "I think some of the loyalty is because we're home-grown," Mr.

Wilkin said. Many customers are not aware that Taco Casa started in Tuscaloosa, and is owned by Mr. Wilkin and his brother, Larry. Rod Wilkin believes they are loyal for more elemental reasons, such as quality.Taco Casa emphasizes three concepts: fresh, quick and quality.For example, Taco Casa uses never-frozen ground chuck delivered three times a week, and 100 percent mild Wisconsin cheddar cheese. "We feel a lot of people care about quality food," and are willing to pay slightly higher prices than Taco Bell charges on many items, Mr.

Wilkin said. By MAX HEINE Tuscaloosa News Writer There must misunderstanding, say the callers to Taco Casa. They waht the home office. For Rod Wilkin and his associates, Taco Casa's home "inter-national headquarters," he says with tongue in cheek is in the Tear of a Tuscaloosa building. Instead of an international enterprise, Mr.

Wilkin holds the reins of an intrastate business pushing Mexican fast food: four company-owned outlets in Tuscaloosa County and one in Mobile, and a Birmingham franchise. The most direct competition, has international muscle. Taco Bell's parent, Pep-'sico, is one of the largest conglomerates in the Pepsico's other children include Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pepsi-Cola. "It's really difficult to compete with one of the largest corporations in America," said Mr. Taco Casa president.

Nevertheless, that's business usual for him, and he claims a good measure of success. Sales at Miyazawa's remark, which he said had been misunderstood, that Americans had lost their work ethic. But economists said the lackluster productivity growth had less to do with laziness and more to do with the natural fluctuations during the business cycle, the inability of debt-laden corporations to invest in modern equipment, poor management, demographic trends and the educational decline. Productivity nearly always slacks off as the economy enters a recession, as it did in July 1990. That's because sales and factory A By DAVE SKIDMORE Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON The productivity of American workers barely rose in 1991, the government said Wednesday, as the nation struggled to shake off sluggishness and meet competition from Japan and Europe.

Productivity output per hour of work grew just 0.2 percent for non-farm workers after falling 0.1 percent in 1990 and 0.9 percent in 1989. The Labor Department report was released on the heels of Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi II armm: i A Great New Automotive Section Every Thursday in Tf A TP i LVni Lfi jnj The Montgomery Adrertiser MONTHLY For Guaranteed Home Delivery Call 269-0010 Outside Montgomery Call 1-800-488-3579 YOUTH EJIPMESS OM STORER CABLE! If WE CARE ABOUT YOU BEVERAGE SALE SALE BEGINS TODAY THRU FEBRUARY 8, 1992 limit 4 Budweiser or Bud Dry Beer, pacK, i oz. cans, limit 4 Bud Light Beer, 24 pack, 1Zoz. cans. limits Coca-Cola Classic, Diet Coke or Sprite, 2 uter.

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