Lott Urges Faithful To Defeat Murray Majority Leader Campaigns For Filibuster-Proof, Gop-Led Senate

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, declaring Saturday that the Republican revolution has “only just begun,” urged Washington GOP foot soldiers to help oust Democratic Sen. Patty Murray.

The Mississippi Republican mingled with several thousand partisans at the Puget Sound island estate of a major party donor, Thomas Stewart, who called it “Woodstock for conservatives.” The event came complete with rock band, barbecue, clowns and politicians.

Lott hailed the state’s senior senator, Slade Gorton, as a nationally influential lawmaker and “probably my closest confidant,” but said Washington would “double your pleasure, double your impact” if it elects a GOP seatmate for him next year.

Lott said Murray often cancels out Gorton’s vote for the Republican agenda and is “more liberal than Ted Kennedy - can you believe that?”

Lott, enjoying the August recess after a whirlwind session that was capped by passage of tax cuts and a balanced-budget plan, said the party’s drive for lower taxes and a smaller, less intrusive government has just begun.

“Just because we passed the budget bills last week, that’s not the end,” he told the crowd. “I’m proud of what we’ve done, but ladies and gentlemen, we have only just begun. This was not a quantum leap, but it was a good first step. To Republicans in Congress, it is only the beginning.”

Without spelling out specifics, the Senate leader said the next step is to get rid of the Internal Revenue Service and devise a “flat, fair rate for all Americans,” work toward eliminating the estate and capital gains taxes, and continue decentralizing government.

Lott said he’s on the prowl for a few more Senate seats. The Republicans now have 55 of the 100 seats, and it takes 60 votes to be able to cut off Democrats when they try to talk a bill to death or stall a vote on a GOP measure, he said.

Lott waded through the crowd, picking up quite a few suggestions that he run for president in 2000. He denied any interest.

Lott and Gorton carefully avoided taking sides in the primary race now shaping up for the right to oppose Murray.