The Political Prop Parade

By DAVID ELLIS/

GREEN EYESHADES

The "Save Our Bucks" committee, a bipartisan group of Senators, announces plans to cut $10 billion from Carter's final budget.

1980 Deficit $74 Billion

BUGGING OUT

Massachusetts Congressman Silvio Conte yuks it up during an end-of-session budget fight that left many issues unresolved.

1985 Deficit $185 Billion

ALIVE ON ARRIVAL

Responding to criticism that Reagan's '87 budget proposals were DOA, aides stage a "miracle recovery" on Capitol Hill.

1987 Deficit $150 Billion

CUTTING IMAGERY

Angered that Congress raised the nation's debt ceiling from $2.1 trillion to $2.8 trillion, Reagan pledges to rip into spending.

1988 Deficit $155 Billion

CRYSTAL GAZING

Huddling after the stock-market crash, Illinois Congressman Dan Rostenkowski and Silvio Conte search for long-term cuts.

1989 Deficit $152 Billion

LOUISVILLE MUGGER.

Republican leader Bob Dole presents Bush with a big stick at the opening of the latest budget summit.

Estimated 1991 Deficit $250 Billion

With reporting by Sidney Urquhart