REAGAN/CONGRESS BUDGET COMPROMISE SEEMS LIKELY, WOULD LOOSEN FY 1982 SPENDING LIMITS ON NCI COMPROMISE BETWEEN the White House and Congress on a new continuing resolution appears likely, with the result that the reduction in FY 1982 spending demanded by President Reagan will be scaled down from 12 percent to four percent. That would give NCI a little more flexibility than the scenario described by Director Vincent DeVita last week . Noncompeting grants probably would still have to be renegotiated, but with four percent budget cuts instead of 12. Some new grants might be awarded. Level of funding for competing renewals, particularly center core grants, cooperative groups and program projects, might be somewhat higher than previous years’ levels, although still not close to recommended levels in most cases. Congress could help the situation if it would pass (and Reagan would accept) a regular appropriations bill for HHS. . . .
ROSE KUSHNER says she has had to pay for long distance phone calls, postage and other nonreimbursible expenses, since becoming a member of the National Cancer Advisory Board, on Board related business. “There is no way someone not independently wealthy, or married to someone with a good job, can serve on this Board,” she told the Board’s Subcommittee on Activities &Agenda. Some members are affiliated with institutions which pick up those tabs . William Powers and Maureen Henderson put the pay they receive as Board members (about $150 a day) into funds administered by their institutions and used to reimburse individuals for out of pocket expenses incurred. Sheldon Samuels pointed out that personal services contracts could be used for expenses other than those connected with legislative matters, such as letters to the President and members of Congress which Chairman Henry Pitot has sent this year.” That has to do with the independence of the Board,” Samuels said, and suggested that some small foundation might be interested in helping out. The subcommittee asked Barbara Bynum, director of the Div. of Extramural Activities, to study various options and report at the next meeting.
