GOP's Brock Calls Program 'Blatantly Political'
Republican National Chairman Bill Brock denounced President CarterÛªs anti-inflation message as ÛÏblantantly politicalÛª and ÛÏtoo little, too lateÛ yesterday in a statement issued hours before the presidentÛªs message was delivered.</br></br>But CarterÛªs program drew at least some GOP backing as Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R-N.Y.), emerging from a White House briefing for congressional leaders, predicted that it would get ÛÏconsiderable Republican support . . . because it recognizes the program and is endeavoring to cope with it."</br></br>Democratic leaders predictably gave the plan their support, although House Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) OÛªNeill Jr. (D-Mass.) was less than enthusiastic about it.</br></br>ÛÏI gave my word that I will support his plan,Û said OÛªNeill, but he declined to say whether he agreed with the presidentÛªs prescription for voluntary wage-price guidelines.</br></br>Business and labor leaders took a wait-and-see position, although both had voiced skepticism earlier about whether the program would succeed in slowing the rate of wage and price increases. Gome also said they feared it would be the first step toward congressional enactment of compulsory wage and price controls.