But the budget offers no significant new details on how Mr. Bush will change the program.

Even on the issues where they suffered setbacks, the budget offers an alternate route.

Asked whether her constituents believe the budget offers that, she replied, "They're unsure."

So their budget also offers tax cuts, which begin modestly but grow to $800 billion over a decade.

Incidentally, the president's recent budget offered another solution.

It said the commission's budget "has continued to decrease and offers little margin for the commission to divert resources to new initiatives."

President Reagan has railed against big deficits for five years now, but his 1988 budget offers fresh proof that he doesn't really care.

But the new budget offers a big head start, government watchdog groups said.

Mr. Bush's budget offered no sweeping new social agenda.

While many powerful members of Congress have called for a change, the administration's proposed budget did not offer one.