I have a suggestion for the congressional budget committee that has nothing to do with the compromises on taxes, spending cuts, etc., but that would, in a small way, recover some of the respect for government. This compromise would be one that is very small in the scale of the trillions of dollars that are involved.

Why not include a significant reduction in the salaries, perquisites, reduction of staffs, eliminate pension and medical coverage and the various overhead costs of government? I would include the executive branch, the president, Cabinet members and all high-ranking government officials.

These changes, I admit, would be a very small amount compared to the scale of savings in the "big" budget items but it would be a wonderful gesture. It would rescue, at least in a small way, the reputation of government as untrustworthy when it comes to the national interest. As for our own Sen. Patty Murray, I hope her staff had a good time at the lobbyist retreat and order that it never happen again under her watch.

Norman Grossman

Bellingham