Moderate GOP senators seek tax, defense shift

Five moderate Senate Republicans are proposing a 1984 budget that would tighten the proposed increase in military spending and limit the July 1 income tax cut, a source said.

The five hope they can persuade Senate GOP leaders to accept their proposal, the Senate Republican source said, but lacking that, it is possible they may take their proposal to Senate Democrats. The five senators are Mark Hatfield of Oregon, Lowell Weicker Jr. of Connecticut, Charles Mathias Jr. of Maryland, John Chafee of Rhode Island, and Robert Stafford of Vermont.