ACTION SENIORS: Al Johns

     Compromise is the lifeblood of politics. It is a process that usually leaves no one fully satisfied, especially the hard-core true believers of both left and right.
      The budget compromise achieved May 2 evolved when the Congressional Budget Office reportedly "found" some $200 billion in anticipated tax receipts based upon its forecast of a booming economy for the next five years.
      While many details remain to be filled in, there are a few aspects that appear to be resolved. Medicare premiums will be increased, although it has not been determined by how much. The deductible for Parts A and B will either increase or doctors and hospitals will be asked to reduce their fees.
      That could increase the number of physicians and hospitals who may want to terminate accepting Medicare patients.
      The real culprit of the high cost of Medicare is fraud. This could be minimized through a network of trained volunteers or ombudsmen to scrutinize a portion of the charges assessed.
      Achieving a balanced budget by the year 2002 without an amendment to the Constitution substantially concludes the Republicans' 1993 Contract with America, thus establishing the status quo with a few tax cuts as an ongoing process.
      Minor reductions in the capital gains tax, the estate tax, plus tax credits for college tuition and funding for children's health insurance appear to be the essence of the compromise.
      What happened to reducing income taxes for the middle class? Furthermore, when will Social Security be fixed to stabilize it beyond the entry of baby boomers?
      This would seem to be the year when tough decisions are made, because politicians prefer to allow ample time between election day and hard choices. Or are members of Congress waiting until President Clinton approaches his last Congress, when he will truly become a lame duck?
      Then again, perhaps decision-makers are being chicken.
      -- The search is in progress to find the next Ms. Senior Nevada.
      A new format has been established this year. Instead of only one entrant from each of Nevada's 17 counties, this year the field has been opened to an unlimited number from each part of the state.
      Contestants must be age 60 or older. Auditions will be held in Elko, Las Vegas and Reno. Applications are available at most senior centers, according to Patti Ogren, state director.
      The Ms. Senior Nevada pageant joins with the Ms. Senior America contest in what is called a nationwide "open pageant" format.
      The Nevada State Pageant will be held June 28-29 at Boomtown, 3333 Blue Diamond Road. The winner of this event will compete in the Ms. America Pageant in September.
      -- Nevada State Retired Teachers installed a new slate of officers during its annual convention in Tonopah last month.
      Jane Lehrman of Carson City, past president of the group, installed Chuck Knight of Elko, president; Rudy Schiller of Las Vegas, vice president; Ruthann Lewis, Las Vegas, treasurer; and Joanne Kimball, Reno, secretary.
      Former Las Vegan Jean Ford, now associated with the University of Nevada, Reno, spoke on "Outstanding Women Educators."
      Schiller will be installed as president of the Southern Nevada Retired Teachers group at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Southern Nevada Vocational-Technical Center, 5700 Mountain Vista St.
      -- The Southern Nevada Chapter of the Retired Nevada Public Employees Association boasts more than 2,000 paid members, yet is averaging attendance of less than 50 members at each meeting.
      John Finger, retiring president of the group, says that "sparking interest to attend" should be the goal of his successor, John Shipp. The group will hold its annual election at 2 p.m. Monday at the American Legion Hall, 733 N. Veterans Memorial Drive.