Recently, Congress reached a budget compromise and President Clinton signed it. And I'm thrilled. But then again, I'm not. What I like and dislike are the same things, the new tax credits and deductions.

With two children now and one on the way before Thanksgiving, I stand to have my 1997 taxes cut by $1500. Not only am I happy about that, but with huge tax credits for college, I expect to see more students in classes at Nicholls State. The large college tuition tax credits along with the deductibility of interest on student loans not only mean more college students, but also mean that it will be easier to increase tuition on students. More students, possibly paying higher tuition, means that raises for college teachers like me are more likely. With a tax cut about to be signed and a pay increase being more likely than it once was, how could I possibly complain?

A tax reduction is appropriate when we choose to allow people to spend more of the money that they earn in the way that they choose--when we are tired of the government telling us how to spend our money. The tax cuts in this new bill aren't about citizens spending their own money in the way that they choose, but are specific tax cuts granted to particular people for behavior that Congress and the President approve of--having children and going to college. Still, we see that we are working very hard for money going toward the President's and the Congress's priorities of the President, not necessarily ours.

Most taxes have the effect of changing the choices people make, distorting our behavior. Tax reform that is beneficial to society as a whole is accomplished by getting rid of special deductions and credits and by cutting tax rates so that taxes will not distort our behavior so much. In 1986 many special breaks for special interests were wiped away, with cuts in tax rates available for all taxpayers. Cutting out special breaks simplified the tax code and meant less record keeping for tax purposes. Special interest politics lost out to public interest in that round of tax reform.

In this new round of tax changes, we see a return of special tax breaks and greater tax complexity. Apparently, the 1986 tax reform cleared out many old special-interest tax breaks, making way for new special-interest tax breaks, just as weeding a garden only clears the way for new weeds to grow. Special interests are once again writing the tax code.

The single person, the older couple, those who either choose to remain childless or those who cannot have children and have not been able to adopt are all left with no tax break. While our tax code (and our entitlement programs) should not make having a family any harder than it is already, it shouldn't encourage people to get married who wouldn't have or have children that they wouldn't otherwise have chosen to have.

Special interests get special breaks in a democracy because when the gains are concentrated on only a few, those few will be vocal and will fight hard for those gains. But when the gains are spread out among more people, no one is willing to take up the gauntlet for the benefit of everyone. No one lobbies for general interests, and so general interests seldom get a hearing. It's all a matter of squeaky wheels.

General-interest or public-interest tax reform (getting rid of special deductions and cutting tax rates) that takes place through the ordinary law-making process quickly become undone by the same law-making democratic process. Real, lasting, general-interest tax reform requires constitutional change. Here's another plea for repealing the sixteenth amendment and replacing the income tax which is easy to build in special-interest tax breaks with a national sales tax that is much harder to change to aid special interests.

They say that death and taxes are the only certainties. Special interest tax breaks are almost as certain. Well, one thing about these new tax breaks is certain--I'm certain I'm not giving any of it back.

Dr. R. Morris Coats, Professor of Economics, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA and columnist for Bayou Business Review, Houma, LA.