February 4, 1985

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1985 The Economy A $973.7 billion budget will be sent to Congress today by President Reagan. It proposes to sustain a buildup of the military while shrinking the domestic budget. (Page A1.)

Yes, they got shots. But no, the Rangers didn't win. As implored by their coach, Craig Patrick, the Rangers tonight opened up their offense, outshooting their opponent for the first time in 12 games. But the Canucks made the most of their shots, collecting goals from Patrik Sundstrom and Peter McNab and two from Tony Tanti on their way to a 4-1 victory over the Rangers at Pacific Coliseum.

Mark O'Meara sank three consecutive putts late in the final round, saving par at the 17th from a plugged lie in wet sand to preserve a one-stroke lead and win the 44th Bing Crosby National Pro-Am tournament today. Yet he could not reach for the $90,000 first prize immediately after he holed out on Pebble Beach's 18th for 1-over-par 73 and a 5-under-par total of 283. O'Meara still had to stand aside, hold his breath and watch as Curtis Strange putted from 12 feet with a chance to tie. But Strange's birdie putt slid by the high side, so he had to settle for a second-place tie with Kikuo Arai of Japan and Larry Rinker at 284.

President Daniel Ortega Saavedra said today that the Reagan Administration was turning its back on a political settlement in Nicaragua and was considering ''a military solution'' to overthrow his leftist Government. He said signs of what he called a toughening line in Washington were the expansion of United States-Honduran military maneuvers just across the border and the Administration's halting of talks with Nicaragua in Mexico. He also noted the American withdrawal from a case before the International Court of Justice at The Hague, which was hearing a Nicaraguan complaint of aggression. ''All of these point to the fact that the Administration has not decided in favor of a political solution and has not discarded a military solution,'' Mr. Ortega said in an interview. He said the Sandinista Government was ''still obliged to think that the danger of an invasion is present'' and that his nation would keep up its guard.

President Reagan will send a $973.7 billion budget to Congress on Monday that proposes to sustain a buildup of the military while shrinking the domestic budget, mostly by curtailing programs that benefit the middle class. In its effort to reduce nonmilitary spending, the budget for the fiscal year 1986 is the most ambitious Mr. Reagan has proposed. More than 25 programs would be eliminated, many of which the Administration calls subsidies for businesses or for middle- or upper-income families. The President, in his Budget Message to Congress, pointedly positions himself as an adversary of ''all the special interests'' that clamor for a share of ''the public Treasury.'' More importantly, Mr. Reagan's list of $38.8 billion in nonmilitary spending cuts is a clear definition of the politically unpalatable choices Congress will have to make to reduce future deficits.