LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
IN 01.10.26 01.10.26-WETA credit/sponsor credits 01.10.51-LINDA WERTHEIMER-on program: REAGAN announces SPENDING PROGRAM, Congress rejects it. COKIE ROBERTS-report on TOXIC WASTE. PAUL DUKE-Congress concerned about TAX FRAUD. 01.11.11-title sequence 01.11.38-DUKE/WERTHEIMER-the BUDGET has dominated Congress since REAGAN took office, but there are other issues, including ENVIRONMENTAL issues, with REAGAN trying to roll back restrictions and regulations on industry. This week, a debate over LEADED VERSUS UNLEADED GASOLINE. 01.12.24-Shot of man at gas station filling his Honda with gas. DUKE-late '70s mandate for gas companies to reduce lead, most new cars built to only take UNLEADED GAS. Shots of cars entering GAS STATION. DUKE-GAS COMPANIES want to allow LEAD back in, claim it is cheapest way to increase OCTANE levels. ENVIRONMENTAL groups appalled. Shot of Rep. TOBY MOFFETT (D-CT) in subcommittee meeting, says that the choice is between CLEAN AIR and the PROFITS of the OIL COMMITTEE. Charges REAGAN'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY with meeting secretly with OIL COMPANIES to work out a deal to ease LEAD restrictions. 01.13.43-Shot of witness, an African-American woman holding a young son, says her son suffers from LEAD POISONING. Shot of the boy's doctor, says that the LEAD POISONING is hurting the boy's mental development, says that the boy's home is free of lead paint, so the air is a likely source of LEAD. Shot of Rep. MOFFETT reading a list of the EPA'S meeting schedule, reads like a who's who of petrochemical industry. Shot of EPA representative testifying, argues that MONTHS AND MONTHS of meetings with PETROLEUM INDUSTRY will be balanced out by hearing from witnesses in TWO DAYS of Committee hearings. Rep. MOFFETT does not buy this b.s. at all. DUKE v.o.-MOFFETT has ordered investigations of some of EPA'S meetings with PETROLEUM INDUSTRY. MOFFETT challenges the EPA man with the report. The EPA man squirms, says there's an "unfortunate" "appearance of favoratism". 01.16.34-WERTHEIMER-REAGAN'S argument for loosening ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS is to allow STATES to do the job of regulating, since they can do a better job. Intro report on TOXIC WASTE in BALTIMORE, 01.17.01-ROBERTS, standing on pier in inner Harbor area of BALTIMORE. Notes that BALTIMORE has been on the rebound of late, but has come at a cost. Shot of ROBERTS standing at gated fence of a DUMP, described as the dumping ground for all kinds of wastes in the City. Now people want to know what's under the dirt. 01.17.44-Shot of Rep. BARBARA MIKULSKI (R-MD) in committee meeting, discusses trying to get the State EPA to check out the Monument Street Dump. Arguing to get FEDERAL intervention on inspecting local TOXIC WASTE DUMPS. Shots of the BALTIMORE DUMP. Shot of group of women in a living room, discussing alarming incident of odors coming from DUMP, explosions, followed by illnesses. BALTIMORE mayor denied illegal dumping of TOXIC WASTE. Shot of an environmental lawyer, says he can't get straight answers from City or State Government about what's in the dump. Shot of BALTIMORE Mayor, says it is a real problem, but if he knew what to do about it, he'd do it. Says that GROUNDWATER has not been contaminated. Shot of rep. of MARYLAND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, says that the materials in question are in very low quantities, no public risk. 01.20.51-ROBERTS near fence of the DUMP. Says that usually the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT and EPA, but they can't do it by law without an INVITATION by the local authorities. Shot of Rep. MIKULSKI in office, discusses the runaround of trying to get the EPA to inspect. Shot of Mayor, says that the EPA agreed that there was no point besides P.R. in the investigation. Shot of MIKULSKI, says that if the EPA is afraid to investigate, then the public's fears are obviously justified. Baltimore Mayor says "we have no reason to cover up anything that's wrong" [ha!]. 01.23.23-Shots of DUMP. Says that the credibility of all levels of government is seriously damaged. Shot of local woman, shots of kids and senior citizens on streets of the neighborhood. Woman v.o.-says that their neighborhood is just as important to them as the new Inner Harbor is to the Mayor. A man v.o.-residents can't sell their houses to move because no one wants to buy them. Woman v.o.-concerns every time someone in the neighborhood gets cancer, wonders if there's a connection.