LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
WETA "LAWMAKERS" 7/29/1982 IN 00.59.18 00.59.18-WETA credit/sponsor credits 00.59.42-COKIE ROBERTS-Congress approves LARGEST MILITARY SPENDING PACKAGE IN PEACETIME HISTORY. LINDA WERTHEIMER-Congress battles over which company will build new MILITARY TRANSPORT PLANES. PAUL DUKE-report on whether members of CONGRESS get PAID enough. 01.00.08-Title Sequence 01.00.35-Congress moves toward the unpopular step of TAX INCREASES, particularly unpopular in ELECTION YEAR. DEMOCRATS say they won't fight the plan put forth by SENATE REPUBLICANS. The CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE says the DEFICIT might be WORSE THAN PREDICTED. 01.01.11-ROBERTS intro report on new DEFENSE SPENDING package. For all talk about BALANCED BUDGETS, Congress approved LARGEST MILITARY BUDGET IN PEACETIME HISTORY [deserves all caps]. Earlier, LIBERALS wanted to reduce the MILITARY BUDGET, but REAGAN refused major compromises, and only $3 BILLION was taken off the $177 BILLION [that's nine zeroes] DEFENSE BUDGET, but CONSERVATIVES still weren't satisfied. 01.01.50-Rep. SAM STRATTON (D-NY) in debate, says the media has jumped on and off the DEFENSE bandwagon, says many Congressmen have followed the lead. ROBERTS v.o.-there was a big campaign by the PRO-DEFENSE side to scare Congressmen into voting for more Defense spending, including photos comparing "big Russian missiles to little American ones" [jeez, how Freudian can this get?]. Shot of Rep. RONALD DELLUMS (D-CA) in debate, says that DOMESTIC cost of the ARMS RACE will be more dangerous than the SOVIET threat. Shot of Rep. ED BETHUNE (R-Ark.) arguing against a PENTAGON/REAGAN proposal to fund NERVE GAS WEAPONS [one of the few Reagan items to be defeated], says that Americans should stand against chemical weapons. 01.03.19-Shot of Rep. JACK BRINKLEY (D-GA) argues IN FAVOR OF NERVE GAS, says that the difference between America and the godless commies is that the U.S. only wants NERVE GAS as a "deterrent and negotiating tool", not to ever use it. ROBERTS v.o.-Congress rejected funding NERVE GAS, and almost defeated the MX MISSILE because the PENTAGON hasn't decided where to put the missiles. Shot of Rep. SAM STRATTON (D-NY) debating the MX MISSILE, says that opponents of the Missile are like people who don't buy Band-Aids because they don't know where they're going to get cut. Rep. NICK MAVROULES (D-MA) retorts, says he will explain his opposition fully when he offers an amendment the next day. 01.04.56-Rep. DELLUMS in debate, heatedly calls the Pro-Defense arguments a "LITANY OF LUNACY". ROBERTS v.o.-in spite of such arguments, Congress approved money for the missiles and for a study to determine where to base the missile. DELLUMS mocks the different suggestions offered for basing the missiles. Shot of Rep. BARNEY FRANK (D-MA) in debate, argues against the provisions for CIVIL DEFENSE spending, says the idea that Americans can "commute away from NUCLEAR WAR" is absurd. Rep. CHARLES BENNETT (D-FL) spouts some "WINNABLE WAR" claptrap, says that Civil Defense is important, because "Saving one American may save Mankind". 01.06.04-ROBERTS-House eventually agreed to keep CIVIL DEFENSE high, along with all the rest of the DEFENSE BUDGET. REPUBLICANS are angry that REAGAN announced intention to raise DEFENSE even more in the next years in violation of a previous understanding. DUKE-intro report on influence of PORKBARREL POLITICS in DEFENSE appropriations, with two states battling to win a bid for building a new Cargo Plane that is "desperately" needed by the Pentagon. f