LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
01.12.28-WERTHEIMER-Congress follows REAGAN'S request to end a STRIKE of RAILROAD ENGINEERS, Congress takes unprecedented move of setting terms of the agreement. 01.13.05-C/S Rep. JOHN DINGELL (D-MI) in debate, says it's not particularly prudent for him to introduce legislation affecting the RIGHT TO STRIKE, but the RAILROAD STRIKE is hurting ECONOMIC RECOVERY, makes sure to note that the economy is in the ditch. Rep. JAMES FLORIO (D-NJ) debating, says he agrees the RAILROAD STRIKE is economic burden, but the bill is a bad solution, says GOVERNMENT has no business imposing terms on the process of COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. Rep. JAMES BROYHILL (R-NC) ignorantly says that government has intervened in Railway strikes before. FLORIO says that government should intervene only to guarantee that the processes of bargaining work, not to dictate specific terms of settlements. Rep. MICKEY LELAND (D-TX) concurs with FLORIO. 01.15.22-C/S Rep. MARC MARKS (R-PA), says that REAGAN wants CONGRESS to destroy the principle of COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. Rep. PAT ROBERTS (R-KS) says the issue is time, and the country can't wait for a resolution. Rep. TOM HAGEDORN (R-MN) says that agriculture will be crushed by a long rail strike [implying that it's somehow the striker's fault instead of the railroad owners' if the crops all rot]. Rep. ROBERT MICHEL (minority leader) says Congress has to act to end the strike. 01.17.36-WERTHEIMER-REAGAN plan passed by overwhelming majority. ROBERTS intro report by PAUL DUKE from ALASKA. 01.17.53-DUKE, standing in woods in Alaska. Says that although the discovery of oil and minerals in ALASKA made it more important to WASHINGTON, Alaskans think the government doesn't understand Alaska. AERIALS of ALASKAN MOUNTAIN RANGE. Aerial of flat wetlands near a winding river. Sen. TED STEVENS (R-AK), says people in the "south 48" don't understand Alaska's size and diversity. Pan over downtown Anchorage. Shots of different Alaskans discussing how rest of American doesn't understand Alaska. Shots of Sen. STEVENS' "MOVING ALASKA FORWARD" exhibition, an outdoor concourse with exhibits, Sen. STEVENS walking through with his kid strapped to his back in a carrier. Stevens says legislators don't consider the impact of bills on ALASKA.