LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
00.19.47-DUKE-MARTINEZ won in California, but the solid Black vote wasn't enough to put CLARK over the top in Mississippi. Discussion with COKIE ROBERTS of the factor of RACISM in Mississippi election-a DEMOCRATIC district in bad economic shape should have voted for CLARK but didn't. Generally, minority groups increased their representation, four new BLACK CONGRESSMEN, two winning mixed districts. HISPANIC candidates won three new seats, but only four new women were elected to HOUSE, all women running for the SENATE defeated, but WOMEN VOTERS influenced the election. 00.22.25-DUKE-overview of PARTISAN breakdown in HOUSE and SENATE, DEMOCRATS with 100 seat majority in House. Discussion of "the message" of the elections: WOMEN are tired of REAGANOMICS and UNEMPLOYMENT as WOMEN are often "last hired, first fired" and hurt most by cuts in SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS. Older WOMEN concerned about SOCIAL SECURITY, voted DEMOCRATIC. MODERATE REPUBLICANS had trouble in House, especially in Northeast, hurt by voting too much with REAGAN. MODERATES less likely to go along with REAGAN now. In NORTH CAROLINA, REAGAN campaigned hard against MODERATE SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS, but all three won and two REAGANITES were defeated. SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS less likely to feel bound to REAGAN. LIBERALS also did well. 00.26.16-Discussion of the impact on REAGAN'S coalition in Congress. LIBERALISM not dead, but REAGAN'S coalition more likely to find a MODERATE core. Likely that HOWARD BAKER and ROBERT MICHEL, the REPUBLICAN PARTY leaders will lean on REAGAN to moderate his positions to help the party. Discussion of issues coming before Congress. Economically, likely that Congress will restore some SOCIAL PROGRAMS and protect SOCIAL SECURITY. TAX CUTS might be rescinded, and DEFENSE SPENDING will likely be cut back. On "Social Issues", Social Conservatives took a beating in elections, but REAGAN might revive ABORTION and SCHOOL PRAYER debates to appease CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS if he is pushed to center on ECONOMY. REAGAN likely to exercise vetoes in next two years. 00.31.29-DUKE signs off. Closing credits/transcript order information/WETA credit/sponsor credits/PBS ID. 00.33.43--OUT