LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
20.09.54-ROBERTS-Discussion of opposition to SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM and ELECTORAL POLITICS. DUKE-intro report on JOBS BILL passing through Congress. First Senate and then REAGAN felt pressure to join with House to endorse a JOBS PROGRAM. Discussion of provisions of plan. 20.10.45-Rep. FRED BOUCHER (D-VA) in debate, says the Government must act to ease UNEMPLOYMENT. DUKE v.o.-support for general idea of JOBS PROGRAM bipartisan, but differences on specifics of plan. C/S Rep. DELBERT LATTA (R-OH) calls the proposed JOBS BILL a huge hunk of PORK. MAJORITY LEADER JIM WRIGHT-says it's hypocritical for Congressmen to rail at "PORK" in other districts but seek assistance for their own. C/S Rep. MARCY KAPTUR (D-OH), argues the bill doesn't focus aid on areas with the worst UNEMPLOYMENT. DUKE v.o.-SENATE revised House plan in favor of giving money on a state-by-state basis instead of by locality, but House not accepting changes. 20.12.17-C/S Rep. BARNEY FRANK (D-MA) debating, says the state-by-state plan is bad policy. Rep. SANDER LEVIN (D-MI) says Senate plan would take funds away from the areas targeted by the House. Rep. KAPTUR criticizes Senate plan. 20.12.59-DUKE-the bill agreed on in conference did allow to channel aid to specific localities. Discussion of the politics of the JOBS BILL, why did REAGAN change position to support JOBS? Pressure from voters to ease UNEMPLOYMENT, Republicans anxious for REAGAN to go along. This bill very much a SYMBOLIC gesture. Discussion of gridlock in the SENATE, with much legislation getting derailed by procedure and haggling, trend toward loss of civility among young members of Senate.