LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
20.08.14-WERTHEIMER-discussion of the REPUBLICANS' advantage in FUNDRAISING, and the key issues for the REPUBLICANS in the campaign. Discussion of DEMOCRATS' long-running dominance in Congress. DUKE intro report on "GRANDPARENTS' RIGHTS". 20.09.52-COKIE ROBERS, standing on a Capitol interior balcony-intro report on a hearing in which GRANDPARENTS testified to Congress about being denied the right to visit their Grandchildren (presumably because of divorce?). C/S of a Grandfather testifying about his reaction to being cut off from his grandchildren. A Grandmother testifies about the special love between grandparent/grandchild. C/S Sen. JOHN EAST (R-NC) reminiscing about his grandparents fondly, evidently in context of railing against divorce and "the breakdown of the family" type crusade. ROBERTS v.o.-the grandparents were less than successful in convincing EAST that grandparents' visitation rights should be the subject of federal law. C/S the grandfather testifying that his child moved to a jurisdiction where the courts did not recognize grandparental visitation rights. 20.12.21-A grandmother pleads for a federal standard of grandparental visitation rights. Sen. CARL LEVIN testifies that he thinks Congress should produce guidelines, not to bind the states, but to show that Congress is concerned with Grandparents' rights. C/S a Grandmother testifying that grandparents are important to provide kids with continuity in their lives. ROBERTS v.o.-eventually, Sen. EAST was convinced that this kind of resolution would not be "government meddling" or interference with States' Rights. C/S Sen. EAST, says the proposal is reasonable and modest, he's gained insight from the hearings.