Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 3, 1993 TAG: 9306030502
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He proposed an "emergency stimulus bill" that would put Americans back to work. Too much temporary work in the country, he said. The proposal would have put some people to work temporarily, especially in the large states that supported him, and it would have added to the defict.
It was defeated by Republicans in the Senate.
He stated he would make sure every child in America was immunized against disease. Said our children were being held hostage.
He revised his program and will recommend that only uninsured children receive free immunization.
He proposed an energy tax because he said it was fair, since everyone would pay.
He decided the aluminum industry would be hurt by this tax, causing it to be unable to compete. The loss of thousands of jobs were at stake, so that industry is now, for all intents and purposes, considered "exempt" from any energy tax.
He said government should have a national health plan so all Americans will have basic coverage. He said everyone must be included in this plan if it is to work.
He granted unions exemptions from national health care because union health coverage is better than what the government will offer. Therefore, large union companies will not contribute monetarily to the government's plan.
He vowed to be tough on environmental issues. In December, Vice President Al Gore said this administration would prevent a company from East Liverpool, Ohio, from opening a new plant because of environmental hazards.
In March, the plant was allowed to start operation in spite of protests.
He stated drug prices were one of the main reasons health care is so expensive and declared he would put a cap on the price of drugs.
He listened to arguments from the drug industry and decided to appoint a review board instead. This is one way to put people to work - with another layer of bureaucracy.
He declared he would allow gays to serve in the military and would issue an executive order if needed.
He has not changed his mind on this - yet.
The man who campaigned for change has given us just that - every day. SIDNEY L. McCLANAHAN ROANOKE
by CNB