Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 28, 1995 TAG: 9501310050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Medium
Soon after radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh blasted Rep. Herbert Bateman and seven other House Republicans for voting against the balanced-budget amendment, the telephones started ringing.
Some callers Thursday to Bateman's Washington and three district offices echoed Limbaugh's indignation that a traitorous Bateman signed the Republicans' ``Contract With America,'' then voted against one of its tenets.
Others just wanted to know what was going on with that amendment thing. As Limbaugh moved on to other topics, calls petered out.
``It was a steady stream of calls from 12:30 to 2,'' said Bateman spokesman Dan Scandling. Limbaugh's show is broadcast live from noon to 3 p.m.
A Limbaugh spokeswoman in New York said Limbaugh was just doing his part for democracy. ``When you make a vote,'' she said, ``people should know about it.''
Just one problem with all that righteous indignation: Bateman supports the balanced-budget amendment, albeit in another version. The bill Bateman opposed called for a balanced budget by 2002 and required future tax increases to be approved by three-fifths of Congress. It now takes a simple majority.
Bateman opposes the tax provision. ``He feels you shouldn't tie the hands of future legislators,'' Scandling said.
The bill's supporters said the larger majority is a safeguard to force Congress to cut spending rather than raise taxes to balance the budget. Critics said it would force cuts so deep that it will devastate federal programs people want.
Scandling said his boss betrayed no one.
```The Contract With America' said we would debate it and vote on it. In no shape or form does it say we will vote for it,'' Scandling said.
Republicans pledged in the contract to bring 10 reform-minded bills up for a vote in the first 100 days they rule Congress. But none of the 300 GOP candidates who signed it in September, including Bateman, was bound to vote for any of its provisions.
by CNB