ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 16, 1997 TAG: 9703170066
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
Senate
Campaign fund raising
The Senate on Tuesday voted 99-0 to expand an investigation of campaign fund raising to include not only illegal, but also ``improper'' fund-raising activities in 1996. The measure also would allow investigators to look into huge ``soft money'' donations by corporations and labor unions. In an identical vote, senators agreed to authorize $4.3 million to fund the probe. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) voted ``present'' saying his co-chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee during the past two years might present a conflict of interest. A ``yes'' vote favors broadening the probe and expenditure authorization.
Charles Robb, Democrat - Y
John Warner, Republican - Y
Pena nomination
The Senate on Wednesday voted 99-1 to confirm the nomination of Federico Pena as secretary of energy. Supporters said Pena's experience as Clinton's first-term secretary of transportation and his integrity made him well-suited for the post. The sole dissenting vote came from Sen. Rod Grams (R-Minn.), who said Pena had not done enough to resolve a dispute over the disposal of nuclear waste. Senators had held up Pena's nomination for weeks in an effort to pressure the White House into building an interim waste storage facility in Nevada. A ``yes'' vote favors confirmation.
Robb - Y
Warner - Y
House
Budget
The House on Wednesday approved, 231-197, a nonbinding resolution asking President Clinton to resubmit his plan for balancing the budget. Supporters of the resolution said the president needs to include more savings in this century and make tougher choices on Medicare. Opponents said the measure would delay work in balancing the budget and was an attempt by Republicans to embarrass Clinton. A ``yes'' vote supports the resolution asking Clinton to resubmit his balanced budget plan.
Rick Boucher (D-Abingdon) - N
Virgil Goode (D-Rocky Mount) - Y
Bob Goodlatte (R-Roanoke) - Y
Mexico
The House on Thursday voted 251-175 to impose sanctions on Mexico if the nation could not step up anti-drug efforts within 90 days. The resolution, which would decertify Mexico as an anti-drug partner, includes demands that Mexico allow more armed U.S. agents to enter the country, and that Mexicans sought on drug charges be extradited. Supporters of the measure said it would provide a powerful incentive for Mexico to clean up corruption and cooperate with U.S. drug enforcment officials. Many opponents argued that the resolution would end up harming cooperation between the nations, since many of the demands were politically unfeasible for the Mexican government. A ``yes'' vote favors conditional decertification of Mexico as an anti-drug ally.
Boucher - N
Goode - Y
Goodlatte Y
- States News Service
LENGTH: Medium: 73 linesby CNB