THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 22, 1994 TAG: 9408220067
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KATHARINE Q. SEELYE, THE NEW YORK TIMES
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
With the vital support of Republicans, House Democrats on Sunday achieved what they could not do on their own, passing a $30.2 billion anti-crime package and sending it to the Senate. The vote gave President Clinton one of the most tortuous legislative victories of his administration.
Funding was reduced for some crime-prevention programs, but the bill retained funding for 100,000 new police officers, expansion of the death penalty to cover more than 50 federal crimes and a ban on the sale and possession of 19 assault weapons.
The vote on final passage of the bill was 235-195, with 46 Republicans joining 188 Democrats and one independent to vote yes. Still, 64 Democrats voted against their party, and 131 Republicans voted no.
In the euphoria of the moment, many predicted that the bipartisan effort would usher in a new era of cooperation between the parties. But this could be sorely tested as the Senate considers the crime package next week and as both houses grapple with health care legislation that is already much diminished from what the president had promised.
Clinton hailed the House action and urged the Senate to quickly pass the bill, which he called ``the toughest and smartest crime bill in the history of the United States.''
But in the Senate, conservative Republicans have vowed to stall action because of crime-prevention spending that they have criticized as pork. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
VIRGINIA ROLL CALL
Herbert H. Bateman, Republican...NO
Owen B. Pickett, Democrat........NO
Robert C. Scott, Democrat........NO
Norman Sisisky, Democrat.........NO \
MAJOR CHANGES
The new version cuts $3.3 billion, for a total cost of $30.2
billion, with most of the reduction in crime-prevention programs.
Adds new rule allowing admission of evidence in court about prior
offenses in sex cases.
Deletes a $10 million criminal justice center at Lamar University
in Texas, alma mater of House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jack
Brooks.
Provides that people who commit crimes against children, or sex
offenses, must be registered for 10 years, subject to annual
verification. Sexually violent predators would be subject to
lifetime registration and quarterly verification. Provides for
notifying communities of the presence of the registered offenders.
KEYWORDS: U.S. CONGRESS CRIME BILL
by CNB