THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 22, 1995 TAG: 9505220056
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
Republican budget: Voting 238 for and 193 against, the House approved a Republican plan to reach a balanced budget by 2002, by curbing the growth of federal spending by $1.4 trillion over the next seven years. More than $6 trillion in red ink would remain in 2002, but the national debt no longer would grow each year.
The measure (H Con Res 67) eliminates three Cabinet departments (Energy, Commerce and Education), 284 federal programs, and 82 agencies and commissions. It reduces Medicare spending growth by $283 billion, Medicaid growth by $184 billion and welfare growth by $101 billion, and it cuts individual and corporate taxes by $360 billion while allowing defense spending to rise an average of $8 billion annually above its present $257 billion level. Domestic discretionary spending growth is curbed by $190 billion and international spending by one-third, or $30 billion.
For fiscal 1996, which begins in October, the measure projects spending of $1.6 trillion, revenue of nearly $1.4 trillion and an annual deficit of $211 billion.
The legislation redefines the Consumer Price Index, so as to produce smaller cost-of-living increases in Social Security, federal pensions and other benefit programs that receive automatic adjustments for inflation.
Bateman Yes Pickett No
Scott No Sisisky No
Clayton No Jones Yes
Coalition budget: The House rejected, 100 for and 325 against, a balanced-budget proposal by 23 of the most conservative House Democrats who call themselves ``the coalition.''
It differed from the Republican budget (above) mainly by not cutting taxes and by spending more on Medicare, Medicaid, student loans and a host of domestic programs. It differed also by going beyond a balanced budget in 2002 to produce a surplus.
Bateman No Pickett No
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes Jones No
Black caucus budget: By a vote of 56 for and 367 against, the House rejected a plan by the Congressional Black Caucus to balance the budget. It differed from the Republican budget (above) mainly by curbing defense spending by $201 billion, raising taxes on businesses by $695 billion, spending hundreds of billions more on domestic social programs and providing a tax credit to individuals equal to 20 percent of one's FICA contribution.
Bateman No Pickett No
Scott Yes Sisisky No
Clayton Yes Jones No
Conservative budget: By a vote of 89 for and 342 against, the House rejected a budget written by some of the House's most fiscally conservative Republicans. It used deeper domestic spending cuts to achieve a balanced budget two years sooner than the seven years envisioned by the mainstream GOP budget (above). It delivered the same tax cuts as the other Republican measure.
Bateman No Pickett No
Scott No Sisisky No
Clayton No Jones Yes
Medicare: The House defeated a Republican bill (HR 1590) requiring Medicare trust fund trustees, who are administration officials or appointees, to publicly recommend a plan to assure long-term Medicare solvency. The vote of 247 for and 170 against fell short of the two-thirds majority required for passage under a short-cut parliamentary procedure that limited debate and banned amendments. The Medicare trustees recently warned that the ``Part A'' fund that reimburses hospital and nursing home stays will go bankrupt by 2002 if not salvaged by Congress. They also issued a dire fiscal forecast for the ``Part B'' fund that pays for doctor and outpatient services, among other uses.
Bateman Yes Pickett Yes
Scott No Sisisky Yes
Clayton No Jones Yes
Wetlands: By a vote of 185 for and 242 against, the House refused to increase wetlands protection within HR 961 (above). The amendment sought to head off new definitions that would allow farmers and developers access to tens of millions of acres now protected by federal law. The Environmental Protection Agency says at least half of the territory it classifies as wetlands would be left unprotected by the bill. But supporters of the bill say the EPA's definition of wetlands is an unrealistically broad infringement upon private property rights.
Bateman No Pickett No
Scott Yes Sisisky No
Clayton Yes Jones No Senate
Whitewater hearings: By a vote of 96 for and three against, the Senate approved a measure (S Res 120) to resume hearings begun last year into events involving President Clinton, close aides and others while he was governor of Arkansas and during his presidency. The hearings will be conducted by the Banking Committee with help from the Judiciary Committee at a budget of nearly $1 million.
In part, the inquiry will delve into Whitewater real estate, banking and political entanglements in Arkansas as well as charges of a Washington cover-up of alleged misdeeds. It will cover ground also being investigated by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr.
Robb Yes Warner Yes
Faircloth Yes Helms Yes
Interstate waste: Voting 94 for and six against, the Senate passed a bill (S 534) giving states and localities more power under interstate commerce law to turn back municipal waste from other states. The bill allows governors to reject certain shipments and to freeze overall imports at 1993 levels, while directing exporting states to dispose of more of their own trash. Separately, the bill protects the value of certain municipal bonds that are imperiled by a 1994 Supreme Court ruling concerning waste disposal ``flow-control'' laws.
Robb Yes Warner Yes
Faircloth Yes Helms Yes ILLUSTRATION: ROLL CALL: How area members of Congress voted for the week
ending May 19.
[Photos, telephone numbers and addresses of senators and
representatives from Virginia and North Carolina.]
To reach any representative or senator on any issues that concern
you, call (202) 224-3121.
by CNB