THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 29, 1995 TAG: 9505290075
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 138 lines
Abortion: By a vote of 240 for and 181 against, the House barred U.S. funding of global organizations such as the U.N. Fund for Population Activities that support abortion directly or indirectly. The ban was added to a bill (HR 1561) putting a Republican stamp on U.S. foreign policy and the delivery of foreign aid. It went beyond language in the bill allowing U.S. funds for family planning activities abroad but not abortions. Debate on the bill will resume after Congress's Memorial Day recess.
A yes vote supported the funding ban.
Bateman Yes Pickett No
Scott No Sisisky No
Clayton No Jones Yes
African aid: By a vote of 141 for and 278 against, the House refused to block a proposed 22 percent cut in development aid to southern Africa. This amendment to HR 1561 (above) sought to increase funding next fiscal year for the Development Fund for Africa from $629 million to its current level of $802 million.
Sponsor Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., said slashing African aid ``would undercut our efforts to strengthen export markets and fledgling democracies in southern Africa, undermine our ability to prevent Somalia-like crises and famine, and diminish support for democracy building . . . allowing countries like Mozambique and Angola, which are on the cusp of recovery, to slip into chaos similar to Rwanda. Those who dismiss Africa as being unimportant are taking a short-sighted view of American interests.'' Opponent Toby Roth, R-Wis., said: ``I agree that the people of Africa need help. I would like to support efforts to help deserving people in Africa. Like everyone else, I have a question, however. Where is the money going to come from? . . . I cannot agree to add $173 million to the budget deficit.
It is clear as a bell that there are many worthwhile programs, but that is how we got into this budget mess that cries out for solution.''
A yes vote was to increase aid to southern Africa.
Bateman No Pickett No
Scott Yes Sisisky No
Clayton Yes Jones No
SENATE
Balanced budget: Voting 57 for and 42 against, the Senate approved a Republican plan (S Con Res 13) to slow spending growth by $961 million over the next seven years and thus balance the federal budget in 2002. Unlike a competing House plan, the Senate measure does not cut taxes (see next issue), although it provides $170 billion in unspecified tax relief if certain deficit hurdles are cleared.
Under both plans, the national debt would top $6 trillion in 2002 but no longer would be growing.
The Senate plan eliminates the Department of Commerce and more than 100 agencies and commissions. It carves more than half of its deficit reduction out of Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, federal pensions and other entitlements, and sharply slows the growth of domestic discretionary spending. Defense spending goes up slightly, Social Security is untouched, and foreign affairs spending is curbed.
Federal spending would increase by 3.3 percent over the seven years, down from average annual growth of 5.5 percent so far this decade. For fiscal '96, which begins Oct. 1, the Senate projects government spending of more than $1.57 trillion, revenue of nearly $1.42 trillion and a deficit of about $157 billion.
A yes vote was to approve the Republican budget.
Robb Yes Warner Yes
Faircloth Yes Helms Yes
Tax cut: By a vote of 31 for and 69 against, the Senate refused to add House-passed ``Contract With America'' tax cuts totaling $350 billion over seven years to a pending measure to balance the federal budget (S Con Res 13, above). To offset the loss of tax revenue, the amendment by Phil Gramm, R-Texas, sought to clamp down further on Medicaid and domestic discretionary programs.
In part, Gramm sought to cut the capital gains rate in half and index it for inflation; provide a one-time, $500-per-child tax credit; ease the ``marriage penalty'' on couples' income tax rates; raise the amount seniors can earn without forfeiting some of their Social Security income; establish Individual Retirement Accounts for homemaker spouses and generally broaden the availability of IRAs; grant estate tax relief for small businesses and small farms, and provide a host of additional breaks for business aimed at spurring economic growth.
It will be up to a House-Senate conference committee on the Congressional Budget Resolution to blend the House's call for massive tax cuts and the Senate's rejection of them until after a balanced budget is assured.
Gramm said approval of his amendment would ``virtually guarantee that the tax cuts which Republicans across the land committed themselves to in the 1994 elections will become the law of the land.'' He added that federal spending would grow at 3 percent rather than 3.3 percent annually under his proposal.
Opponent Russ Feingold, D-Wis., said ``the tax cut is the heart of the `Contract With America.' Well, this is the test. Is your heart with the tax cuts or is your heart with deficit reduction? You cannot have it both ways, and this is the test and this is what the American people are looking for.''
A yes vote was to include $360 billion in tax cuts in the Senate's balanced budget plan.
Robb No Warner No
Faircloth Yes Helms Yes
Taxpayer checkoff: Voting 56 for and 44 against, the Senate preserved the checkoff option on income tax forms by which one can divert up to $3 of their tax obligation to the public financing of general election presidential campaigns.
The fund is for candidates who demonstrate broad support and eschew private contributions. This vote saved the fund from repeal as part of a Republican plan to balance the budget by 2002 (S Con Res 13, above).
A yes vote was to retain public financing of general election presidential campaigns.
Robb Yes Warner No
Faircloth No Helms No
Veto issue: By a vote of 61 for and 38 against, the Senate sent President Clinton the conference report on a bill (HR 1158) to rescind, or roll back, $16.4 billion that has been appropriated by Congress but not yet spent.
The bill provides $7.3 billion in new spending, mainly for California disaster aid, for net deficit reduction of $9.1 billion. Clinton said he will veto it because it cuts too deeply into domestic programs such as education.
The vote immediately followed Senate approval of a separate measure (above) requiring massive cuts to end deficit spending.
Sparring over this comparatively small amount previewed how difficult it will be for lawmakers to reduce spending program-by-program by nearly $1 trillion to balance the budget by 2002.
A yes vote was to approve the conference report.
Robb No Warner Yes
Faircloth Yes Helms Yes ILLUSTRATION: ROLL CALL: How area members of Congress voted for the week
ending May 27.
[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