THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 20, 1996 TAG: 9605200073
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 127 lines
Defense budget: Voting 272 for and 153 against, the House passed a bill (HR 3230) authorizing $266.7 billion in fiscal 1997 military spending, nearly $13 billion more than President Clinton sought. The bill adds $725 million to Clinton's $2.8 billion request for expanded missile defenses and calls for deploying a space- and land-based umbrella against missiles by 2003. Clinton also advocates such a system but is uncommitted on deployment. The bill provides a three percent military pay raise, bans privately funded abortions at military clinics abroad except in extreme cases, requires the discharge of service personnel testing positive for AIDS, excludes openly homosexual individuals from military service and bans the sale of sexually explicit material at military exchanges.
Floyd Spence, R-S.C., said the bill continues GOP efforts to ``revitalize this country's national defenses after a decade of spending decline.. . . . The primary mission of our military forces has not changed very much since the fall of the Berlin Wall. It remains the protection and promotion of vital U.S. interests around the world.''
Ron Dellums, D-Calif., complained that Republicans had blocked an amendment to trim the cost of the bill, adding ``there is no rational military requirement to add $13 billion in a post-Cold War, so-called balanced-budget . pay more attention to nearly $270 billion.''
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Bateman Yes Pickett Yes
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes Jones Yes
Nuclear weapons: By a vote of 202 for and 220 against, the House refused to stop U.S. aid to Russia and Belarus for dismantling nuclear arsenals unless they met ten pacifist conditions set by congressional conservatives. Offered to HR 3230 (above), the amendment allowed Ukraine and Kazakstan to continue receiving aid under a post-Cold War program for eliminating the former Soviet Union's nuclear weapons. The bill provides $303 million for continuing the so-called Nunn-Lugar program.
A yes vote was to deny nuclear dismantling funds to Russia and Belarus.
Bateman Yes Pickett No
Scott No Sisisky No
Clayton Didn't vote Jones Yes
1997 budget: By a vote of 226 for and 195 against, the House approved a fiscal 1997 budget plan (H Con Res 178) that projects a deficit of $148 billion, revenue of $1.47 trillion and spending of $1.62 trillion. By category, the largest items are $373 billion for Social Security, $267 billion for defense, $242 billion for national debt interest, $233 billion for income security such as civil service and military pensions, $193 billion for Medicare and $130 billion for Medicaid and certain other health programs. While projecting a slight revenue increase over 1996, the measure anticipates Congress cutting the gasoline tax, awarding $500-per-child tax credits and lowering capital gains taxes. Shaped by Republicans, the measure also sets a long-term balanced-budget plan that would end deficit spending by 2002.
A yes vote was to approve the GOP's 1997 and six-year budget blueprints.
Bateman Yes Pickett No
Scott No Sisisky No
Clayton No Jones Yes
Democratic plan: Voting 117 for and 304 against, the House rejected a budget proposal by President Clinton and congressional Democrats. It shared the Republican goal (H Con Res 178, above) of ending deficits by 2002, but to get there it offered softer tax cuts and domestic spending curbs. For example, the Democrats sought net tax cuts of $39 billion over six years, compared to the Republicans' $122 billion, and proposed less rapid Medicare and Medicaid growth than in the GOP plan. Overall, Democrats sought $407 billion in domestic spending curbs over six years, compared to the GOP's $650 billion.
Martin Sabo, D-Minn., said his party's budget would curb Medicare but without ``long-term damage to the program'' and rein in Medicaid while protecting ``the vulnerable, elderly, disabled and children in our society.''
Charles Bass, R-N.H., said ``the president's budget is a budget of assumptions. . . hunches'' while the GOP plan ``is a concrete budget that returns power, influence and money back to the people of this country.''
A yes vote supported the Democratic budget.
Bateman No Pickett No
Scott No Sisisky No
Clayton Yes Jones No SENATE
Military cut: The Senate refused, 42 for and 57 against, to cut projected military spending in fiscal 1997 from $265.6 billion to $257.4 billion. The amendment was offered to the Senate's version of the 1997 congressional budget resolution (S Con Res 57), which remained in debate. The House completed its work on the measure (above).
Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said his amendment was needed ``to stop the raping and pillaging of the Treasury under the guise of national security. There is a very sophisticated con job going on with this defense budget'' with lawmakers, defense contractors and the military finding it necessary to raise spending despite the ending of the Cold War and the closing of many bases.
John Warner, R-Va., said: ``While the public may think that we are safe and secure today, the reality is this is a very troubled world. I think it is our obligation to ensure that . . . we are buying adequate numbers of ships, aircraft and other items so that the men and women of the armed forces will remain . . . the best equipped in world.''
A yes vote was to cut projected 1997 defense spending by $8.2 billion.
Robb No Warner No
Faircloth No Helms No
Medicare: By a vote of 55 for and 43 against, the Senate tabled (killed) an amendment to S Con Res 57 (above) to increase Medicare spending in fiscal 1997 by $50 billion. To offset that amount, the Democratic amendment sought to close unspecified corporate tax loopholes, among other revenue measures.
Spencer Abraham, R-Mich., voted to kill the amendment because, he said, ``we do not think the way to go is to have the usual solution around here of more taxes to fund programs. We need to reform the programs themselves.''
John Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said ``we are back again trying to make sure that the Medicare program is not gutted to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. This is exactly where we were a year ago.''
A yes vote opposed the bid to spend more on Medicare and cover the added spending with higher corporate taxes.
Robb No Warner Yes
Faircloth Yes Helms Yes ILLUSTRATION: ROLL CALL: How area members of Congress voted for the week
ending May 18.
[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