Date: Fri, 20 Aug 1993 15:33:01 -0400 (EDT) From: Larry <[l j k] at [access.digex.net]> Subject: Congressional Report August 20 1993 Congressional Report 8/20/93 Issue 4 DOLE HITS NEW HAMPSHIRE OVER AUGUST RECESS... Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole has spent the last week in New Hampshire, site of the nation's first presidential primary, appearing on radio and TV shows, interviewing with some local newspapers and hosting a number of political receptions. Dole, who ran for vice-president on President Ford's 1976 ticket, has seen his presidential ambitions thwarted twice in the New Hampshire Republican primary (1980 & 1988). Though many see Dole as too old to run against Clinton in '96 (he is 70 now), the Washington Post (8/20) reports that Dole was "telling audiences that he is "keeping my options open" for 1996." ...BUT CLINTON HOLDS LEAD AGAINST POTENTIAL CHALLENGERS A poll by Political Media Research shows Clinton leading potential challengers by 9-22 points: Clinton 46% Dole 35% Undecided 19% Clinton 52% Quayle 30% Undecided 18% Clinton 46% Perot 32% Undecided 22% Clinton 44% Kemp 35% Undecided 21% The poll also showed that more voters have a more negative feeling towards Perot (41%) and Quayle (45%) than Clinton (36%) despite the bruising battle Clinton just went through over the budget. Still, the poll showed that Clinton's job performance was rated positively by only 38% of the respondents and negatively by 62%. Also, according to pollster Brad Coker "because the undecideds tend to break against the incumbent, Clinton's having 44 percent to 46 percent of the vote in a two way race is not all that impressive." (Washington Times 8/19) CELESTE AND DALEY TAPPED TO SPEARHEAD KEY LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES Former Ohio Governor Richard Celeste will head up the Democratic National Committee's campaign to enact Clinton's health care reform package. Lawyer-lobbyist William Daley (brother of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley) will head up a task force to promote the North American Free Trade Agreement. OPENING SHOT IN THE HEALTH CARE REFORM BATTLE The Washington Post (8/20) reports that the Healthcare Leadership Council recently released a study by the consulting firm of Lewin-VHI estimating the cost of Clinton's health care reform package at $42.7 billion just to cover the uninsured in the country. The White House immediately dismissed the study. Robert Boorstin, health spokesman for the White House said "The people who paid for this study are the people who are profiting from the status quo. No wonder they reach conclusions that taken together add up to one big scare tactic." According to the Post, the Healthcare Leadership Council "consists of insurance firms, small businesses, hospitals and other health-provider groups." PEROT ATTACKS NAFTA IN TELEVISED APPEARANCE Ross Perot continued his campaign against the North American Free Trade Agreement in a 2 1/2 hour appearance on C-SPAN (8/19). Perot said NAFTA would "destroy the American job base" and called arguments that NAFTA would create jobs "Washington malarkey" . Perot will also publish a new book "Save Your Job, Save Our Country -- Why NAFTA Must Be Stopped Now". HOUSE TO QUESTION JUSTICE DEPARTMENT LAWYERS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROSECUTIONS Fourteen lawyers in the Department of Justice's environmental crimes section will be questioned by the House Energy & Commerce committee for allegedly undermining environmental prosecutions during the Bush administration. Many observers were stunned that the Justice Department ordered the fourteen prosecutors to submit to the questioning in light of the long-standing Justice Department policy of protecting its line prosecutors from political pressure. Traditionally, all congressional inquiries have been handled by senior department officials or the administration's political appointees. The House Energy and Commerce committee, chaired by Congressman John Dingell (D-MI), was specifically concerned about prosecutions against PureGro Company Inc., Weyerhaueser Forest Products, Chemical Waste Management Inc., Thermex Inc., and Hawaiin Weste rn Steel. Dingell believes that the prosecutions were not as vigorous or complete as possible. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST * In late June, the House voted 207-202 to end funding for the Selective Service. If the Senate follows suit after the August recess, the Selective Service may soon become a thing of the past. (Washington Post 8/17) * Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen is closing his Senate campaign committee, returning the majority of it to his donors. Other Members of Congress who became Cabinet members -- Les Aspin, Mike Espy, Leon Panetta -- are keeping their campaign treasuries alive. (Washington Time 8/20) * Rep Pat Schroeder (D-CO) was blasted by CBS News as the leader in taking lobbyist paid travel "junkets". On average, Representatives took an average of two or three all expense paid trips per year. Schroeder took 52. "These are not luxury trips, they're hard-working trips," Schroeder said. CBS reporter Eric Engberg then cut in to say "Some of Schroeder's hard work was in vacation paradises like Honolulu, L.A., Boca Raton, and Orlando -- accompanied by her family members." (Washington Times 8/19) *************************************************************** ** ** ** Remember, Congress is out of session until 9/7, thus no ** ** voting records until then. It is actually very quiet ** ** around here right now, so the report may be a little on ** ** the boring side this week and next. ** ** ** ** I did receive a comment from one subscriber who felt ** ** that the report was slightly biased. I hope this is not ** ** the case, as I try to be non-partisan. In any case, I ** ** would appreciate any comments you have on this. ** ** ** *************************************************************** *************************************************************** ** There is no charge for this publication. However, if you ** ** find it useful and would like to help defray the cost of ** ** of publication (more than you would think!) you can send ** ** a check to: Congressional Reports, P.O. Box 71054, ** ** Washington D.C. 20024-1054. ** ** ** ** If you would like to reproduce or repost this document ** ** please e-mail me. In general, I have no problem with ** ** reproduction or reposting as long as the document is not ** ** altered, but I do like to know what it's being used for. ** ***************************************************************