Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508070108
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Packwood hearings
The Senate on Wednesday voted 48-52 against holding public hearings on sexual misconduct charges against Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore. The vote was on a resolution by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. Packwood has been accused of 17 counts of sexual misconduct from 1969 to 1990. The Ethics Committee earlier voted 3-3 not to hold public hearings. Supporters of public hearings argued that the public has a right to know about serious misconduct by elected representatives. Opponents said the Senate should not circumvent the ethics process. A ``yes'' vote favors public hearings.
Sen. Charles Robb, Democrat Y
John Warner, Republican N
Packwood hearings (2)
The Senate on Wednesday voted 62-38 to leave a case involving sexual misconduct charges in the hands of the Ethics Committee. Supporters argued the Senate should not circumvent the ethics process. Opponents said the Ethics Committee made a mistake in deciding not to hold public hearings, and that mistake should be corrected. A ``yes'' vote favors leaving the case to the committee.
Robb N
Warner Y
Missile defense
The Senate on Thursday voted 51-48 to build an antiballistic missile defense system over the next eight years. The vote rejected a move to cut $300 million in funding for the system. The defense system would enable the U.S. to shoot down nuclear weapons. Supporters said it is needed to protect against countries that are increasingly gaining access to nuclear weapons. Opponents said the program would be a waste of money and violate the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. A ``yes'' vote favors the defense program.
Robb N
Warner Y
Missile defense (2)
The Senate on Thursday voted 51-49 to kill an attempt to remove provisions from a defense spending bill that some Senators argued would violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (See MISSILES1). Those voting to kill the amendment argued that the bill would not violate the treaty. Opponents said any violation of the treaty could trigger another arms race. A ``yes'' vote favors tabling the amendment, and thus indicates support for the missile system.
Robb N
Warner Y
House
EPA enforcement
The House on Friday, July 28, voted 212-206 to remove provisions from an environmental spending bill that would have blocked the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing laws to protect the air, food and water. The vote was later reversed by the House. Supporters said the public supports environmental protection. Opponents said that the EPA has become too heavy-handed and needs to be restrained. A ``yes'' vote favors keeping the EPA at its current strength.
Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Abingdon) Y
Rep. Robert Goodlatte (R-Roanoke) N
Rep. L.F. Payne (D-Nelson County) N
EPA enforcement (2)
The House on Monday rejected 210-210 an amendment - passed the week before - to strike provisions from an environmental spending bill that would significantly weaken the Environmental Protection Agency. By rejecting the amendment, the House voted to slash the EPA's budget by one-third and to limit its ability to enforce environmental protection laws. Supporters argued that the public favors keeping the environment clean. Opponents said the EPA has become too heavy-handed. A ``yes'' vote favors keeping the EPA at its current strength.
Boucher Y
Goodlatte N
Payne N
Spending bill
The House on Monday approved 228-193 a bill providing $60 billion in funding for environmental, housing, veterans, and space programs for 1996. Among the bill's most contentious provisions was one to slash the Environmental Protection Agency's budget by one-third. Supporters said the funding levels were appropriate given the budget crunch. Opponents said the bill would punish average Americans, and that Republican priorities were misplaced. A ``yes'' vote favors the $60 billion bill.
Boucher Y
Goodlatte Y
Payne N
Bosnia embargo
The House on Tuesday approved 298-128 a bill to lift the arms embargo on Bosnia. The measure received enough votes to override a presidential veto. It followed a 69-29 Senate vote last week to lift the embargo. Supporters said that the Muslims should be given a chance to defend themselves. Oppnents said lifting the embargo would draw the country further into the war. A ``yes'' vote favors lifting the embargo.
Boucher Y
Goodlatte Y
Payne N
Family planning
The House on Wednesday voted 224-204 to retain the federal government's primary family planning program. The program provides medical care and birth control services to about 4 million women. Supporters said the program is too valuable to too many women to be eliminated. Opponents, including Republicans sympathetic to the Christian right, argued that the program encourages abortions and is therefore wrong. A ``yes'' vote favors maintaining the program.
Boucher Y
Goodlatte N
Payne Y
by CNB