THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 10, 1994 TAG: 9410100030
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FRISCO, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Martin Lancaster accused North Carolina Republican Sen. Lauch Faircloth of playing politics by killing Lancaster's efforts to have the Federal Building in Greenville named after the late Walter B. Jones Sr.
Lancaster also took a swipe at his Republican 3rd District challenger, Walter B. Jones Jr., the son of the late North Carolina congressman.
``Sen. Faircloth, for whatever reason, decided he was going to hold on it, and not allow that to be enacted,'' Lancaster said. ``I cannot believe that a Republican senator would do that without Walter Jr.'s cooperation. My guess is that Walter Jr. simply did not want Martin Lancaster to take credit for naming the courthouse after his father.''
Lancaster called the situation, ``a sad commentary.''
``It's one more indication that he has rejected the memory of his father,'' Lancaster said. ``It's more important for him that Martin Lancaster not pass the legislation to name the courthouse for his father, than it is for his father to receive this well-deserved recognition.''
Jones, contacted Sunday at his home, called Lancaster's statement ``foolish and ridiculous.''
``This is the most ridiculous statement I've ever heard,'' Jones said. ``It's obvious, by his making statements like that, that Martin Lancaster, like all the Democrats, is in deep, deep trouble.''
Jones added, ``My father had a good relationship with Sen. Faircloth and Sen. (Jesse) Helms. It's ridiculous. We're out here talking about issues that people are concerned about, like crime, excessive government and excessive taxes, and welfare reform, and all he's doing is making a bunch of ridiculous statements. This guy is losing it.''
Lancaster responded to Jones' criticism of his efforts to establish a national commission in conjunction with the First Flight Centennial.
``I think it's important for North Carolina to take its rightful place in the observance of that historic event,'' he said. ``Unfortunately, and for purely political reasons in my opinion, my opponent has criticized a federal commission as being unnecessary. The fact is, there's going to be a national celebration of First Flight. It is a national asset. We brought flight to the world, and the nation is going to celebrate what happened here on the coast of North Carolina. If we should take the advice of my opponent, then the national observance will be centered in Dayton, Ohio, instead of here on the Outer Banks.''
Lancaster said he will continue to work to ensure that North Carolina has representation on the commission, including the First Flight Society.
As the 103rd Congress wrapped up its work, Lancaster hit on a familiar election year chord. He blamed Republican-engineered Senate gridlock for what he acknowledged was ``a not altogether successful'' session on Capitol Hill.
Specifically, Lancaster criticized Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) for killing campaign and lobby reform measures passed by the House. Lancaster said the legislation was needed, ``to help restore the faith of the American people in their representative government.''
He added, ``Unfortunately Sen. Dole decided that he did not want anything passed that Democrats could get credit for, so as a result, he has tied up a lot of things.''
Lancaster also expressed disappointment that health care reform did not pass in this session. The four-term incumbent noted he fought against a Clinton-backed health initiative that would have relied heavily on tobacco taxes for funding.
``I've fought very hard against the president's health care package, because I thought it was too bureaucratic, and because I thought it would cripple the economy of my district, which grows more tobacco than any other in the country,'' said Lancaster.
``It unfairly singled out tobacco to pay for most of the cost of health care reform.''
Lancaster said he has worked with a bipartisan group to develop a health care package without bureaucracy and taxes.
``Friday, at almost the 12th hour of our session, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its analysis of our plan, and indicated that 92 percent of the American people would be covered with no additional taxes, and that it would save taxpayers $50 to $60 billion by the end of the century,'' he said.
Turning to congressional victories, Lancaster called passage of a bill providing federal support for the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum on Hatteras Island, ``one of the great successes.''
``That is going to be, I think, the premiere attraction on the Outer Banks,'' he said.
``It's going to rival the Wright Brothers Memorial in the interest it will generate. Thanks to (State Sen.) Marc Basnight and state assistance, we now have the money that is needed to put that museum literally on the map.
Lancaster said he is confident federal funding will be approved next year for a proposed multipurpose bike path on Hatteras. Also, Lancaster said he would continue work on N.C. 12 and on Oregon Inlet stabilization. Lancaster said the Corps of Engineers has resumed its study of the problem, and the results of that study will be completed later this year.
Lancaster made the remarks at a Hattaras Island Adult Care Octoberfest, as part of a full day of campaigning that included stops in Columbia and Swan Quarter. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Lancaster, right: It's another indication he's rejected the memory
of his father.
Jones: That's ridiculous
KEYWORDS: CONGRESSIONAL RACE by CNB