THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 30, 1996 TAG: 9609300056
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 131 lines
Here's how area members of Congress were recorded on major roll call votes in the week ending Sept. 27. House
Congressional pensions: By a 391-32 vote, the House sent the Senate a bill (HR 4011) denying congressional pensions to lawmakers convicted of felonies related to their congressional work. They would get back their own contributions in a lump sum but receive no other payments from their taxpayer-subsidized retirement plan. The bill applies to future cases. However, its Republican sponsors mentioned former Democratic Rep. Dan Rostenkowski of Illinois, who is drawing a pension of nearly $100,000 annually while serving prison time for criminal offenses including embezzlement. He is one of more than a dozen convicted felons from both parties now receiving congressional pensions.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Bateman Yes Pickett Yes
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes Jones Yes
Immigration: Voting 305-123, the House approved the conference report on a bill (HR 2202) to combat illegal immigration while sharply limiting public benefits to legal aliens. The bill bans public aid except emergency medical care to illegals, more than doubles the current force of U.S. border guards, permits increased wiretapping of suspected smugglers of aliens, allows secret deportation hearings in certain cases and builds massive border fencing near San Diego. Also, it establishes a pilot program to help employers voluntarily check the legality of job applicants. But critics said it lacked tough measures to dissuade employers from hiring undocumented workers.
A yes vote was to approve the bill.
Bateman Yes Pickett Yes
Scott No Sisisky Yes
Clayton No Jones Yes
Democrats' bill: The House rejected, 179-247, a Democratic rewrite of pending immigration legislation (HR 2202, above). Democrats sought to toughen the treatment of employers who hire illegals by steps such as funding more Labor Department inspectors and enabling the department to subpoena hiring data. Also, Democrats sought to retain certain anti-discrimination language that the bill would repeal, stop the bill's denial of medical benefits to legal aliens with AIDS, and prevent it from easing environmental laws to speed construction in border areas.
Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said critics ``conveniently overlooked'' the bill's hiring 900 new Immigration and Naturalization Service inspectors. ``It makes far more sense to have (INS) inspectors enforcing immigration laws than the Department of Labor,'' he said.
A yes vote supported the Democrats' changes to a pending immigration bill.
Bateman No Pickett No
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes Jones No
Public education: Voting 254-175, the House sent the Senate a bill (HR 4134) allowing states to deny public education to children of illegal immigrants. Students enrolled for the current academic year are exempted and could continue attendance through grade 12. The bill originally was part of HR 2202 (above).
Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., said Congress ``must end a policy that encourages future illegal immigration, which further depletes our funds for public education and results in overcrowded classrooms.''
Martin Frost, D-Texas, said ``every child, no matter his or her race, creed, nationality, religion or immigration status, should have a desk in a school. . . . What good does it do to punish children?''
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Bateman Yes Pickett Yes
Scott No Sisisky Yes
Clayton No Jones Yes SENATE
Abortion: By a vote of 57-41, the Senate failed to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to override President Clinton's veto of a bill (HR 1833) outlawing a certain late-term abortion procedure. The bill sought to make it a crime for doctors to perform an abortion that involves partially extracting the fetus, terminating it, collapsing its skull and removing it. Defenders say the procedure is used humanely to save the life or good health of the mother, while opponents call it infanticide. As a result of this vote, the veto took effect.
Don Nickles, R-Okla., said ``it is unbelievable that this unspeakable abortion procedure even exists in this country, much less that we have to take legislative action'' to ban it.
Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said ``Congress should not criminalize a medical procedure needed to deal with cases that threaten the life or health of the mother. . . . (or) second-guess the judgement of the doctor or threaten the doctor with prison.''
A yes vote was to override the veto.
Robb No Warner Yes
Faircloth Yes Helms Yes
Shipping subsidies: By a vote of 88-10, the Senate sent the White House a bill (HR 1350) creating a new subsidy program for the U.S. maritime industry. The bill authorizes $100 million annually over 10 years for operating costs of about 50 merchant vessels that would receive yearly payments of about $2 million each. The U.S.-flagged ships would have to be engaged in world commerce and use American crews, and would be on call to the Pentagon during war or some other emergency. The bill also provides loan guarantees to spur construction by U.S. shipbuilding companies.
Supporters said the bill props up the sagging U.S. maritime industry while providing wartime transportation that costs the Pentagon less than if it had to pay for a comparable government fleet. Opponents called the bill ``welfare'' for politically connected shipbuilders, shipping firms and maritime unions.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Robb Yes Warner Yes
Faircloth Yes Helms Yes
Lobbying issue: By a 50-48 vote, the Senate tabled (killed) an amendment to HR 1350 (above) to prevent companies receiving shipping subsidies from using any of the money for lobbying, campaign contributions or ``public education.''
Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, said: ``This amendment is unnecessary. It is a killer amendment'' from opponents of the bill. He added that ``the $10 billion paid out in agricultural subsidies has no similar provision.''
Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said ``Congress has supported similar restrictions on different bills and programs in the past, but we have no such restrictions for this $1 billion subsidy in this bill.''
A yes vote opposed the proposed limits on how shipping subsidies may be spent.
Robb Yes Warner No
Faircloth No Helms No ILLUSTRATION: [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