LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Paul Duke intro commentary by Otis Pike.
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Commentary by Otis Pike. Status of DC, no vote in congress, but power to elect mayor and city council. House overruled a change by D.C. city council of a law pertaining to sex crimes - ie changing sodomy statutes - by a huge majority under the Home Rule Act. Comment relayed by Pike that half the members of Congress are probably guilty of the same acts.
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Paul Duke closes commentary and intros debate on changing laws of sex crimes in DC.
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Representative Ronald Dellunms (D - California), debating bill, arguing that conservatives are against the DC reforms, but they had better be careful, because someone might try someday to legislate against their private habits. A number of my colleagues don t even know what the issue is here. But some kind of way they say, The Right s involved. The moral majority is involved, maybe I better dance. But my colleagues, you re dancing on your own freedoms. Because maybe tomorrow the challenge will be at your rights. And who will stand for you?
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Representative Joel Pritchard (R - Washington), says that members of congress are giving in to the religious right to gain political points without electoral risk. This is a very easy vote, it s a cheap vote, to give the moral majority. One that doesn t effect your own home district. And you d just as soon not have someone beating you over the head in the next election. And there s a lot of members on the hill that are taking a duck on this one.
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Representative Robert McClory (R - Illinois), says the act is offensive and Congress should overrule it. Under the Home Rule Act, we have, as a matter of fact, this legislative responsibility or this legislative authority to override actions of the city council. And I think that they have offended the Congress. I think they have offended the American people by this action.
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Representative Thomas Bliley (R - Virginia), arguing that the law should be overridden because the sexual practices concerned are abhorrent to most Americans. This Act by specifically legalizing unusual sexual practices would condone them. The moral and ethical traditions of this nation, do not condone acts such as sodomy and adultery. And I do not believe that the people of America believe they are acceptable and should be the law in the nation s capitol.
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Representative Ronald Dellunms (D - California), I find it tragedic, Mr. Speaker, and ludicrous that some of the most powerful flag-waving members of our body politic are the very first people to thwart the principals of Democracy when they do not agree with the political stance. I may or may not agree with the city council on a whole range of issues. That is not what is at stake here when we sit as members of the Congress of the United States.
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Representative Mark Siljander (R - Michigan), says that Congress has to set the "moral" tone for the country in overseeing DC. I think that it is quite obvious that this city, as I ve said before, is unique. It is unique because this is the seat of authority in this country. It is likely one of the most important cities on the entire earth. As a results, we that judge over this city, and judge over this nation, and rule over this nation, have that responsibility to judge and make sure that we are doing things that will set a positive tone for both moral and social climate in this nation.
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Representative Ron Marlenee (R - Montana), saying the murder rate in D.C. is a disgrace, asks for tough crime laws. In the past 2 weeks, a friend of mine visiting from Montana has been murdered, beaten to death in his own home. What kind of Home Rule is that? In the pat 2 weeks, a staff member, serving on the Interior Committee was murdered in his own home, knifed to death. What kind of Home Rule is that? I m mad. And I m mad about crime. And I hope the message goes home loud and clear to the District of Columbia, clean up your act. Representative John Conyers (D - Michigan) I wanted to ask the angry member walking off the floor - I hope he can hear me - to explain what in God s Name this particular piece of legislation has to do with his very virulent opposition to crime being committed in the District of Columbia? I mean if there is any rational connection at all, I would love to hear him explain to me what this has to do with the crime he and I deplore. He s not on the floor, so I thank the gentleman for yielding and returning his remaining time.
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Representative Parren Mitchell (D - Maryland), saying that there is an unthinking stampede to overrule the DC law changes. No one likes crime. But I suggest in the stampede we are confronting here today, you get a member making a statement that some how or another this piece of legislation will increase crime in the District of Columbia. And it s a good member who made that statement, but he s caught up in a stampede - and he made an very unthinking and illogical statement.
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Representative Bob Livingston (R - Louisiana), "I have to say that I ve been labeled as a conservative. I m an ex-prosecutor. I'm not trying to defend homosexuality, incest, or any other deviation of mankind, but what I am trying to say is let s not get run away with the emotionalism of the hour and let s carefully consider if we do want to overturn an act that appears to be rationally undertaken by a capable, deliberative body in the District of Columbia.
LAWMAKERS - October 8, 1981
Paul Duke in studio wraps up the Home Rule Act does not extend to laws governing sexual behavior.