LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
IN 01.11.00 01.11.00-WETA credit/sponsor credits 01.11.24-COKIE ROBERTS-on program: Recess interrupts House debate on BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. PAUL DUKE-REAGAN defends record on CIVIL RIGHTS. 01.11.41-title sequence 01.12.09-DUKE-BUDGET DEBATE continues, rumors of a pending compromise between White House and HOUSE DEMOCRATS on spending, debate renews interest in BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. ROBERTS-DEFICITS worry Congress. 31 states have called for a CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION to amend the CONSTITUTION. 01.13.19-shot of a KENTUCKY STATE LEGISLATOR announcing a resolution to call for a CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, he feels it's necessary because Congress is too irresponsible with spending. Shot of KENTUCKY STATE SENATOR, urging his colleagues to tell Congress that BALANCED BUDGETS are important. ROBERTS--he KENTUCKY HOUSE balked at the resolution, worried that a Convention could cause other problems. Shot of a State Senator, says that a Constitutional Convention is from the days of Wigs and wooden false teeth. Another State Senator says that there's no other way to force the U.S. Congress to be responsible. 01.14.17-shot of an AFL-CIO leader, says that a CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION could also consider issues like SCHOOL PRAYER, ABORTION, and almost any other issue. Shot of AFL-CIO workers collating mailings on issue. Shot of Rep. BARBER CONABLE (R-NY), says that the caliber of leadership at a modern Convention would be less than in 1787. Shot of Rep. ED JENKINS (D-GA), says a CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION could be dangerous, could be taken over by well-financed interest groups. Shot of CONABLE, says the governement works under crisis, fiscal discipline is only one example. Shot of Rep. PETER RODINO (D-NJ, chair of judiciary committee), ridicules the idea that an AMENDMENT could force the attitude of DISCIPLINE that is really needed in Congress. 01.16.45-shot of man working in office for TAX LIMITATION lobbying group. ROBERTS v.o.-lobbyists have raised 3.5 million dollars to promote the BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. Shots of lobbying materials on shelves in office. Shot of chair of lobbying group, says that Congress is getting the message. Shots of meeting of NATIONAL TAX LIMITATION COMMITTEE. 01.17.57-Shot of Rep. JENKINS in office, makes a phone call to get colleague to support the AMENDMENT. JENKINS v.o.-now has 190 co-sponsors to the BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. Shot of REAGAN in press conference, reporter asks if he would support a BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. REAGAN says that he does support the idea as the answer to "uncontrolled government spending" [weird, considering the $92 billion DEFICIT in REAGAN'S 1982 budget plan]. ROBERTS v.o.-REAGAN'S weak endorsement isn't good enough, because RODINO has the AMENDMENT under lock and key in the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. Shot of RODINO in office, says that he'd be surprised if proponents of the AMENDMENT didn't have genuine doubts about whether it would work. 01.19.41-Shot of Rep. CONABLE, says he does have doubts about the BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT, but he does know that the Government is growing and spending too much. 01.20.17-DUKE/ROBERTS-discussion of BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. Notes that ORRIN HATCH is a big proponent of the AMENDMENT in the SENATE.