LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
WETA "LAWMAKERS" 8/05/1982 IN 01.00.00 01.00.00-WETA credit/sponsor credits 01.00.24-COKIE ROBERTS-on program: report on one-year anniversary of REAGANOMICS. LINDA WERTHEIMER-House waffling on voting for $98 BILLION tax increase. PAUL DUKE-report on a maverick Senate REPUBLICAN. 01.00.48-Title Sequence 01.01.15-DUKE-after a year, the fortunes of REAGANOMICS have changed, with Congress renewing some spending and considering TAX INCREASES to fight the DEFICIT. ROBERTS-REAGAN wants to blame CONGRESS for the lingering RECESSION, saying that Congress didn't give him all that he wanted in the budget. Notes that last year, REAGAN called the passage of his economic package "The dawn of a new era", DEMOCRATS want the public to remember that. 01.02.15-Rep. BILL ALEXANDER (D-LA) speaking in well of House, slamming on Reaganomics. TIP O'NEILL in well of house, points to a chart showing steep rise of UNEMPLOYMENT since REAGANOMICS passed, tells REPUBLICANS to wake up. Shot of Rep. LARRY CRAIG (R-ID) retaliates, says the DEMOCRATS just want to "tax and spend" instead of creating private jobs. ROBERTS v.o.-after the speechmaking was over, REPUBLICANS eagerly endorsed a multi-billion dollar JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. Rep. JOHN ERLENBORN (R-IL) in debate, says the JOBS TRAINING is important legislation. ROBERTS v.o.-members were typically gutless in a vote to cut retirement benefits for federal workers. 01.04.03-Rep. ROBERT MICHEL speaking in well of House, objecting to the DEMOCRATS forcing them to vote publicly, says DEMOCRATS just want to get ammunition to use against Republicans in the campaign [while REPUBLICANS want to do something mean and cheap and not be called to task for it]. ROBERTS v.o.-in the 1981 appropriations bill, all BUDGET CUTS were lumped in one bill. in 1982, DEMOCRATS want all the cuts to be separate so that voters will know who voted against which programs. Rep. DELBERT LATTA (R-OH) in debate, says that if the DEMOCRATS force individual votes, no one will have the courage to make tough choices and cut spending. Rep. JIM WRIGHT retorts it takes more courage to go on the record for each program. Rep. WILLIAM FORD (D-MI) says that REPUBLICANS won't be allowed to "sneak down the alley and knife the widows and children of the deceased veterans". 01.05.48-ROBERTS-REPUBLICANS were convinced to leave RETIREMENT BENEFITS alone. The only thing tougher than CUTTING SPENDING in an ELECTION YEAR is RAISING TAXES. WERTHEIMER in front of Capitol, intro report on $98 BILLION dollar TAX INCREASE approved by SENATE REPUBLICANS. Problems getting HOUSE DEMOCRATS to agree on changes, special interests splitting up the vote, some HOUSE REPUBLICANS unwilling to vote for "Democratic" tax increases, some REAGANOMICS diehards might not vote for any tax increase. HOUSE DEMOCRATS decided not to have a debate in the HOUSE and go to conference with the SENATE on the SENATE REPUBLICANS' bill, so that at the very least, they can blame tax increases on the REPUBLICANS. 01.06.51-Rep. DAN ROSTENKOWSKI in well of House, says as Chairman of WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE has problems with the motion. Rep. JOHN ROUSSELOT, accuses DEMOCRATS of taking cowardly shortcuts to avoid debate on TAX BILL. Rep. JIM SHANNON (D-MA) says REPUBLICANS did the same thing with REAGANOMICS last year, are just covering their asses for the election. Shot of eagle on molding of a House chamber, pan down to Congressmen in a conference. Shots of LOBBYISTS in the chamber to watch proceedings. Shot of DAN ROSTENKOWSKI and BOB DOLE on the panel, ROSTENKOWSKI is pleased to nominate DOLE to chair the conference so that DOLE can take the heat. DOLE votes "no" when the motion is called, everyone laughs. ROSTENKOWSKI hints that DEMOCRATS won't support the bill unless REAGAN gives them a lot of favors. 01.09.15-WERTHEIMER v.o.-SUPPLY-SIDE REPUBLICANS are against TAX HIKE. Shot of Sen. WILLIAM ROTH speaking in committee, says that the bill is not a repudiation of REAGANOMICS, rather a DEFICIT control measure. Shot of DOLE, says he knows REAGAN will support the bill, even though some REPUBLICANS won't, says that the Republicans voted for the REAGAN budget knowing full well that more revenue was needed, tax reform good for both parties.