LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
WETA "LAWMAKERS" 12/02/1982 IN 01.00.00-WETA credit/sponsor credits/ 01.00.24-in to c/s TRENT LOTT (R-MS) in debate in House, says Congress must act on some legislation 01.00.34-Title Sequence 01.01.00-COKIE ROBERTS-On program, report on the "lame duck" session of Congress at the end of 1982. REAGAN might be sorry he called for the session, since HOUSE DEMOCRATS are energized by the ELECTION RETURNS. LINDA WERTHEIMER-Congress now convinced that JOBS and EMPLOYMENT are key issues, working to increase EMPLOYMENT, DEMOCRATS propose a $5 BILLION PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAM. 01.02.16-Rep. JIM WRIGHT (D-TX) in debate in House, says the Elections prove that the people expect Congress to take action, should work to promote EMPLOYMENT. C/S Rep. BILL ALEXANDER (D-Ark.), says the elections were the people "saying no to REAGANOMICS". Still of Conference of REPUBLICANS and REAGAN. V.o.-REPUBLICANS addressed their concerns to REAGAN, that REAGANOMICS is hurting the party with the voters. REAGAN has proposed a HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION program financed by 5 cent/gallon GASOLINE TAX. Shot of numbered wheels turning on old style GAS PUMP. Shots of HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, highway workers. V.o.-Administration says the HIGHWAY PROGRAM will help recovery by providing some direct jobs and stimulating the economy. 01.03.51-C/S TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY DREW LEWIS testifying to Congressional Committee, says the program will fix the interstate system. Shots of SENATORS on panel. C/S Sen. JOHN HEINZ (R-PA), says the program is not just about fixing HIGHWAYS, but also for JOBS. Says program is good because it does two things. C/S Sen. BOB PACKWOOD (D-OR), says he doesn't care what the bill is called, he thinks it's good. A DEMOCRAT SENATOR asks the Secretary how many WOMEN will get JOBS through the program. The SECRETARY says it's not a JOBS bill, but jobs that result will be mostly in CONSTRUCTION and consequently favor MEN. Sen. BILL BRADLEY asks if it's the Administration's position that INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR is a primary goal and JOBS only an incidental benefit. Secretary agrees. Concedes that the Administration doesn't expect it to alleviate much unemployment [a perfect time to institute a highly regressive new tax!]. 01.06.48-WERTHEIMER-DEMOCRATS expected to support the bill, but have problems with the REGRESSIVE TAX on GASOLINE that hurts POOR DRIVERS disproportionately. TRUCKING INDUSTRY objects to tax, and STATES concerned that they may pay more in GAS TAX than they get back in REPAIRS. ROBERTS/WERTHIEMER discussion of the DEMOCRATS JOBS BILL, REPUBLICANS surprisingly receptive to the ideas. ROBERTS-LAME DUCK CONGRESSES often the dying ground for controversial bills. This year, such a bill concerns NUCLEAR WASTE. ENVIRONMENTALISTS who won support in the election lobbying to delay consideration of NUCLEAR WASTE BILL until 1983. 01.08.18