LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
WETA "LAWMAKERS" 12/29/1982 IN 19.56.39-WETA credit/sponsor credits/ 19.57.03-in to C/S Rep. JIM WRIGHT (D-TX, Majority Leader) in debate in House, bemoaning efforts by REAGAN to bully the Congress. 19.57.14-Title sequence 19.57.39-PAUL DUKE-end of the 97th Congress, marked by turmoil and controversy over ECONOMY. Summary of the partisan considerations and REAGAN'S leadership in the Congress, with dissent from REAGAN'S agenda in 1982. 19.58.31-COKIE ROBERTS-intro report on the BUDGET DEBATE in 97th Congress. 19.58.48-C/S Rep. RICHARD BOLLING (D-MO) calling REAGAN'S efforts to influence Congress "excessive". M/S JIM WRIGHT bemoaning REAGAN'S efforts to bully Congress. C/S Rep. JOHN ERLENDORN (R-IL) says he's glad that REAGAN is using the VETO to finally get the DEMOCRATS to stop their "tax and spend" ways. Shots of REAGAN at a podium in various settings, among crowd of supporters. Shots of a joint session of Budget Committees. Sen. CHARLES GRASSLEY (R-Iowa) says the Senators have to bite the bullet and make tough choices. Sen. PETE DOMENICI jokingly asks if GRASSLEY is going to vote for his budget. Sen. PAT MOYNIHAN, Sen. HOWARD METZENBAUM (D-OH), calls the REPUBLICAN BUDGET unfair. ROBERTS v.o.-the House proposed 7 different budgets, none of which passed. 20.01.01-Rep. JIM WRIGHT urging compromise. Rep. CHARLES SHUMER (D-NY) says everyone talks about cutting spending, but no one has the guts to make cuts. Rep. BARNEY FRANK excitedly arguing that Congress has to choose between helping little old ladies and building bombs. Rep. DAVID OBEY (D-WI) says all the budgets are lousy, but Congress has to pass a budget. ROBERTS v.o.-a Conservative budget won, but the DEFICIT was so high that REAGAN had to ask for a TAX INCREASE, which BOB DOLE steered through committee. Shots of DOLE and SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE in session. Shot of Rep. DAN ROSTENKOWSKI (D-IL) seated next to DOLE in joint committee hearing, ROSTY says he will be glad to let DOLE be in charge of the TAX INCREASE. DOLE jokingly votes "no" when the motion is voted to make him chairman. 20.02.46-DUKE/ROBERTS-discussion of fiscal matters, REAGAN pledging never to raise taxes again, but asking for a GAS TAX increase to fund HIGHWAY REPAIR PROJECT. The DEFICIT is incredibly high, so TAXES might continue to go up as DEFENSE EXPENDITURES continue to bust the budget even as SOCIAL PROGRAMS are slashed. Discussion of the Budgetary process. 20.05.34-DUKE-The 97th Congress also had to negotiate a CONSERVATIVE SOCIAL AGENDA encompassing ABORTION, SCHOOL PRAYER, REAGAN'S efforts for SOCIAL ISSUES took back seat to getting REAGANOMICS passed, snub to the CONSERVATIVES in House and Senate. LINDA WERTHEIMER-says the CONSERVATIVE legislative strategies on these issues were flawed.