LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
WETA "LAWMAKERS" 4/14/1983
LAWMAKERS
WETA credit/sponsor credits/title sequence.
LAWMAKERS
PAUL DUKE/LINDA WERTHEIMER/COKIE ROBERTS-REAGAN got a victory when Senate approved his nominee, KENNETH ADELMAN, to head ARMS CONTROL and DISARMAMENT AGENCY, but lost in both houses on DEFENSE BUDGET. New push to curb U.S. aid to NICARAGUAN REBELS ["CONTRAS"] and EL SALVADOR. SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE refuses REAGAN'S proposal to cut DOMESTIC SPENDING and almost votes to TERMINATE REAGAN'S TAX CUT PROGRAM. House tribute to deceased Rep. PHIL BURTON (D-CA). Intro report on Congressional doubts about REAGAN'S commitment to ARMS CONTROL and position on DEFENSE.
LAWMAKERS
Clip of REAGAN arguing against NUCLEAR FREEZE, contains "EVIL EMPIRE" quote about SOVIET UNION. Clip of OVAL OFFICE TV ADDRESS, REAGAN begging the public to tell their Congressmen and Senators to vote for MORE DEFENSE SPENDING. Clip of REAGAN speech, says "restoring military balance" is essential to peace. Shots of SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE meeting, C/S Sen. JAMES EXON (D-NE) attacking REAGAN'S unwillingness to compromise. C/S Sen. PETE DOMENICI (R-NM) agreeing that REAGAN has not compromised one bit. C/S Sen. MARK ANDREWS (R-ND) attacking DEFENSE SECRETARY CASPAR WEINBERGER for the PENTAGON'S refusal to provide the Senate with clear numbers for DEFENSE COSTS. C/S Sen. HOWARD METZENBAUM (D-OH) gleefully announcing that since REPUBLICANS have been criticizing REAGAN, he will withhold his prepared "oratorical gems" until later. C/S DOMENICI joking that he never thought it was possible to get METZENBAUM to forego speaking. C/S Sen. JOHN TOWER (R-TX) arguing that REAGAN is doing his duty to guarantee security to all American citizens.
LAWMAKERS
C/S Sen. DOMENICI, says REAGAN'S position on DEFENSE BUDGET is unreasonable; it is possible to defend the U.S. with less money. C/S TIP O'NEILL on SPEAKER'S platform in House. C/S JIM WRIGHT (MAJORITY LEADER) debating, says the NUCLEAR FREEZE issue is a question of working for peace or continuing to increase risk of NUCLEAR WAR. C/S Rep. NORMAN DICKS (D-WA) questioning REAGAN'S sincerity on the issue of ARMS CONTROL. Rep. JACK KEMP (R-NY) angrily debating, says that the U.S.S.R. is the enemy of all "American ideals"; NUCLEAR FREEZE would be a mistake. KEMP gets cheers from some, hoots from others.
LAWMAKERS
C/S Rep. ED MARKEY (D-MA) debating. File footage of MX MISSILE standing in a silo with technicians inspecting it. Shots of a Commission meeting to study deployment of the MX MISSILE. C/S BRENT SCOWCROFT, Commission for Strategic Forces, admitting that the Commission can't find any perfect solution to deploy the MX MISSILE. C/S Herbert Scoville, former deputy director of CIA, says SCOWCROFT COMMISSION report is just a rehash of old MX MISSILE PROPOSALS which were flawed and wasteful, the whole MX PROGRAM is "bankrupt". L/S-zoom Rep. BILL GREEN speaking to press, says SCOWCROFT COMMISSION REPORT proves that the MX MISSILE is a dead horse.