LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
20.06.21-ROBERTS-the AIRLINE INDUSTRY problems have led to a loss of interest in other forms of DEREGULATION on Capitol Hill. DUKE-intro. Report on INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND and political controversy about the fund. WERTHEIMER-the IMF loan bill is being held up by electoral politics-after deferring to REAGAN'S request to support the aid bill, DEMOCRATS found themselves under attack by REPUBLICANS. 20.07.32-Clip of REPUBLICAN ATTACK AD showing large BANK BUILDINGS and attacking TIP O'NEILL for trying to force the public to contribute through the IMF to "Communist" countries. WERTHEIMER-discussion of REAGAN'S effort to lobby HOUSE DEMOCRATS to support the IMF bill. Rep. ROBERT MICHEL in well, asking Congress to support the bill. C/S Rep. PHIL GRAMM (R-TX) advocating his amendment to prevent IMF funds from going to "Communist" countries [never mind that an IMF loan is a virtual indenture to the Western system and that DENYING IMF aid is a surefire prescription to get a poor country to seek U.S.S.R. aid]. C/S letter issued by REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE attacking DEMOCRATS who sided with REAGAN for "supporting Communism". 20.09.22-C/S Rep. HOWARD WOLPE (D-MI), says the charge is ridiculous because it implies that REAGAN was also "voting for Communism". WERTHEIMER-the letter was sent to newspapers in Congressmen's districts and even to campaign donors. C/S Rep. TONY COELHO says that accusing members of being "Communist sympathizers" is not within the limits of acceptable politics. C/S Rep. SILVIO CONTE (R-MA) pledging to work to amend the slander to the DEMOCRATS who voted for the bill, calls the charges McCARTHYISM in it's lowest form. C/S NEWT GINGRICH in office, says the wording of the press release was "a little tough" but not wrong on general principle to call out members for "aiding Communist countries" [of course, that definition seems to only apply to DEMOCRATS]. Rep. COELHO says that charges of "Communist sympathizer" are unacceptable. 20.11.16-C/S GINGRICH, says that the "hyperbole of the 'left'" is always acceptable, lists some "examples", says that REPUBLICANS were just telling the facts. C/S Rep. CONTE, says that the move is tactically inappropriate and will hurt REPUBLICANS in their efforts to forge compromises with the majority Democrats. C/S a letter from the attacked Democrats, asking REAGAN to publicly defend their votes. Rep. WOLPE says that it will take REAGAN'S strong effort to defend the Democratic members to get them to side with him on the IMF issue again. Rep. CONTE says that a simple photo-opportunity would do much to ease the tension. C/S GINGRICH says REAGAN does owe something to the DEMOCRATS who took heat for him, but he has to be careful. Rep. COELHO says REAGAN is caught between the Right Wing and The Right Thing to do. Shots of a REAGAN address to a large gathering of dignitaries. REAGAN asserts that the IMF LEGISLATION is appropriate, urges BIPARTISANSHIP, but doesn't single out the REPUBLICANS. C/S TIP O'NEILL says that REAGAN'S response to the REPUBLICANS' tactics is inadequate, and DEMOCRATS aren't satisfied.