LAWMAKERS - HUNGER REPORT
1984 - LAWMAKERS - HUNGER REPORT
Host Paul Duke introduces a report on "Hunger in America".
1984 - LAWMAKERS - Great Depression Breadlines
B/W Archival clips of Great Depression breadlines; queues of adult Caucasian men waiting for food.
1984 - LAWMAKERS - HUNGER REPORT
VS of adult, predominantly African-American, men entering a soup kitchen, eating at long tables. Paul Duke voiceover introduces Nancy Amidei of the Food Research & Action Center, who believes hungry people are part of nobody's prime constituency so they get though of last. U.S. House Representative Leon Panetta (D-CA) exiting soup kitchen line. Pan over men and women in a soup kitchen line. Adult Caucasian man speaking to someone off camera as he sits at table with food tray. Rep. Panetta says that Congress needs to hear from hungry people to know the reality of the problem. Rep. Tom Downey (D-NY) speaking at a homeless shelter, noting the jump in bread being served every month. Adult Caucasian men and women standing outside in line, holding umbrellas. U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) meeting people in line; woman says that the end of the month when food stamps run out is the toughest time.
1984 - LAWMAKERS - HUNGER REPORT
Concerned adult Caucasian female in line. Adult Caucasian and African American men and women walking inside. U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) says he is going to challenge Congress to do something about hunger. Sen. Kennedy entering a Senate Committee Room. Row of film cameras on tripods; adult Caucasian males standing by them, sitting in FG. Sen. Kennedy at press conference with posterboards detailing hunger problems. Sen. Kennedy says that the recession is still going on for millions who are "invisible to the Reagan Administration". Close-up of Democratic National Committee fundraising letter attacking Republicans and showing soup kitchens near the White House. Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) says that they cut food stamps costs while maintaining the program's integrity. U.S. House Representative Tom Downey (D-NY) disputes that claim and states that Reagan budget cuts came at the cost of the poor and disadvantages.
1984 - LAWMAKERS - HUNGER REPORT
VS of adult Caucasian and African American male and female members of a task force to discover the pervasiveness of hunger in American in a hearing; Paul Duke, in voiceover, notes the task force didn't come up with any conclusive results, but recommended "liberalizing [food stamp] eligibility, streamlining application procedures, and giving states block grants. Adult Caucasian male speaking as he reads from paper. Nancy Amidei, from the Food Research & Action Center, believes the task force was just a tool of the Reagan administration and worked from a script written by the White House. U.S. House Representative Todd Downey (D-NY) concurs. Amidei says this should be a campaign issue. Rep. Downey says that an election year means Democrats have a good chance to restore funds for fighting hunger. U.S. Senator Bob Dole (R-KS): "Like most things around here, you never really fix it. You keep trying to repair it."
1984 - LAWMAKERS - HUNGER REPORT
Host Paul Duke discusses of the hunger problem in America with Linda Wertheimer and Cokie Roberts, noting the Presidential Commission did not conclude that hunger is rampant in America, but it is a real problem felt by too many Americans. The positive signs are the economic recovery is seemingly underway and there is bipartisan core of legislators who are working on hunger relief. Roberts notes that farm states and urban states with large numbers of poor people have a common interest. Special commissions in general don't produce results when the political will isn't there. Wertheimer adds that commissions give politicians a "cloak" to use when the problem and the solutions are present. Commissions create the political will. Commissions don't work when the issues are complex. Duke notes that Rep. Claude Pepper (D-FL) was instrumental in solving the Social Security problem. Roberts states that in an election year, politicians don't want to solve the problem, they want to run on it.