Capitol Journal
Capitol Journal
WETA "CAPITOL JOURNAL" 10/09/1986 ***NOTE: Burn on tape indicates WPA master #10133 IN: 01.00.00-WETA credit/funding credits/title sequence 01.00.35-Hosts Hodding Carter and Mark Shields. CARTER and SHIELDS discuss the progress of the 99th Congress-in spite of continuous logjams and hassles, the Congress has gotten a lot done. Graphic shows the legislative achievements, CARTER v.o. describes achievements in TAX REFORM, TOXIC WASTE CLEANUP [SUPERFUND], DRUG ABUSE, FARM POLICY, SANCTIONS AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA, IMMIGRATION REFORM, and a Continuing Resolution to fund the government. CARTER and SHIELDS-the omnibus Continuing Resolution is extremely controversial, as House Democrats and Reagan disagreeing over ARMS CONTROL. 01.02.23-Shot of Reagan giving address in White House press room, CARTER says REAGAN has been consistent in bashing the Soviet Union from day one. In speech [dated January 29, 1981], REAGAN rails against those dirty, devious Commies. Shot of another address, [May 27, 1991] REAGAN says that Soviet Citizens have as little to say about the operation of their government as a prison inmate has to the Warden [since Reagan's drug and crime policies are sending so many Americans to prison, this is highly ironic]. Shot of ICBM LAUNCH, Shields v.o.-REAGAN administration has overseen the LARGEST PEACETIME MILITARY BUILDUP IN HISTORY. Shot of soldiers training with machine guns, shot of row of PARATROOPERS jumping in turn out door of a plane. Shot of REAGAN giving Sept. 1986 address, announcing a SUMMIT MEETING with GORBACHEV. 01.03.15-Shot of meeting of Congressmen. SHIELDS v.o.-the timing of the Summit announcement was intriguing, as Congress was embroiled in debating a continuing resolution which contradicts REAGAN'S policy on NUCLEAR ARMS. Shots of Senate committee meeting. Titles show provisions of the continuing resolution: NUCLEAR TEST BAN, SALT II Compliance by U.S., Satellite Weapons restrictions, CHEMICAL WEAPONS BANS, and a freeze on funding for SDI ["STAR WARS"]. C/S Rep. TOM DOWNEY (D-NY), says that the way to national security is through ARMS CONTROL, not building more weapons. REAGAN just wants to build more weapons. C/S Rep. JIM COURTER (R-NJ), says the Democrat positions on Arms Control are almost exactly like Gorbachev's. SHIELDS asks COURTER whether REAGAN has given too much ground to the Soviets. COURTER says that REAGAN needs to be aware of conservative opinion.