CONGRESS: WE THE PEOPLE
CONGRESS: WE THE PEOPLE
14.13.01-A witness testifies about a provision of the Tax Bill. Dole chairing the hearing, asks for a recess to discuss parts of the bill. Library of Congress scholar says that the presence of reporters and lobbyists can stretch out the proceedings. Shots of dozing lobbyists in the committee chamber. C/U of butt-filled ashtray and empty Tab bottle with donut wrapper on committee bench. Shot of Dole chairing hearing. Dole jokes about not inviting a member to testify. V.O.-discussion of how parochial interests work their way into the debate. Sen. HARRY BYRD (VA) gripes about a CIGARETTE TAX increase. Rep. JOHN DUNCAN (R-TN) says that the cigarette tax hurts the working class most. DOLE expresses concern about the tobacco tax increase as a tax that will impact states unevenly. V.O.-discusses the procedural bind that forced Senators to accept the tobacco tax increase. Rep. ROSTENKOWSKI announcing that the tobacco tax is going to stay in the bill. DOLE says that he's got no choice but to go along because the House doesn't have a proposal to compromise with. V.O.-discussion of the approval of conference committee bills. 14.18.00-Library of Congress scholar says that once a bill goes through Conference, no one wants to have to go through the whole process again, so there's a drive to compromise and get the bill approved. Newman-discusses compromise in the Conference committees. Ornstein-discusses the conflict in conference between House Democrats and Senate Republicans over the 1981 budget cuts. Shots of Conference committee session. Rep. HENRY WAXMAN (D-CA) discusses negotiations. Shots of members in conferences. Shot of staffers in meeting. WAXMAN says there's a lot of "trading". Ornstein discusses the bargaining/extortion of the conference process. WAXMAN says he agreed to promote "Teen Chastity Centers", a Senate conservative program, in exchange for protecting funds for family planning. Ornstein-the final reports of a conference never pleases everyone. Newman-recaps the summary of the compromises of the legislative process. Signs off. 14.21.40-closing credits/WETA credit/funding credits/PBS ID 14.23.46--OUT