The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
The Lawmakers - April 12, 1984
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Linda Wertheimer begins report on budget and tax bill passage in House, credits Dan Rostenkowski with getting the bill passed.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Representative Dan Rostenkowski (D - Illinois) in office, leaning forward in seat. Pull back to show other members of House Ways and Means Committee around oval table. Dan Rostenkowski at desk, This President came on very slowly with respect to attacking deficits. And I think that when he mentioned it, you bet your life I grabbed it and ran with it. I think it s that important. And I think ultimately this is the training ground, this year, in this small down payment for the big picture that will take place in 1985.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Dan Rostenkowski (D - Illinois) at a Chicago rally. Shots of crowd, stereotypically Chicago machine Democrats. One stocky man chewing on a cigar. Rostenkowski speaking to the crowd, How long have I been saying to you Stay right here. This neighborhood is coming back. It s going to make the turn. And the only way that we can keep it is by you living here and working here.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Cars on the Kennedy expressway in Chicago, Illinois through near West side. Zoom on large Rostenkowski billboard over warehouse area across highway.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Chicago voters entering polls. Dan Rostenkowski voting.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Representative Dan Rostenkowski (D - Illinois) at desk. Discusses how he works the field. I don t point to center field and propose that I m going to hit a home run unless I have an idea what the pitch is going to be that s coming across the plate. I talk to my members. I get a consensus.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Barber Conable (R - New York) He (Rostenkowski) has been very gracious to me. And has been concerned about my views. And has permitted me full airing of my attitudes and sometimes my dismay.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Thomas Downey (D - New York) He (Rostenkowski) builds a consensus by knowing what the individual members of his committee want. He s very much a supporter of the institution, a believer in the institution, a believer in the committee. And the process of working tax legislation for him, is a process of making deals, making compromises and trying to put together a package.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
CU of the printed bill. Linda Wertheimer discusses the provisions of Dan Rostenkowski s bill, sin taxes, inheritance tax loopholes closed, etc.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Dan Rostenkowski (D - Illinois) in House chamber, We have tried to make the deficit reduction effort as painless as possible. The bill will raise 49.2 billion dollars through fiscal year 1987. A statistic fixed more by political reality than economic necessity.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Representative Boiled down, the legislation has two great values. It helps make a respectful, if not abundant, down payment on our deficits. And it makes some long needed improvement on our tax code.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Activities on the House floor. Wyche Fowler (D - Georgia) As you know, the other gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Jenkins and I, have had the privilege of working on the Ways And Means Committee with you on this legislation. And as you also know, we were concerned on the approach used in title 1 as it relates to service contracts.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Harold Ford (D - Tennessee) I join with Chairman and others on this floor in strong support of the legislation. But I do have a little that I would like to exchange with you Mr. Chairman at this time. I wanted to clarify a point that was raised by section 136 of the bill.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Butler Derrick (D - South Carolina) Am I correct that your committee s intent is to reach an agreement in conference with the Senate that will make sure that a farmer will not be disqualified from use of IADB financing merely because he has owned some minimal amount of farmland. Dan Rostenkowski (D - Illinois) I thank the gentleman from South Carolina for his comments. I d want to assure him that his concerns will be addressed in the conference on this bill. Butler Derrick (D - South Carolina) I thank the gentleman.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Barber Conable (R - New York) Chairman Rostenkowski said to Charlie Rangel, Chairman of the sub-committee, when that issue came up, You do what you want to, but I want to be sure that Barber Conable, who is very interested in this area, is satisfied with the final result. In other words, he was looking out for me with respect to this admittedly small part of the tax bill because he knew I had a special interest in it.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Thomas Downey (D - New York) I was taken care of, so naturally my support for the bill was almost guaranteed. There were a number of things that were very important to me and my Congressional district and we managed to make some provisions for them in the bill. And the Chairman wants to do that. He wants to have the committee members support his activities. So he understands that there is a certain quid pro quo in that relationship.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Shot of crowd at Chicago rally for the Dan Rostenkowski campaign. Closeup of an old toothless man.
The Lawmakers April 12, 1984
Dan Rostenkowski (D - Illinois) at desk, I think I d be a good one (Speaker of the House)