U.S. Congressmen Speak Out Against NCPAC
U.S. Congressmen Speak Out Against NCPAC
U.S. Congressmen speak out against the NCPAC (National Conservative Political Action Committee). U.S. House Representatives Paul Simon (D-IL) conversing with Reps. Thomas Downey (D-NY) and Raymond Kogovsek (D-CO) in meeting room; adult Caucasian male seating the BG behind a desk or dais with a "Members Only" sign affixed to the side of the wood paneling. VS of each of the Congressmen conversing with each other, and with other adult Caucasian men in room.
U.S. Congressmen Speak Out Against NCPAC
U.S. Congressmen speak out against the NCPAC (National Conservative Political Action Committee). U.S House Representative Paul Simon (D-IL) gathers fellow House Reps. Thomas Downey (D-NY), and Raymond Kogovsek (D-CO) on either side of him and begin press conference; adult Caucasian male seated in the BG behind the dais. Rep. Simon states that fourteen members of Congress who have been targeted by the NCPAC will not be bullied. He calls this an attack by the far right, not only on liberals, but on moderates and constructive conservatives. Rep. Simon quotes the executive director of NCPAC, Terry Dolan, through a New York Times article: "We could elect Mickey Mouse if we have enough money." Simon sees an arrogance in telling members of Congress to go along with the NCPAC program or they will go to your district and get their congressman elected over the choice of the people who live there. Rep. Simon turns it over to Rep. Downey.
U.S. Congressmen Speak Out Against NCPAC
U.S. Congressmen speak out against the NCPAC (National Conservative Political Action Committee). U.S House Representatives Paul Simon (D-IL), Thomas Downey (D-NY), and Raymond Kogovsek (D-CO) all standing together in meeting room; Rep. Downey speaks on the constitutional right for even extreme groups to distort and manipulate the truth, but they must be met, head on, with facts; particularly when it comes to the tax bill. It is his belief that the Democratic tax bill benefits middle-income workers, providing them savings over the a tax bill being promoted by NCPAC that would benefit wealthier people. Rep. Downey also states that NCPAC has actually made it easier for him to run for re-election; it has become a rally point for his supporters and constituents on Long Island. He doesn't like the thought of having any enemies, but if he could pick one to go against, NCPAC would be high on the list.
U.S. Congressmen Speak Out Against NCPAC
U.S. Congressmen speak out against the NCPAC (National Conservative Political Action Committee). U.S House Representatives Paul Simon (D-IL), Thomas Downey (D-NY), and Raymond Kogovsek (D-CO) gathered in meeting room; adult Caucasian male seated in the BG behind the dais. Rep. Kogovsek states that he concurs with his colleagues remarks and adds that he sees NCPAC as something that will become more mainstream among extreme conservatives within the country. Their answer to the legislative process is to throw money at a district, "buy a congressman", and have that congressman vote on their positions. He believes that the Democratic tax plan is ideally suited for the constituents in his Colorado district. He doesn't represent people who make $100,000, $200,000, or $300,000, but that's who the Reagan tax plan will primarily benefit. He sees U.S. President Ronald Reagan, working through NCPAC, to scare people or buy votes. The "take it or leave it" approach is not how the legislative process works. He will work towards a legislative compromise and for the people of his district. Rep. Kogovsek will not let an outside group influence him otherwise.
U.S. Congressmen Speak Out Against NCPAC
U.S. Congressmen speak out against the NCPAC (National Conservative Political Action Committee). U.S House Representatives Paul Simon (D-IL), Thomas Downey (D-NY), and Raymond Kogovsek (D-CO) hold briefing; Rep. Simon answers a question from an adult female, off camera, regarding NCPAC advertisement. Simon says he has not heard the radio ad, but the television commercial is full of inaccuracies, starting with the assumption that Democrats want higher taxes for everyone. He, and the people of southern Illinois, want lower interest rates and a balanced budget; things that he does not see the Reagan administration moving towards at all. Rep. Downey concurs with Rep. Simon. It is a false premise that Democrats want to raise taxes, especially since their plan gives tax relief to middle-class Americans. The NCPAC advertisement doesn't acknowledge that there are others proposals to tax relief, pushing only that Democrats want to raise taxes. In fact, the past ten years have seen Congressional Democrats vote to reduce taxes seven times. Rep. Downey intends to fight this lie locally.
U.S. Congressmen Speak Out Against NCPAC
U.S House Representatives Paul Simon (D-IL), Thomas Downey (D-NY), and Raymond Kogovsek (D-CO) speak out against the NCPAC (National Conservative Political Action Committee), and take questions from the press. Adult male, off camera, states that in a Republican press conference it was pointed out that the third year of their tax plan saves the average American family more money than the Democratic plan. Rep. Downey acknowledges that is the case for the third year specifically (1984); the Republican plan is better than the Democratic plan in that respect. The Democratic view is that their two year plan is better overall, especially when taking into account the current deficits, interests rates, and inflation. Downey states that the Democratic Party would be "happy" to provide a third year of tax cuts if interest rates, deficits, and inflation are within the President's targeted goal. Republicans are just ignoring 1982, 1983, when comparing their plan to the Democrat's tax cut plan; camera pans left to a group of seated middle-aged adult Caucasian men, one of which is smoking a pipe.
U.S. Congressmen Speak Out Against NCPAC
U.S. Congressmen speak out against the NCPAC (National Conservative Political Action Committee). A group of seated middle-aged adult Caucasian men, one smoking a pipe; adult Caucasian women seated in the FG. Adult male, off camera, asks whether U.S House Representative Paul Simon (D-IL) will accept any outside political donations. Simon states that he would accept contributions from people outside his district, and he has been endorsed by people outside his district. However, he has not gotten endorsements from anyone based on any one vote. This is the first time he can ever remember a group dictating to Congressman how they need to vote or face opposition. Rep. Thomas Downey (D-NY) adds that the actions of groups on either side of the extreme have poisoned the political atmosphere. Their tactics seem like political blackmail should a targeted Congressman not vote their way. He hopes liberal organizations do not take after the organizations of their conservative colleagues. Downey wants his conservative colleagues to make up their minds, free of intimidation.
U.S. Congressmen Speak Out Against NCPAC
U.S. House Representatives Tom Downey (D-NY), Paul Simon (D-IL), Ray Kogovsek (D-CO) speak out against the NCPAC (National Conservative Political Action Committee). Rep. Tom Downey (D-NY) proceeds to answer a previous question where he states that he wishes to get out their own newspaper and radio advertisements clarifying not only the tax bill that the Democrats are proposing, but also calling various groups, such as NCPAC and the Moral Majority, for poisoning the political landscape for all Americans. Downey states their credo preaches intolerance, but, in his view, Americans by nature, are not intolerant people. Adult female, off camera, asks how they plan to get Republicans to switch over and support their tax plan. She notes that there's a "war room" with "charts on the wall", and asks what Rep. Downey's sales pitch will look like. Downey jokes that they've got to the House stationary store and purchased all the cufflinks they could, and they will be distributing them to all Republicans, free of charge, who vote for their tax plan.