THE HOUSE : Legislative Branch Budget

By a vote of 279 to 143, the House approved a $1.81-billion legislative branch budget for fiscal 1993, about the same amount as the comparable 1992 appropriation. Senate operating funds estimated at $564 million were not yet included in the bill (HR 5427).

Supporter Vic Fazio (D-West Sacramento) said, “This is easily the most fiscally stringent legislative appropriations bill presented to the House in memory--maybe even in history.”

Opponent Melton Hancock (R-Mo.) said, “Spending on Congress is out of control,” noting that it has “32,000 employees, 274 committees and subcommittees, untold numbers of task forces, caucuses and congressional bureaucracies.”

A yes vote was to pass the bill funding Congress.

How They Voted

Rep. Beilenson (D): Yea

Rep. Berman (D): Yea

Rep. Dixon (D): Yea

Rep. Levine (D): Yea

Rep. Waxman (D): Yea

Pork Barrel Issue

By a vote of 276 to 143, the House refused to eliminate $19 million for a road in the district of Appropriations Committee Chairman Jamie Whitten (D-Miss.). The amendment was proposed to a bill (HR 5428) appropriating $8.6 billion for military construction in fiscal 1993. The road would give combat vehicles better access to the Army National Guard’s Camp McCain.

Amendment sponsor Dan Burton (R-Ind.) called the road “pure pork” that was not sought by the Army.

Mike Espy (D-Miss.) defended the road as “a valuable and necessary resource” authorized by the Armed Services Committee.

A yes vote was to kill the project.

How They Voted

Rep. Beilenson (D): Nay

Rep. Berman (D): Nay

Rep. Dixon (D): Nay

Rep. Levine (D): No vote

Rep. Waxman (D): Nay

To Approve Foreign Aid

By a vote of 297 to 124, the House sent the Senate a bill (HR 5368) appropriating $13.8 billion in fiscal 1993 for foreign military and economic aid. The sum is about 2% below the comparable 1992 appropriation. The two countries receiving the most 1993 aid are Israel, at $3 billion, and Egypt, at $2.1 billion.

Supporter Matthew McHugh (D-N.Y.) said, “Foreign aid represents just a bit more than 1% of our nation’s budget and . . . is an indispensable tool for advancing our interests abroad.”

Opponent Toby Roth (R-Wis.) asked, “Who can justify shoveling this money overseas when we have a $400-billion deficit this year?”

A yes vote supported foreign aid.

How They Voted

Rep. Beilenson (D): Yea

Rep. Berman (D): Yea

Rep. Dixon (D): Yea

Rep. Levine (D): Yea

Rep. Waxman (D): Yea

Rail Strike

By a vote of 248 to 140, the House approved legislation ordering striking International Assn. of Machinists rail workers back to the job while their contract dispute with major freight haulers is bound over to federal mediation. The measure (HJ Res 517) also blocked planned strikes against Amtrak, the rail passenger line, and the freight service Conrail.

Supporter Al Swift (D-Wash.) said the bill promotes good-faith negotiations but “keeps the Congress out of picking winners and losers in . . . the rail industry.”

Opponent James Traficant (D-Ohio) said: “Congress, stay the hell out. Let (the American worker) have the only right, the only weapon they have, and that is the right to strike.”

A yes vote was to approve the legislation.

How They Voted

Rep. Beilenson (D): Yea

Rep. Berman (D): No vote

Rep. Dixon (D): Nay

Rep. Levine (D): No vote

Rep. Waxman (D): Nay

Source: Roll Call Report Syndicate