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Ford Newsletter, April-May 1972
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WASHINGTON REMEW
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
NOI
PRINTED
AT
April 3, 1972
HOUSE PASSES FAR-REACHING WATER POLLUTION CONTROL BILL
After three days of debate and consideration of numerous amendments, the House last week
approved a momentous $24.6 billion three-year water pollution control bill with authority for
a crash program to clean up the Great Lakes. I strongly supported the bill.
I resurrected the special Great Lakes cleanup program after the Office of Management and
Budget had shot it down by leaving it out of the fiscal 1973 budget.
In a colloquy on the House floor with Rep. Bob Jones, D-Ala., floor manager of the bill,
Rep. William Harsha, R-Ohio, senior Republican on the House Public Works Committee, and Rep. John
Blatnik, D-Minn., Committee chairman, I established the fact that there is ample authority in
existing law and in the House bill to proceed with the Great Lakes crash cleanup program.
Earlier I met with officials of the Environmental Protection Agency, who assured me there
would be sufficient funds under the overall $24.6 billion authorization in the bill to take care
of the Great Lakes program.
I now will work on the House Appropriations Committee to obtain funds for a Great Lakes
cleanup.
The main thrust of the Great Lakes program is a $100 million attack on the problem of com-
bined sanitary and storm water sewage. EPA wants the storm water as well as the sanitary sewage
treated before it flows into the Great Lakes. I aim to see that the program is launched.
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL BILL IS LANDMARK LEGISLATION
As Congressman Harsha remarked, "Anyone who thinks the House water pollution control bill is
weak simply doesn't know what's in it."
Chairman Blatnik, longtime champion of clean water, declared the measure to be "the most
effective, workable pollution control bill that has ever been devised."
Here are the chief provisions of the legislation. The bill:
*
Authorizes $18 billion for construction of waste treatment works for fiscal years 1973-75.
Establishes the basic Federal grant at 60 per cent. If the State pays 15 per cent of the
cost, the Federal grant is increased to 75 per cent.
Provides that projects initiated after 1956 which meet the requirements of the previous
Water Pollution Control Acts would be eligible for retroactive grants-and authorizes
$2,750,000,000 for this purpose.
Requires that water quality standards be established for all navigable waters.
Requires point sources of effluent other than publicly owned treatment works to utilize
the best practicable control technology currently available or a higher level of treat-
ment if required to meet water quality standards.
Provides contract authority for construction grants, in place of reliance on annual
appropriations.
Provides for user charges to assure that recipients of waste treatment services will pay
their share of the cost of constructing, operating and maintaining waste treatment
facilities.
Requires publicly owned treatment plants to offer secondary treatment by 1976.
Establishes a system of enforcement based on discharge permits and effluent limitations.
Violations are punishable by fines up to $50,000 and two years in jail.
#
Requires all States to classify their lakes and to carry out methods to control and
DED
restore polluted lakes. The bill authorizes $300 million for this program.
(over)
SUPURIT
The legislation also provides:
*
That allocation of funds to the States be on the basis of need, instead of the old for-
mula of population.
That alternatives to traditional methods of waste treatment--like the spray irrigation
system used in Belding and Muskegon--be encouraged.
That by 1981 industry must achieve zero discharge of pollutants unless compliance is not
attainable at reasonable costs, in which case limits are to be based on "the best
available demonstrated technology.' For publicly owned facilities, the 1981 standard
is "the best practical waste treatment technology." In addition, all newly constructed
or modified private plants must meet discharge standards based on "the best available
demonstrated control technology, process and methods."
That by 1985 there be no discharge of pollutants into the Nation's waters.
MANY AMENDMENTS DEFEATED
The biggest bone of contention in the debate over the bill was the Public Works Committee's
insistence on a two-year study by the National Academies of Science and Engineering before the
Congress inflexibly holds to its goals of safe, swimmable water by 1981 and no discharge of any
pollutants into our waters by 1985.
The committee contended we ought to have an expert assessment of the costs and of the impact
on our economy before we irrevocably hammer those standards into law.
Rep. Roger H. Zion, R-Ind., pointed out that Gov. Nelson Rockefeller had estimated the cost
of achieving the no-discharge goal at $2.3 billion for New York State alone. Extrapolating that
figure, said Zion, the estimated cost for the Nation would be $2.5 trillion--considerably more
than the Gross National Product of the world.
The Senate has passed a water pollution control bill which sets the 1981 and 1985 goals
without any conditions. The House felt this was unreasonable and so defeated, 248 to 140, an
amendment which would have eliminated the study and subsequent congressional review of pollution
controls.
The House also defeated, 251 to 114, an amendment giving only EPA the power to issue permits
to industries to discharge wastes into waterways. Both the House and Senate bills transfer this
authority to the States, with the Senate bill giving EPA veto power. The House bill lays down
strict guidelines for the States to follow and provides for EPA to run the permit program in
States failing to meet the requirements.
The House rejected, 267 to 125, an amendment that would have continued to require such
Federal agencies as the Corps of Engineers, the Federal Power Commission and the Atomic Energy
Commission to prepare environmental impact studies of the effects of their projects on waterways.
The House bill removes this requirement if State water quality standards are not violated.
I believe the States should have a major role in the fight against water pollution and so
should be involved in issuing permits. I also believe we should strive for the goal of no-
discharge by 1985 but we should know where we are going as we head in that direction.
MUSKEGON AND BOAT POLLUTION AMENDMENTS ADOPTED
The House approved two "Michigan amendments" to the water pollution control bill.
The House voted 250 to 131 for a recycling amendment offered by Rep. Guy Vander Jagt,
Republican of Cadillac. This amendment directs the Environmental Protection Agency to encourage
regional resource management programs that utilize spray irrigation and recycling systems for
waste water disposal. As mentioned earlier in this newsletter, Muskegon and Belding have this
type of sewage disposal system. I voted for this amendment.
A boat pollution amendment affecting Michigan also passed, 210 to 174. This amendment
preserves the rights of States to control discharges from vessels. Under the committee bill,
the Federal Government would have preempted this right. The amendment permits States to com-
pletely prohibit the discharge of sanitary waste from boats. This is what Michigan law does.
I supported the amendment.
REVIEW
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
April 24, 1972
FEDERAL OUTLAYS RISE IN FIFTH DISTRICT
Federal outlays in Kent and Ionia Counties rose sharply in fiscal 1971, as compared with
the previous fiscal year, according to an official government report.
Total Federal moneys flowing into Kent County in fiscal 1971 came to $238,495,734, nearly
$41 million more than in fiscal 1970 ($197,553,831). The largest sums emanated from:
*
The Health, Education and Welfare Department, $110,535,339, including $86,350,279 in
Social Security payments;
The Housing and Urban Development Department, $1,288,600, including $224,000 for water
and sewer facilities;
The Labor Department, $2,900,477, including $1,420,815 in unemployment insurance pay-
ments and $630,979 for job placement services;
The Transportation Department, $10,859,613, including $6,402,175 for highway planning
and construction;
The Veterans Administration, $14,155,342, including $5,126,655 for veterans disability
compensation;
The Agriculture Department, $5,778,421, including $3,550,490 in food stamp bonus coupons;
The Defense Department, $37,896,000, including $29,580,000 in military prime supply
contracts.
For Ionia County, the fiscal 1971 total was
$23,552,569, up $2.2 million from fiscal 1970.
The largest amounts came from:
The Agriculture Department, $3,491,575;
*
The Health, Education and Welfare Depart-
ment, $13,578,207, including $10,182,946
in Social Security payments;
The Veterans Administration, $1,595,656,
including $574,642 for veterans disabil-
ity compensation;
The Labor Department, $422,755, including
$228,876 in unemployment insurance
payments and $136,094 for placement
services.
*
Railroad Retirement Board, $208,843 for
social insurance program.
One reason the Kent County total Jumped as
it did is construction of the new Court House
and Federal Building in downtown Grand Rapids.
The Federal Government spent $7,629,206 on
public buildings construction in Kent County
in fiscal 1971.
MRS. PERROTT JOINS STAFF
FIRST IN WASHINGTON The 43 seniors of
Mrs. Marba Perrott has become a fulltime
Godfrey Lee High School were the first senior
member of my district office staff in Grand
class from the Fifth Congressional District to
Rapids, succeeding a part-time employee,
visit Washington this spring.
Mrs. Elaine Westfield.
FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE SHOWS RESULTS
The fight against drug abuse is producing impressive results. At a recent White House
briefing, I learned that:
--The foreign sources of illegal dangerous drugs are being cut off due to negotiations
carried out by the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control.
--Turkey has banned production of the opium poppy effective this year, while the French
have seized two heroin laboratories this year and have made the world's largest heroin
seizure, 935 pounds, on a shrimp boat. We have formulated narcotic control action plans
involving 57 countries.
--The President's Armed Forces Narcotics Program has been eminently successful, with the
number of confirmed addicts among our service personnel in Vietnam reduced from
5.6 per cent to 1.8 per cent.
--Our domestic law enforcement efforts are paying off:
*Heroin seizure made by or with the assistance of U.S. customs and the Bureau of
Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs increased 160 per cent in 1971 to 2,700 pounds, worth
over $1 billion in the U.S. at street-level prices;
*Federal narcotics arrests increased 70 per cent in two years to 15,252 in 1971;
*More than half of the calls received on the newly-established Heroin Hot Line have
been reliable tips justifying a follow-through investigation.
--Total fiscal 1973 funding for the fight against drug abuse amounts to $594 million--a
nine-fold increase over the fiscal year 1969 funding of $65 million.
What we have is a three-pronged campaign against dope--a total war against drug traffic.
We are fighting illegal drug traffic abroad. We are fighting illegal drug traffic at home,
with grand jury action against pushers and prosecution of pushers for income tax evasion.
Congress has been working hand in hand with the President to combat drug abuse.
Step one was the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, which gave
Federal authorities powerful new weapons in their war against illegal traffickers in narcotics.
Two years ago, the President also created the National Clearing House on Drug Abuse Infor-
mation, which has distributed more than 25 million pieces of drug education data.
In 1971 the President established a Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention within
the Executive Office of the President and shortly after that he created the Cabinet Committee
on International Narcotics Control headed by Secretary of State William Rogers.
Then by executive order this past January, the Pres-
ident established an Office for Drug Abuse Law
Enforcement within the Department of Justice, charg-
ing it with the task of bringing "substantial Federal
resources to bear on the street-level heroin pusher."
Congress a few weeks ago backed up the President by
giving its sanction to his Special Action Office for
Drug Abuse Prevention and authorizing a $1 billion
three-year Federal attack on drug abuse. This
includes treatment and rehabilitation of addicts.
I have strongly supported all of these actions.
COMMITTEE APPROVES REVENUE SHARING
The House Ways and Means Committee has approved a
revenue sharing bill which would make $5.3 billion
a year available to States and local units of govern-
ment each year for five years. I strongly support
this action. Michigan's share would be $243.1 mil-
lion, with $152.7 million going to local units and
$90.4 million to the State.
DISTRICT VISIT
THE WINNER - I pin a medal on one
of the winners during a recent historic
U.S.-Soviet women's track meet at
My district assistant, Gordon Vander Till, will be in
Richmond, Va. I attended as the
the Portland City Council Room from 2:30 to 5 p.m.
President's official representative.
Friday, April 28, to answer questions on my behalf
The U.S. won. Our "gals" were superb.
and to discuss personal problems and public issues.
# # #
An Affiliate of Media General 333 East Grace Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 (703) 649-6000
Richmond
Newspapers
O. Dewayne Davis
Public Relations Director
Plcan we and The
April 10, 1972
ANIT
N/L
n
Congressman Gerald Ford
H230 Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Ford:
We Sincerely appreciate your participation in the recent
historic meet between the track teams of the Soviet Union
and the United States.
Reaction here following the meet has been excellent and we
enter negotiations within the next few weeks to insure
that it returns to this city next year.
I am enclosing a picture taken during one of the medal
presentations. I thought you might like it for your family
scrapbook.
Again, on behalf of the meet organizers and co-sponsors, thank
you for your assistance in making our meet a success.
Sincerely,
0. Public Dewayne Relations Davis louis Director
DD/bf
Enclosure
Media
General
WASHINGTON REMEN
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
NOT PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE
May 1, 1972
QUESTIONNAIRES POUR IN
Thousands of questionnaire returns have been pouring into my Washington office, proving
again that Fifth District residents are deeply concerned about national problems.
Letters accompanying some of the questionnaire cards indicate the people of Kent and Ionia
Counties are troubled most about forced busing to achieve racial balance, the delay in raising
Social Security benefits, the various proposals for a nationwide health insurance system, and
the Vietnam War.
I have already stated repeatedly that I favor a Constitutional amendment to ban forced
busing of students outside of their neighborhoods in the name of racial balance. I am also
supporting a legislative solution in the meantime, in the hope such a solution is possible. I
favor doing everything feasible to achieve quality education for all--but I do not think forced
busing is the proper path to that goal.
An increase in Social Security benefits is certain this year, but when it will come is a
question mark. The House last June approved legislation containing a Social Security increase
but the bill has been pending for nearly a year in the Senate. The increase when it does come
will be at least 10 per cent. I strongly support such an increase and will vote for whatever
figure emerges from a House-Senate conference committee. I am also hopeful that the final bill
will include a House-approved provision for automatic cost-of-living increases in Social
Security benefits in the future so that adjustments will be made automatically rather than just
in election years.
The health care question on my questionnaire offers Fifth District residents a choice
between the President's health insurance proposal (which calls for employers to pay 65 to 75 per
cent of private health insurance premiums) and the Kennedy-Griffiths plan (which provides for a
Federal health insurance system financed with payroll taxes). An interesting development on
this question is that many, many Kent and Ionia County residents rejected both proposals, saying
they wanted no part of either one. I personally favor a plan that would deal with present
defects in the Nation's health care delivery system without erecting a costly Federal bureaucracy
in place of the present private insurance system.
Results of the question on Vietnam appear to be running heavily in favor of a withdrawal
from Vietnam conditioned on return of American prisoners of war, a ceasefire in Indochina, and
the holding of an internationally supervised election in South Vietnam. The other choice on the
question calls for immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Vietnam and declaration of a
ceasefire there but says nothing about the return of American POWs. I favor the proposal which
is drawing the majority vote of my constituents.
VIETNAM DEBATE ERUPTS IN THE HOUSE
Vietnam has been the subject of considerable debate in the House for many days now.
Two of the statements merit quoting here, in my judgment. One is by a Democrat, Rep.
Samuel S. Stratton of New York, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and the other is
by 8. Republican, Rep. Elford A. Cederberg of Bay City, Michigan.
Said Stratton: "I came into the House Chamber just as my colleague, the gentleman from
New York (Democrat William Fitts Ryan) was commenting on the current North Vietnamese invasion
of South Vietnam and saying that this proves that our policy of Vietnamization is not working.
Well, Mr. Speaker, the policy of Vietnamization is designed to give the South Vietnamese who,
two or three years ago were not very good in handling military affairs, the ability to defend
themselves. I just sat in on a briefing by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I cannot
comment on what he said, of course, but I will say to you that the South Vietnamese are doing a
pretty darn good job in a battle in which virtually all of the military forces of North Vietnam
are committed to a conventional invasion. And to me that appears to be a pretty good demon-
stration that Vietnamization is working. If this is not so, then I do not know what we need to
convince us."
Said Cederberg: "I have listened with a. great deal of interest to the gentlewoman from New
York (Democrat Bella Abzug) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ryan) condemning the U.S.
Government and the South Vietnamese. I am waiting for the day when they are going to condemn
the Communists for invading South Vietnam. That is the problem. If the North Vietnamese would
go home, there would not be any need for the bombing. It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, the time has
come when we ought not to be apologizing for the actions that we are taking to prevent civilians
from being killed and displaced. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Ryan) referred to refugees.
Well, those refugees would still be in their homes if the North Vietnamese stayed behind the
demilitarized zone where they belong. That is the problem, and we ought to be making some
speeches concerning that factor.'
HOUSE APPROVES CONTINUED SPACE EXPLORATION
The House has approved a bill authorizing appropriations up to $3.4 billion for the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal 1973.
With only one more Apollo moonshot upcoming, the only controversy during debate on the bill
was over the projected space shuttle program. This was a $200 million item. Opponents of this
program failed to generate any support. An amendment to knock the shuttle out of the bill lost
on a division vote, 103 to 11.
The fight over the shuttle was significant because that program spells a new forward thrust
for the overall space effort. Had development of the space shuttle been rejected, it would have
meant an early end to the space program.
If we want to continue the space program, the shuttle is a necessity as a means of reducing
costs through the reuse of launch vehicles and payloads.
It is estimated there will be a saving of $5 to $8 billion in space program costs over the
next 20 years if the shuttle is developed and put into operation.
There are understandable differences of opinion over the value of the space program, but
tremendous "spinoff" benefits already are evident.
*
Weather satellite observations have already saved millions of dollars through improved
forecasting.
*
Five-day forecasting is just around the corner, and this alone would save an estimated
$6 billion a year in agriculture, the lumber industry, surface transportation, retail
marketing and water resource management. That is almost twice the annual cost of the
entire space program.
*
Future satellites will analyze and patrol our resources, locating minerals and oil,
studying ocean changes and factors in fish production, detecting air and water pollution
and plant life infestation and other hazards.
*
Space satellites will permit all-weather navigation for our air and sea transportation.
*
Space is the path for future mass communications. A space satellite relay costs
one-sixth what it does to build B. TV relay across the Atlantic via cable.
So the space program can be justified by its present and future "spinoffs" alone.
DISTRICT VISIT
My district assistant, Gordon Vander Till,
will be in the City Hall at Cedar Springs
from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Friday, May 5, to answer
questions on my behalf and to discuss person-
al problems or public issues as my representa-
tive.
"ON THE JOB"
I would like to report to you my attendance
record for the Second Session of the 92nd
Congress.
Through April 2 there was a total of 129 votes
4-H DELEGATE--Kris Langkamp of Caledonia,
and quorum calls. Of that number, I missed
one of four Michigan delegates to the recent
only 2, for a percentage score of 98.4. There
National 4-H Conference, presents me with a
were 80 yea and nay votes; I missed one.
4-H pen as a gift from the conference.
There were 49 quorum calls; I missed but one.
WASHINGTON REWIEW
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
NOT
PRINTED
at
GOVERNMENT
EXPENSE)
May 15, 1972
HOUSE APPROVES MINIMUM WAGE RISE 'STRETCHOUT'
The House last week voted to stretch out by one year a proposed immediate rise in the
minimum wage to $2 an hour and to establish special minimum wage rates for youth.
The House started out with a committee bill which would have Jumped the $1.60 minimum to
$2 an hour now for 34 million non-farm workers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
before 1966 and would have extended coverage to about six million public employes and domestic
workers. The minimum for the newly covered workers would have been set at $1.80 an hour now and
$2 an hour a year from now. The minimum for workers on farms employing eight or more fulltime
workers would have risen from $1.30 an hour to $1.70 in a year.
House members first adopted a Republican amendment stretching out the time for reaching the
$2 wage floor and then approved a Republican substitute bill eliminating the expansion of
coverage.
As finally approved, the legislation would:
*
Raise the minimum for workers covered by the FLSA before 1966 to $1.80 sixty days
after enactment and to $2 one year later.
Increase the minimum for workers first covered by the 1966 FLSA amendments to $1.70 after
enactment, to $1.80 one year later, and to $2 the next year (1974).
*
Raise the minimum for farm workers from $1.30 to $1.50 within 60 days and to $1.70 a year
later.
*
Establish special "youth differential" wage rates for workers under the age of 18 or
students under 21. These rates would be 80 per cent of the applicable minimum wage
or $1.60 ($1.30 for farm work), whichever is higher.
COMMITTEE PROPOSAL WAS UNWISE
The immediate jump from $1.60 to $2 in the minimum wage as proposed by the majority of the
House Education and Labor Committee represented a 25 per cent increase in the Nation's wage
floor.
This would have threatened to destroy the present wage and price control program. It would
have had a sharp inflationary impact.
The complications it would have created would have been especially great in a number of
retail and service industries where many workers now earn hourly wages below the proposed $2
minimum and where the wage rates of workers above the minimum are closely linked with those at
the low end of the ladder. A precipitous jump now in the minimum wage would have had an
immediate escalatory effect and was therefore dangerous.
Marginal workers would have been hurt. The Jobs of newly covered, low productivity workers
would have been placed in jeopardy.
Because I am concerned about avoiding unemployment and inflation, I supported the stretchout
concept.
The committee bill offered student employment provisions but they were not good enough.
That bill authorized the employment of fulltime students at $1.60 an hour ($1.30 in farm work),
but barred special student rates in 21 different industries or occupations. It also tangled
the entire student employment procedure in red tape by requiring an employer to obtain a certi-
ficate from the Secretary of Labor, with the assurance the students would only be employed part
time. The Republican substitute provided an uncomplicated plan offering job opportunities for
all young people, whether fulltime students or not.
(over)
SICKLE CELL ANEMIA BILL SENT TO PRESIDENT
The House has passed and sent to the President a compromise bill authorizing a three-year
$115 million fight against sickle cell anemia, the deadly blood disease that afflicts one out
of every 10 black Americans.
The legislation approved by the House carried a price tag $10 million greater than the
measure originally passed by House members and $27 million lower than the bill initially voted
by the Senate.
Kent and Ionia County residents have taken a special interest in this legislation because
of work done by Dr. Robert Nalbandian of Blodgett Memorial Hospital and his team on sickle cell
anemia screening in the Grand Rapids schools. I also brought to the attention of the House the
fact that WZZM-TV won an Emmy Award for its documentary on sickle cell anemia.
The legislation approved by the Congress sets up a national program for the diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of sickle cell anemia. I was pleased to give my full backing to this
legislation.
QUESTIONNAIRE RETURNS NOW BEING COMPILED
Now that virtually all the returns of my 1972 questionnaire are in, I have sent them to a
computer firm for processing. I expect to announce the results in my next newsletter, and also
through the news media in Kent and Ionia Counties.
Many Kent and Ionia residents made comments on the questionnaire cards indicating dis-
satisfaction with the way price controls are operating. The biggest complaint was that there
are no controls on raw agricultural products.
Retail food prices are flattening out, and wholesale food prices declined in both March
and April. But the cost of food still is naturally of great concern to all of us, and we all
want to know why controls haven't been imposed on food prices.
The answer is that controls on food prices wouldn't work. Agricultural prices fluctuate
widely due to perishability, changes in weather and other factors. If prices are controlled
and supply fails to equal demand, rationing would have to be instituted.
We had experience with rationing during World War II. It was unsatisfactory. Black
markets develop. People are forced to stand in long lines in front of empty counters.
Overall, we are making progress
FARMER'S SHARE OF THE
against inflation. The increase in
the Consumer Price Index was held
PRICE OF SOME FOODS
to 3.4 per cent for all of 1971.
Housewife
Farmer
Others
That compares with a 5.5 per cent
pays
gets
get
rise in 1970 and 6.1 per cent in
1969.
Beef, choice, lb. (average of all cuts)
$1.066
69.9¢
36.7
Pork, lb. (average of all cuts)
71.9c
35.2¢
36.7$
Real wages measure whether labor is
Butter, lb.
87.5¢
58.0¢
29.5c
better off than it has been. And
Milk, half gal.
59.2#
29.7¢
29.5
the facts are that real earnings
for workers from 1970 to the present
Eggs, large, doz.
52.0c
29.5¢
22.5¢
showed a 6 per cent gain, while
Frying chicken, lb.
40.5¢
17.4
23.1¢
workers registered no gain in real
Bread, white, lb.
24.8
3.5c
21.3€
earnings from 1966 to 1970.
Apples, lb.
20.7
7.3 $
13.4¢
In the last quarter of 1971, real
Oranges, doz.
99.7 c
23.6c
76.1c
earnings rose 5 per cent. In all
Orange juice, frozen, can
24.9¢
8.0c
16.9c
of 1971, average weekly earnings
increased 7.1 per cent, more than
Lettuce, head
40.5¢
16.9¢
23.6
twice the 3.4 per cent increase in
Tomatoes, lb.
46.7
20.5¢
26.2
consumer prices.
Margarine, lb.
32.9¢
10.9¢
22.0
So the charge that the wages are being
Potatoes 10 lb.
81.5c
18.6¢
62.9¢
held down while prices are rocketing
Peas, frozen, 10-oz.
22.24
3.8€
18.4¢
out of control simply isn't true.
Can of peaches
36.9c
7.3¢
29.6c
Can of spaghetti
19.1¢
2.0c
17.1¢
In the seven months since the wage-
price control program was initiated,
Sugar, 5 lb.
68.7 c
29.6
39.1¢
the Consumer Price Index has risen
"Processors, handlers, grocers, workers, etc.
at & yearly rate of 2.8 per cent,
compared with 4.1 per cent in the
Note: Prices are U.S. averages during period October through December, 1971.
six months preceding the freeze.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
# # #
Copy
WASHINGTON REVIEW
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
May 22, 1972
MORE THAN 20,000 RESPOND TO QUESTIONNAIRE
I received a total of 20,184 responses to my 1972 questionnaire in time for tabulation by
a computer firm selected by me to add up the answers.
Quickly summing up the results, I find that those Fifth District residents responding to
my questionnaire reject an unconditional withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam, favor the
Administration's health care proposal over Sen. Kennedy's plan for federalizing national health
insurance, approve of President Nixon's proposals for a moratorium on busing to achieve racial
balance coupled with special Federal aid to disadvantaged schools, overwhelmingly favor Federal
legislation to prevent national emergency strikes in transportation, strongly favor a continua-
tion of price and wage controls until inflation is curbed, solidly approve of Federal revenue
sharing with states and local units of government, favor an increase in military spending by
slightly over 50 per cent, reject the idea of diverting a slice of Federal highway user tax
revenue for mass transit, and vote by less than 50 per cent for Social Security increases which
involve an increase in Social Security taxes.
DISTRICT WANTS CEASEFIRE, RETURN OF PRISONERS
In posing my Vietnam question, I offered constituents a choice between the referendum which
appeared on the Nov. 2, 1971, Grand Rapids ballot and a withdrawal of U.S. troops tied to return
of U.S. prisoners of war, an Indochina ceasefire and an internationally supervised election in
Vietnam.
The President's latest peace proposal calls for a pullout of all U.S. ground troops within
four months, conditioned on release of American prisoners of war and a ceasefire throughout
Indochina. He has dropped the election proposal.
The 1971 referendum question simply asked whether the U.S. should "declare a ceasefire with-
in the nation of Vietnam and immediately withdraw all American military personnel therefrom.
Nothing was said about getting back our prisoners of war.
Balloting on my multiple choice Vietnam question showed 67.8 per cent favoring a withdrawal
tied to a ceasefire and return of prisoners and only 21.6 per cent for the referendum proposal.
At the time the referendum was voted on by Grand Rapids residents, I described the ballot
question as poorly drawn because it said nothing about getting back our prisoners of war. I was
later criticized for that by those advocating the proposal. Quite obviously, Fifth District
residents want both sides to enter into a ceasefire agreement, and they want our prisoners back.
HEALTH INSURANCE--BUILD ON PRESENT SYSTEM
A sizable majority--57.8 per cent of those responding--favor the Administration approach of
seeking to solve our health care problems by building on the present system of private health
insurance.
Fifth District residents obviously abhor what many respondents call "Federal interference"
in health matters.
This was indicated when only 19.3 per cent expressed a preference for Sen. Kennedy's
proposed Federal health insurance system financed from Federal payroll taxes and the Federal
treasury.
(over)
It was further pointed up by the fact that 22.86 per cent did not answer the question at
all--many people scrawling across the question the word, "neither."
The Administration plan would require employers to pay 65 to 75 per cent of private health
insurance premiums and would bring health insurance companies under Federal regulation.
I have sponsored the Administration bill but with an added provision or amendment which
gives small businessmen Federal assistance in paying the bulk of their workers' premiums.
DISTRICT OPPOSES FORCED BUSING
District respondents voted 64.4 per cent in favor of a moratorium on forced busing to
achieve racial balance, plus Federal financial assistance to disadvantaged schools. Of the rest,
30.9 per cent opposed the proposal, and 4.7 per cent did not answer.
Many Fifth District residents opposed to busing voted "no" on this question because they
want busing banned altogether, not just placed under moratorium.
I am supporting legislation to prevent forced busing and also a proposed Constitutional
amendment which would ban busing completely.
I do not believe forced busing of students out of their neighborhoods to distant schools is
the answer to quality education. I favor quality education, not racial quotas. The answer,
when it does come, will come through changes in housing patterns.
TRANSPORT STRIKE PREVENTION FAVORED
My questionnaire showed overwhelming support--79.6 per cent--for Administration legislation
which would prevent national emergency strikes in transportation.
One of the options given the President under the measure would be to appoint an arbitration
panel which would order a settlement based on the better of the final offers submitted by both
labor and management. I am a primary cosponsor of this legislation.
YOUTH, ELDERS DISAGREE ON DEFENSE SPENDING
I set up my questionnaire so that balloting by 18-through-20-year-olds could be counted
separately from the votes of those 21 years and older.
The views expressed by the special youth group--the new voters--were substantially the same
on all questions except defense spending. Asked if they favor increased defense spending to
offset advances made by the Russians, the youth group voted 60 per cent against and only
32.6 per cent in favor. By contrast, the 21-and-older respondents voted 53.5 per cent for more
military spending and 41.2 per cent against.
The complete results of the questionnaire voting are shown below, listed in percentages
rounded off to the nearest full digit. Percentages given do not add up to 100 per cent because
the remainder did not answer the question.
JERRY FORD 1972 QUESTIONNAIRE
18-20
Overall
18-20
Yr. Old
Total
Overall
(MULTIPLE CHOICE)
Yr. Old
Total
Yes
No
Yes
No
1. Do you favor a moratorium on forced busing
8. On health insurance, which do you favor?
to achieve racial balance, coupled with special
53
42
64
Federal aid to disadvantaged schools?
31
A. An improved nationwide private health
insurance system, with employers required to
2. Do you favor Federal legislation to prevent
pay 65 to 75 per cent of the premiums and
national emergency strikes in transportation
employees the rest, and with insurance com-
(railroads, airlines, shipping and trucking)?
61
31
80
17
panies placed under Federal regulation and
control.
47
58
3. Do you favor diverting some of the highway
user taxes to finance urban mass transit systems?
40
52
38
57
B. A Federal Government program financed
with special payroll taxes.
21
19
4. Do you faver sharing of Federal income tax
revenue with the cities and States on a fixed
percentage basis?
53
35
63
28
9. On Vietnam, the United States Government
should:
5. In the last four years the Soviet Union has
A. Declare a ceasefire within the nation of
increased its strategic missile capability and great-
ly expanded its noval forces. Do you favor on
Vietnam and immediately withdraw all Ameri-
increase in U.S. military spending to offset this?
33
60
52
43
can military personnel therefrom.
27
22
B. Withdraw all American forces from South
6. Do you favor continuing wage and price con-
68
23
82
trols until inflation is curbed?
13
Vietnam, conditioned on release of U.S.
prisoners of wor, a ceasefire throughout Indo-
7. Do you favor a substantial increase in Social
china and the holding of on internationally
Security benefits if this means higher Social
supervised Presidential election in South Viet-
Security taxes?
36
54
49
47
53
68
nom,
June 9, 1972
Paul
A**C) )T) (I ((O**N
MH
While at the Senior Citizens outing yesterday, "Project Involve", I
talked to Mrs. Eleanor Hargrove, Project Coordinator for Elderscope,
500 Commerce Building, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49502.
Elderscope is the monthly newsletter of the United Fund
Community Services Senior Citizens Project and Mr. Ford receives it
each month.
As project Coordinator, Mrs. Hargrove said that she had been
religiously reading Mr. Ford's newsletters which come out weekly. She
did express some regret over the fact that the newsletter always handles
legislation that had been completed rather than serving as a notice of
legislation that is coming up.
I am certain that she would like to have some information for
Elderscope which could be of specific intormation service to the Senior
Citizens and they would like a chance to "lobby" before the measure is
passed.
Also, her suggestion about the newsletter seems to have some
definite merit in that measures that are of significante not just to Senior
Citizens but to many others could be mentioned prior to their consideration
so that persons could inofrm the Congressman of their opinion.
Gordon.