Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
312196312
label
Chron Files August 6-12, 1995 [3]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
312196312
contentType
document
title
Chron Files August 6-12, 1995 [3]
citationUrl
collections
Records of the Office of Staff Secretary (Clinton Administration)
Todd Stern's Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
312196312
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
otherTitles
7422166-20190774S-Seg1-003-006-2023
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
a0c3f7efe5ebe65b
ocrText
THE WHITE HOUSE
THE PRESIDENT 8/7/95 HAS SEEN
WASHINGTON
95 ML
JULY 31, 1995
p2:
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
DOUGLAS B. SOSNIK
SUBJECT: FOCUS POLLS ON WOMEN
For your information, I am enclosing a summary of four focus
groups that Celinda Lake produced for EMILY's List.
These focus groups were performed among women who were
either ticket-splitters or drop-off voters (Democratic leaning or
independent women who voted in 1992 but not 1994). In short,
this poll found that the women are very worried about the
economy, and more specifically, their economic security. Also of
significance is that the women in these focus groups are more
motivated by economic terms that have an immediate impact on
their lives than more abstract economic terms.
The women polled were very cynical. They believe that the
government can help to resolve their problems but that it does
not choose to do so.
Attachment
cc: Vice President
Leon Panetta
Harold Ickes
Erskine Bowles
TO:
Mary Beth Cahill, EMILY's List
FROM:
Celinda Lake, Lake Research
Tom Kiley, Marttila & Kiley
SUBJECT:
Focus Group Findings
DATE:
June 22, 1995
This memorandum summarizes findings from four focus groups conducted among women in
Chicago on May 31, 1995, and in Tacoma on June -1, 1995. In each city, two groups were
conducted -- one among ticket-splitters and one among drop-off voters. Ticket-splitters were
recruited from a list of registered voters, and screened for women who are not strong
partisans, who do not vote straight tickets, and who have no more than two years of college
education. Drop-off voters were recruited from a list of registered voters who voted in 1992
but not in 1994, and screened for women who are Democratic-leaning or independent, and
who do not have a college education.
SUMMARY
Following is a brief overview of the focus group findings:
We cannot underestimate how stressed these women are. They are stretched to the
limit, and they are short two precious resources: time and money.
When these women worry about the economy, they worry in very specific, personal
terms about their ability to make ends meet for one more day. They also feel that
woman bear the brunt of the economic problems -- not only do they work, but they
also take care of the family.
Profound cynicism, not apathy, marks these voters' attitudes. A fundamental question
is whether this cynicism can be turned into activism. They are angry at gridlock,
infighting and government that serves special interests rather than the interests of the
people who elect them. Fundamentally, they believe that the United States has the
resources to help them, but that the politicians choose not to. When they do not vote,
it is because they do not believe that voting makes a difference: no matter who they
vote into office, nothing will change.
These women believe that nobody is on their side -- not Democrats, not Republicans,
and not any individual they can name. Their anger is focused at Congress broadly, by
which they mean politicians. They believe that politicians do not understand their
problems, and that they care only about their own narrow political interests.
These voters claim they choose how to vote on the basis of "issues," but this is often
a code word for values and character. They respond most strongly to candidates who
visibly understand and relate to their lives.
Although they often resist admitting it, and in fact may deny it if pressed, these voters
clearly believe that women candidates are more likely to understand their lives and
share their priorities.
The strongest message for mobilizing these voters is one which focuses on economic
security, and on the things which make is possible for families to survive. Language
should focus on immediate economic needs as specifically as possible, rather than on
abstract notions of strengthening the economy. The contrast can focus on those in
touch with and willing to prioritize the things that real families need. These women
feel that few people are on their side, and the strongest rhetoric here can therefore
have a distinctly populist edge.
THE CONTEXT
To describe the mood of these women, it is impossible to use stronger language than they use
themselves. These are the words they use to describe how they are feeling about the direction
of the country:
depressed
concerned
disgusted
unassured
sad
frustrated
disappointed
nervous
cynical
pissed off
angry
powerless
desperate
scared
uncomfortable
This overpowering negativity has two related sources: severe economic anxiety and a deep
cynicism about politics. These women fear for their own families' economic survival, and
they do not believe that politicians understand that fear. In fact, they tend to believe that
politicians are choosing not to help, and this angers them.
Stress and economic anxiety
These women are struggling to survive and their lives are stretched thin, short of two
precious resources in women's lives: time and money. They face immediate economic
pressures. They do not worry in the abstract about the economy; they worry in very specific
personal terms about their wages, their bills, and their ability to make ends meet for one
more day. They feel torn between job and family, and describe their own lives as "stressed,"
"complicated," "overworked," "underpaid," and a "juggling act":
It seems like you just can't get ahead. You do one thing and it just seems like every time you do
something, something happens or you run into something. The money just doesn't go far enough
any more. Between paying for -- I pay for five kids so it is really hard to get it to stretch. When
the car breaks, we are completely finished. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
2
My husband works for a living. He has a mediocre job. We have three children and it is a struggle
to have everything that by law you have to have -- let's say car insurance and all of these things
that you have to do and keep your heads above water. There just doesn't seem to be enough
money or enough high-paying jobs to go around. (Tacoma drop-off)
It is also important to note that these voters have a strong sense that women bear the brunt of
economic problems and anxiety. They see women as carrying the load for their families,
doing double-duty for job and for family. Men have one job they have to do well, but
women have two or more. They also feel discrimination in the workplace, and think it is
even harder for women to escape from low-paying jobs. These women are clear: women get
paid less for the same work and have less opportunity for advancement.
The demands are high on women, I think, personally. First of all, women never were allowed to
grow in a company before. There is a lot of -- my company where I come from, it is chauvinistic.
It
really is Upper management -- they are nice people but it's like ah, you are a woman. You
are supposed to go home and cook dinner every night for your family. You're supposed to -- but
get this project done by 12 o'clock. Make sure this is here. I need you to work overtime. It is
stressful. (Chicago drop-off)
They put eight to ten hours a day and you are putting in at least ten hours a day by the time you
commute to work and you are wiped out. They need time. You have to spend time with them
doing their homework and giving them some input. Women's jobs are never done. When you fall
in bed at ten o'clock is when their day is over. (Tacoma drop-off)
Underlying all of this is deep frustration that women do not have the option of caring for
their children full-time. These women feel trapped. Working is not a choice for these
women; it is necessary for their economic survival: "because of the economy, mothers have
to go out of the home and work." But although they cannot afford to stay home with their
children, the only jobs they can get barely cover child care costs and the government
provides no help. As one concluded, "we need the support from the government so people
can stay home with the kids"
"this is not a male/female issue."
You are second-class citizens. You really are They don't go after the men and the men get all
these tax cuts and everything else. There are breaks and the women who are supporting the
children without any assistance are the ones that are having to fight and to struggle and the kids are
the ones that are suffering. (Tacoma drop-off)
I think about my one daughter who is expecting her first baby. Two of them are working. She
desperately wants to take off for this baby when it is born. Give her a chance to start raising a
baby. She is not going to be able to. They live in our two-flat. My mother and I have a two-flat.
They live upstairs so they are paying minimal rent -- just enough so that we can all cover the
mortgage together. She's got a car that half the time doesn't run. He's got a brand new truck
because he has to travel a long way away to work. She's not going to be able to stay home because
they've got outrageous bills and they are just mounting up by things happening -- Christmas and
weddings and things that go on. That is what's so depressing. I was able to stay home for ten
years, work part time and you can't do that any more. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
I would love to be home with my kids, but I'm forced to -- I've got a six-month-old. I nursed that
baby. I love my children but I'm telling my husband. You know, this Christmas rush, I think I
really need to go and do the Christmas rush and try to get a job. He's looking at me like why? I'm
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
3
like well think about it honey, you've got three kids. You bring home about $1,000 a month and
we're not making it very well. We struggle from paycheck to paycheck. We scrimp. We are
looking at things like what can we sell in our house this time. It's awful. (Tacoma drop-off)
It really makes me angry that women can't stay home. Someone has to raise the kids. It's not a
male/female issue. When they used to say years ago, men had it all, I can't wait. They never had
it all. If they did have more than we had, it was because we enabled them to go off to work with a
clearer conscience because we were home with the children. So if we, as women, are going to be
out working, someone has to be raising the kids. Ideally, it is one of the parents. But because of
the way situations are today, it is impossible. I was real lucky. I'm able to work out of my house
so I have a physical presence there even if I'm not as attentive as I could have been but at least
I'm there in body. I really sympathize with the situation. You just have to turn your kids over and
it is not a matter of what you want to do, it's a matter of what you have to do. (Chicago ticket-
splitter)
These women are also angry at a system they describe as helping those who don't deserve it,
while providing those who need and deserve help (that is, their own families) with no
support. These women have a strong sense that too many people abuse the welfare system,
refusing to work, and therefore stealing benefits and tax dollars from people who work hard
and deserve the help. Consistently, these women complain that they are turned down for
benefits they genuinely need because they earn too much, working at jobs they hate because
it's the responsible thing to do, while people who are lazy and irresponsible get the benefits.
Moreover, these are the women who work as waitresses without day care or insurance and
see women on welfare getting both for doing nothing.
Well, I'm a welfare mom, I guess, since I get food stamps and my kids get free lunch. But the
thing is, you don't go on welfare because you want to. You go on welfare because you can't feed
your children. And you go on welfare because the system leaves you no other choice. My husband
served 13 years in the military, served in the Gulf War on the front line and yet the military said
sorry, we don't need you any more. And he gets out. Nine-hundred dollars a month. Five people
in my family and we're being denied welfare because my vehicle is worth too much money. You
can't have more than $2,000 total. Everything you own cannot be worth more than $2,000. So
we're denied. I think priorities are wrong. They're going to put a $67 million stadium in Seattle,
but 400 Tacoma teachers are being laid off. Priorities are way out of whack. (Tacoma ticket-
splitter)
I just had a heart attack and I'm not able to go back to work for three months but because I have
$40 over the limit, you don't even qualify. I worked all my life. Why isn't there something for
this? Where these other people, they get on welfare -- they go and when I see them in the lines and
see their shopping carts and mine, it's amazing. (Chicago drop-off)
They are making it too easy. I've locked in. My husband was at -- my husband was out of work
for two and a half years and I tell you since the day he was laid off I pushed him, go find a job,
go find a job. I am tired of going in and cashing that welfare check and having people look at me.
I used to dress skuzzy just so people wouldn't look at me bad. I used to watch girls that were 18
and 19 years old going in and cashing out welfare checks going into welfare. I'm thinking, good
golly, is this what the world has come to that they just go in and live off of welfare? Most people
said, oh, they owe it to me. It's like what are we owing you? We owe you nothing. You need to
work. But speaking of those benefits things, though, my husband does work. He works for a very
small company. She owns two stores. She can't even afford to give us health care benefits. My
kids are on the medical, welfare. Me and my husband are not even covered because it's like they
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
4
will not -- they kicked us off after a year after my husband started working. But I fought to get my
kids back on because I thought if anybody should be covered, it should be my kids. (Tacoma drop-
off)
Their economic stress also gives these voters a powerful parochial focus. They believe that
the country spends too much helping other countries, and that it does so at the expense of
people at home. This is part of a broader political question to these women -- "why don't we
take care of our own?" They repeat again and again: "we don't do enough for our own
country," "we help everybody but our own." This translates into strong anti-foreign and anti-
immigrant feelings:
My concern is about the future. What is going to happen to our children, our children's children?
The way the economy -- I don't know just things in general. Primarily, I guess, where is our
country. We are helping everybody but our own people here. I don't understand. (Chicago drop-
off)
It just seems like we don't do enough for our own country. We have homeless and we have people
that want us to work for a minimum wage but you can't live on that. We are always send money
and troops to everybody else. So I guess that makes me sad. I'd like to see more help here at
home. (Tacoma drop-off)
What I think there is a problem with is immigration. I'm second-generation to this country. My
grandparents came here but they came here. They got a job and they worked. You get these people
that are coming here and nobody wants to work. All they want to do is sit back. (Tacoma drop-off)
I agree with her. And the other thing is welfare. Foreigners are coming in this country who never
ever worked for Social Security. How many who are age 65 are drawing it are not American
citizens and are not even Americans yet? They haven't even taken the oath and they're drawing
Social Security. My dad has diabetes, served in the Korean War and was denied -- denied his
Social Security because he wasn't at the medical point where they thought he should draw, so I'm
with her. (Tacoma ticket-splitter)
Finally, these voters have great concern for children -- their own and America's. This has
the potential to be a prime motivator in their vote. They fear declining morals, deteriorating
neighborhoods and families, violence and crime, and lack of opportunity. They worry their
children are unsafe even in schools. High policy priorities for them include child support
enforcement and quality child care.
Political cynicism
Profound cynicism, not just apathy, marks these voters' attitudes. A fundamental question is
whether cynicism can be turned to activism. They are angry at gridlock, infighting, and
government that serves special interests rather than the interests of the people who elect
them. These are populist voters, angered by a number of big institutions, including the self-
serving elite called politicians. Fundamentally, these voters believe that the United States has
the resources to help them, but that politicians choose not to. Said a Tacoma ticket-splitter,
"they can give themselves retirement. So why can't they do it for us? They can do it. They
choose not to." These voters see politicians as rich ("they have nannies or maybe chauffeurs,
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
5
cooks, maids") and as getting richer on the taxpayers' back. "A $100,000 a year comes out a
$3 million guy. Only in America," said another Tacoma ticket-splitter.
Fundamentally, they see politicians as completely out-of-touch with the lives that most people
live, spending their time and energy on partisan bickering, looking only to help themselves
and the monied special interests that elected them. They want them to "stop fighting with
each other" and to "be accountable for what they say and what they do" (Tacoma ticket-
splitter). They are "fighting and whining," "playing Republican and Democrat." And they
don't believe politicians understand their lives: "every time I picture Congress, it is just this
vision I have in my head. They are always in this building, sitting in these chairs. They are
not out in the real world," said a Chicago drop-off voter. Said another, "they are just distant.
They have no idea of what we are going through, what we [talkover] day by day."
These voters also detest the lack of accountability in the political system. They perceive a
huge gap between what politicians say and what they do. There is "no control," "they can
waste our money and don't have to balance their budgets like we do." They "say things and
never follow through." "They lie" and "only care about getting re-elected." "They are con
people." They feel Washington gets to even the best of them. As one woman said, "even the
ones who go in with their ideals get there and can't do it."
ISSUES AND MESSAGES
The issues that matter most to these women are the issues that most directly affect their own
ability to survive economically: child care, education (both for themselves and their
children), health care (where they are focused on costs), Social Security and retirement, pay
and promotion, and children's issues.
Child care
Child care is a key issue to these voters, because it gives them opportunities in the job
market. In an ideal world, these women would have "every job incorporate day care for
women that needed it" (Chicago drop-off). They see child care as part of their economic
worries, and they want policies that make child care more affordable and accessible.
I was making $12 an hour plus benefits and everything else as a dental assistant. My husband and I
really sat down and looked at our taxes and looked at everything else and with me working it put
us in the next tax bracket. We were actually making less. By the time we paid the day care for two
kids -- before and after school, paid for my driving back and forth because we had to second car.
We were actually making less than if we stayed home with our children. (Tacoma drop-off)
I think government could help with day care. I mean, I left my job. I worked grocery for five
years and it was really hard. The money was real good, but it was hard finding a baby-sitter every
weekend and every evening. So I think if they could help somehow with just day care alone, you
know. It's hard trying to find a baby-sitter to work every weekend and every night. (Tacoma
ticket-splitter)
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
6
I think that a deduction somehow through your regular paycheck. I mean, if you have enough
women who are working or men, I guess, too, but if there was a building -- if all of us put in, you
know, $200 or (Tacoma ticket-splitter)
Child care is also an issue where these voters think women candidates would be much more
receptive than men:
Yeah, I think it is because she understands it better. I think in order to get where they are, they
needed more help and a different kind of way to get there than the man did. So if they wanted to
have a traditional work, marriage, children type thing, they struggled more and so they know what
a woman has to go through to get in their position. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
Real quickly, I worked in a business office and the manager that we had was married but had no
children. She had no understanding at all for the other women in the office who had children.
Possibly someone came down with chickenpox and you had to miss a day of work. She had no
understanding for that whatsoever until she had her own child. As soon as she had her own child,
boy things changed a little bit. She came to understand what some of us other women were going
through. (Tacoma drop-off)
Education
These women see education as the best path to economic security for themselves and their
children, but it's often out of reach:
They have to get more educated and demand for the paper and pay. All the women, basically, in
the offices are doing all the work but they are not getting any credit only because they do have to
stay at home and raise the family. If they can't make it, they have to go out into the work force.
But they haven't been prepared for it. (Chicago drop-off)
If you don't want to go to school and you don't want to advance yourself, you're going to make
$4.90 and you're going to live with it. (Tacoma ticket-splitter)
And when you see what your taxes are when they break it down for what you are paying on your
escrow taxes on your house -- what you are paying in there. The largest chunk is for school.
School taxes, not for street. It's not for roads, not for buildings but for education. And I'm all for
education. My kids are not in school any more and I think that is the greatest thing in the world if
they took 100 percent of the taxes for education, it would be great. Because the more educated
kids are, the less they are in trouble. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
Not all of us have $60,000 to fork over for a college degree. (Tacoma ticket-splitter)
Health care
Health care remains a high priority for these voters. Their focus, however, is not on access,
availability or quality. Primarily, they are frustrated and angered by constantly rising costs:
A lot of the same things she was saying just as far as trying to raise kids. My husband is working.
And medical bills. That's been -- I've been in the hospital three times in the last seven years with
kidney stones. And we're still paying on them. My husband has insurance and they pay 80 percent
but 80 percent on some of these bills is outrageous. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
7
[What should the government do?]
I agree on the health benefits It's ridiculous. Four hundred dollars a month for two people for
health insurance. That is more than my first house payment was. That's gross. (Tacoma drop-off)
Retirement
These women are most fearful for themselves about their own retirement, a particularly acute
concern for homemakers as well as working women. They believe that Social Security will
have disappeared by the time they retire, and that they'll be on their own. Even if Social
Security survives, they understand that their history of low-paying jobs and their attempts to
stay home with their children mean that their benefits will be meager, and they find this
fundamentally unfair.
Really scary because Social Security, you can't count on it. And like with me, I raised my kids. I
was a single mother. I had to take low-paying jobs and the amount that I get on Social Security is
what, $380 a month or something like that. What can I buy with that? You can't. (Tacoma ticket-
splitter)
Well, I lived in a man's world for many, many years until I finally decided I'm tired of fighting it
and went into real estate and I'm not relying on any outside funds for my retirement. I'm going to
be grateful, but I'm just trying to set myself up to make my own money and to be ready for it. I
don't know, I have a daughter that's 31 with three kids that works her tail off and has a great
supporting husband, you know, and raises three great kids. I just tried to raise my children, took,
to plan for retirement because it's not going to be there for you, Social Security. (Tacoma ticket-
splitter)
I think, too, that there is just -- like you have to be concerned if Social Security is going to be
there. There is such a whole environment -- like I feel that the politicians really aren't in touch
with us or really care about us or what is happening to the people. It's like their whole concern is
sort of perpetuating their own jobs and hanging on to what they have. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
I don't think by the time -- I'm 36 and when I get to the age to retire -- and then like now, I
haven't been working for the last eight years so I don't have money being put into a profit-sharing
or I will probably once my youngest one gets old enough. But that's going to be quite a few years
from now. I'm may go back to work part time but there won't be enough put in for me in a
retirement or pension fund and then medical. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
And years and years of paying, paying. I'm going to be working for probably another 30 years and
I'm going to keep on paying it and they keep telling you that you'd better save your own 401-K
and your IRAs because you are on your own. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
Personal Safety
Crime and violence are also important issues for these women, but they seem to blame
government less than they blame individuals and -- particularly -- irresponsible parents for
the problem. In fact, their concerns about crime center more on their fears for their children
than on their own personal safety. They frequently mention their fears of danger in the public
schools, of children bringing guns to school, and they worry about their children's safety in
their own neighborhoods.
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
8
I am afraid to send her to a public school because I just don't feel she should have to go through
metal detectors to get an education. Then I've got to work a second job to pay for a private school
so I don't have to worry about that. That's what makes it really sad. You think what is her world
when she becomes an adult. What is it going to be like with all the violence that is happening. I'm
afraid to let her walk anywhere. I used to walk everywhere to go out, or to a bowling alley or a
movie. You've got to drive them. You've got to pick them up. It's a real sad. (Chicago ticket-
splitter)
Look at the White House. In the last two weeks, I mean, two, three people have gotten over the
fence. Just crime. I mean, my daughter is in high school. We came from private school and public
school this year, it was really frightening. I was really concerned as far as her safety because of
guns, just weapons in general in the school system. There are security guards, there are police
officers there all the time. It's like being in prison, you know. But that's her way of being kept
safe, you know. (Tacoma ticket-splitter)
My greatest concern is my children because they don't get the opportunity to be kids. You have to
watch everything they do. I think things are worse out here than in the Chicago area. You have
specific areas that you stay out of Here someone is coming who is friends and tried to run him
down on a car on his bicycle. I almost broke it in half. He tells me -- he says, mom, you are so
paranoid. I said you don't think I have a reason to be paranoid? One of his friend's mothers is a
911 operator. She feels the same way I do and it is just being a kid -- they don't even get the
chance to grow up without -- you can't walk out your door and we live in Park [inaudible]. It's not
in the city but still you've got those same concerns. That is my biggest thing is my kids. To grow
up -- like I said I grew up just outside of Chicago and we walked. You went to the parks. You
didn't feel threatened. You didn't feel afraid. I am more afraid here than I ever did back there.
(Tacoma drop-off)
This concern for their children also translates into frustration with what they perceive as
declining morals and values. Said a Chicago ticket-splitter: "being the parent of teenagers, I
see the morals and television programs, MTV and all the moral issues that are one there -- or
lack of. It is very disgusting and depressing to have children growing up in this type of an
atmosphere." These women resent their loss of control over their own lives and their
children's lives and futures.
Choice
Abortion also raises powerful feelings, but opinions are divided. For those who are pro-
choice, however, this is a defining issue.
[What do you dislike about Republicans?]
I classified them as conservative and I agree with her as far as them being even close, family,
moral, judgment. I think they try to cut the choice of the people. I guess if I had to take one issue
in particular, I would say abortion rights and Republicans are known to be against that. (Tacoma
drop-off)
[I like that the Democrats are] pro-choice. What I mean is though I personally, unless it's for
medical reasons or I was raped, I could not have an abortion. I personally couldn't do it, but I
have no right to tell another woman what she can and can't do with her body. So I would not take
the right away. (Tacoma ticket-splitter)
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
9
Everybody has their opinion, but I think that particular group and as far as I'm concerned, that
cuts to people's choice. (Chicago drop-off)
Those issues provide Democrats with a powerful message to mobilize these women with
economic security at the core. Republicans, however, also have a potential message to these
women, who are concerned about high taxes, big government, wasteful spending of their
money and welfare reform. These voters will also vote for change and right now the
Republicans seem more like the party of change, the Democrats more like the big spending
defenders of the status quo.
Working in our favor, however, is the fact that these women are also populist pro-women
voters, particularly the non-voting portion. They believe women "are treated as second-class
citizens" by everyone from city hall to car dealers to their employers, and they respond to
populist rhetoric from this vantage point.
THE MESSAGE - ECONOMICSECURITY AND CHANGE
The strongest message for mobilizing these women is one which focuses on economic
security and on the things which make it possible for families to survive. Language should
focus on immediate economic needs as specifically as possible, rather than on abstract
notions of strengthening the economy. The contrast can focus on those in touch with and
willing to prioritize the things that real families need. These women feel that few elected
officials are on their side and responding to their economic needs. The strongest rhetoric
here can therefore have a distinctly populist edge.¹
It is a dialogue in these own women's words that taps their frustration and desperation:
"everything has deteriorated," "you can't get ahead." These women fear for their children
and believe a bad economy has robbed them of the ability to do anything to help. "You are
working three of those McDonalds jobs just to make ends meet" "Exactly, you are
running yourself ragged and paying most of your money out to someone else to watch your
kids." These women see little improvement in the future and fear for women's lives ten years
from now in a world where "you can't count on Social Security," "you are trapped in low-
paying jobs," and full-time jobs are being converted to part-time jobs that are "just enough
not to give benefits."
These voters see little value in the status quo. As one woman said, "if things don't change, it
will probably be a living hell." They believe that Bill Clinton supported change, but that he
is "in over his head," "he's trying but can't get it done," "he's impotent because of the
lobbyists." They worry that Democrats "don't like change," "are stuck in the mud," and
"don't want change." They voted for change in 1992 and some voted for it again in 1994.
Others did not vote in disgust, because they had not gotten the change they were promised.
I
However, as we've seen with other swing voters, the argument is not that the wealthy are bad, but that they
should contribute their fair share, and that they shouldn't benefit at the expense of others.
EMILY's List - Focus Group Findings
10
Who is on their side?
Perhaps most striking is that most of these women believe that no one is on their side -- not
Democrats, not Republicans, not any individual they can name. As discussed above, their
anger is largely focused on Congress broadly, by which they mean politicians. They do not
believe that politicians understand their lives, and they see Congress as spending all its time
and energy on partisan bickering, rather than on actually working to solve problems. The
enemy for these voters is less Democrats or Republicans than Congress and politics as usual.
These voters can think of few people on their side. The lack of a spokesperson mutes the
power of messages to these voters. These women are more inclined to see Princess Diana
and dead presidents like Lincoln as more on their side than anyone now in office.
Their anger at Congress notwithstanding, these women do see Democrats as somewhat more
sympathetic than Republicans. They believe that Democrats tend to be more focused on the
middle class -- the working class while Republicans' first priority is the wealthy -- the
"plantation owners," the "upper echelon." At the same time, they also believe that
Democrats have been irresponsible, spending too much money, while they believe that
Republicans are more likely to actually bring change:
[What comes to mind when I say "Democrats"?]
Big spenders
Fat cats -- they want us to pay for everything.
They overspend.
The money gets thrown out there without a great deal of thought as to what is actually happening
to it in the end.
Where is it coming from? They spend, spend, spend, but where is it coming from?
They're wasting our money.
They give themselves more raises and more perks and we're getting less and less.
[What are the good things about Republicans?]
I like their ideas on welfare reform.
They want to reduce the size of government. If done properly, that's a good thing.
I think they are trying to reduce the national debt and balance the budget.
Most of these women personally dislike Gingrich, and they do not believe he understands
their lives at all. They do not trust him and think he is trying to be more powerful than his
position as Speaker should allow him to be.
Again, just -- I don't know. He seems like he's always putting down Democrats or the people who
are more for the people. He has nothing good to say about any of those people who are more for
us. (Tacoma drop-off)
He doesn't have a clue. I really don't think so. When he is talking about these tax breaks, on the
one hand, he is talking about how we have to balance the budget, then he is talking about tax
breaks for people with incomes up to $200,000 a year. He is all caught up in
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
11
this fundamentalist religious ho ha. I could go on and on. I can't stand him.
(Chicago ticket-splitter)
I think he is scamming the country. He's got his classes. He's got his television program as well,
Eyes on the Classes. He's also got the House, Senate. He's got everything going for him and
technically, according to the paper, by law he shouldn't have all that. The government shouldn't be
backing up most of his stuff. (Chicago drop-off)
Ticket-splitters see the radical right as a powerful threat. They associate the radical right with
"Newt Gingrich," "Jimmy Bakker," "fanatics," "right-wingers" and "the militia." Their
biggest fears are that the radical right will impose its values on people's personal lives and
invade their privacy.
I think bringing religion into the politics -- like you said. I'm all for morality. I'm all for us all
living by the Golden Rule and everything, but this prayer in school stuff. That is not something
that should be handled at school. That is your personal life. Your at-home stuff. Abortion issues --
to me, that should not be a political theme. I think they are bringing their churches into the whole
voting thing. It was just in Time magazine just a week or two ago. This young guy -- I can't
remember his name but he's got this big following going because he's real -- he's good-looking.
He's young. He's got a couple kids and he's a preacher and he is going to be vaulted to be the
new leader. I'm like that -- I don't like that because that is just like forcing it down my throat.
(Chicago ticket-splitter)
I think they want their morality to be the morality. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
Well, all these right-wingers, I'm really scared of them. I really am. I saw a bumper sticker the
other day that said "Please, Lord, Save Me From Your Bawlers" and I believe it. I think they've
gone too far out. (Tacoma ticket-splitter)
No, it doesn't make sense to me. I think everybody should exercise their religion to their beliefs. I
don't like people imposing their thoughts or beliefs on me or my children. (Tacoma ticket-splitter)
Drop-off voters, however, have a somewhat mixed sense of who the radical right is, and thus
see them as a much less serious threat.
Sounds like somebody is trying to cram religion down my throat, I guess. (Tacoma drop-off)
The thing that I think is so funny is the right wing doesn't even go with religion. The right wings I
know, none of them are Christians so the two don't even, in my mind, don't even belong in the
same sentence. (Tacoma drop-off)
I feel like that too. I don't make the connection at all. When I hear that, I'm like that doesn't make
sense because these people are not Christians so why do they attach that to that? (Tacoma drop-off)
That's -- I don't know about here but I don't want the country being run by people who think they
should lead it using the Bible as a strict set of laws. (Chicago drop-off)
Either in their own small communities or some of these small towns that are run that way. I don't
- there are some in both parties that I would consider that way. (Chicago drop-off)
Like a David Koresh-type to where they have followers. They have power and depending on their
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
12
beliefs, there is all different religious leaders. (Chicago drop-off)
[Are they a threat, or are they just a few people? How big a threat are they?]
I think it is growing.
It's definitely growing.
Look at the guy that blew Oklahoma and the Michigan -- all those
The militias.
Were they are religious organization? I thought that was a militant organization?
Yeah, I don't think that's the religious.
But you know, they are people that are real disgusted with the way the government is.
And they start joining all these different things and that is what is happening.
And when that came out, it wasn't like this is just a one little group. This is the first time we all
heard. This is all over the country they have these things: Boise, Idaho, and Michigan
I'm trying to think if I've heard about like this Oklahoma thing -- if anything religious has been
said about it. I heard that it was a militant group and that, like you said, is the first time I knew
they were all around. But I don't remember hearing anything about them being a religious
Well, the preacher came on, though, and he talked about how religious they are.
(Chicago ticket-splitters)
These women want to like President Clinton, and many make every effort to give him the
benefit of the doubt. They want to say that he's trying, and that he has the right intentions.
The problem is that they see him as indecisive and as incapable of taking a stand on the
issues they care about. When he does, he can't always get things done or follow through.
The Perot voters among these women are much more negative.
Well, I don't think our president really gets it. I think he says he gets it and he really tries to act
like he gets it, but I don't think he gets it at all. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
He vacillates so much. He will say one thing and then two weeks later or a month later it is
something else. It's like the guy doesn't have any hard-core conviction is my feeling about him. I
would like it better if I disagreed with him that he stood out for what he said. (Chicago ticket-
splitter)
He doesn't follow through and I agree with Kathleen here. He is basically a good person. He
means well. He's just not getting the job done. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
He has tried. Like I said, when he was elected I voted for him because of all the good things he
said to get him elected. Now, it's like he's changing everything to make everybody happy. It's like
why not keep to what you put forth
(Tacoma
drop-off)
I think the same way the rest of the ladies here. I think he wants to do so much but he doesn't
follow through on anything. He just keeps talking and talking. Then it's like -- we get excited. Oh
yeah, that sounds good and nothing is ever followed through on. (Chicago drop-off)
These voters have mixed reactions to Hillary Clinton. The defectors dislike that "she pushes
Bill Clinton" and "tries to be president." They direct their resentment of class and
"professional women" toward her. However, the drop-off voters generally expressed
tremendous admiration for Hillary. "She's for children and women," "she's intelligent,"
"she's well-read," "she's a worker and gets her hands dirty."
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
13
She runs the government. (Tacoma drop-off)
I wish she were president. (Chicago drop-off)
She gets out there and she understands what's going on. (Chicago drop-off)
She is from here. She is one of us. She is one of the down-to-earth people.
(Chicago drop-off)
Perhaps the main ally these women see is other women, although they will not admit that
directly. They are excited when they hear women candidates are running, but often feel a
class difference with "the women in suits" and "women professional politicians." They do,
however, articulate a kind of populist feminism -- a sense that women are in the same boat,
and that women can be relied on to care and to help.
PARTICIPATION
Many drop-off voters express their reluctance to vote on election day as deep cynicism. They
feel that their own vote will not necessarily make a difference, so why bother. They also feel
that they voted for a change in 1992 and did not get it, and tend to believe that politicians
will not care about their constituents, no matter who is elected -- so, again, why bother? The
defectors feel if they don't vote, "they can't complain." The drop-off voters believe that if
they don't vote, "they can't be blamed."
The cynicism of these drop-off voters is different from the gentle apathy of voters in the 50s
and 70s. This represents deep alienation. They believe "no matter who's in, it's the same,"
"same promises, different faces." They report "they weren't excited enough or disgusted
enough" to vote and don't "want to vote a bad one in" or do the politicians "a favor." As
one reported, she refused to "vote for them" to give them anything. These are also low
information voters and "don't want to vote for someone they know nothing about." Their
cynicism acts as a further filter on their low information. Their lives are balkanized and they
bring few resources to the table.
Sometimes you feel it just doesn't matter. You've got something going in your life. You are not
going to stop it and run out to vote because it is going to make a big change in the world.
(Chicago drop-off)
I think they think it doesn't matter who is in there. It's not going to make any difference because it
never has. They are thinking it never has. I don't care if there is Democrat in there or a
Republican in there. It's always the same, so they are like what does it matter. I hear people talk
like that all the time. (Tacoma drop-off)
It's almost the same. I wouldn't vote -- you just get disgusted. It's the same old stuff. (Chicago
drop-off)
That is true. They tell you the same things and they never follow through. (Chicago drop-off)
People figure it's not going to make any difference. (Tacoma drop-off)
I did not vote on purpose because I'm exactly like you. I think they are all the same and for me to
go there and pull a lever, I might cancel out somebody who maybe they know something that I
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
14
don't know that could be positive. For me to just go in there and vote for somebody that I didn't
feel good about, or that I don't know them well enough to vote (Tacoma drop-off)
Why go out there and bother? Nobody is doing anything. They say one thing and then they don't
do anything. They are changing their mind and we just lose everything all the way around.
(Chicago drop-off)
These voters feel "helpless." They are "fed up," but can't figure out anything effective to do
in a world where there "is no difference between Republicans and Democrats."
While suspicious of vote by mail and possible fraud, drop-off voters share more of a populist
identity with other women, and are more responsive to a woman-to-woman appeal to vote.
I just think that at some level they are trying to reach out to women and let them know that we
understand any problems you are having, or whatever -- just trying to reach out to women in
general. That is a good thing. (Tacoma drop-off)
CHOOSING CANDIDATES
These voters talk about issues, but values and character more than issues drive their vote.
They vote "for change" and "for who speaks to me in my heart." These voters respond
positively to women candidates, but they are often reluctant to admit any preference based on
gender. Thus, when asked how they would respond if a woman were running for Congress in
their area, their first reaction is "good for her!" Then, they quickly pull back into skepticism
and into claiming that they vote on the issues, rather than on gender.
I feel sorry for her right at first and then I think, well, I give -- well, good for her. At least she's
got the guts to try. But I do -- first of all, I go oh, God, I feel sorry for her. I don't know. It just
seems like women, if you don't get browbeaten, verbally abused or whatever it is, I don't care in
any walk of life a woman tries, if you think back in history, how many really do you remember
that were -- did something fantastic, I guess. (Tacoma ticket-splitter)
Yeah, I'd like to know her background, but I would be happy to see that a woman (Chicago
drop-off)
Good for her [when I hear a woman is running for Congress]. (Tacoma drop-off)
Right, and then you have to read her position. (Tacoma drop-off)
You also have to see, too, if she is following the men or if she is going for the women. (Tacoma
drop-off)
Although these women claim they vote on issues, what they really mean is "values." When
pushed to explain which issues matter to them, they immediately return to a description of
values.
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
15
When I vote, I really look at the person's decisions on issues that are important to me. For
example, how they have voted in the past on issues concerning people and if people have been
losing over the long term because they voted to take these away from them. I don't think that
person is qualified to really care about us. Just lots of little things. (Tacoma ticket-splitter)
Who speaks to me -- in my heart. Who sits there and speaks to me thinking this person is going to
make a change for the better and not for the worse. Someone that is going to do something.
(Tacoma drop-off)
Similarly, when asked directly, they will often deny that women are any different than men.
As conversation evolves, however, they will freely generalize about the issues that women
are better on, and about how women are likely to be more compassionate and to understand
their lives better.
If it was that equal, I would vote for the woman. Maybe hoping that she'd get more child care
issues or education issues passed than more military spending or less graft with gun control,
hopefully. Hopefully, because they haven't been in power or women haven't had that kind of
responsibility. (Chicago ticket-splitter)
Women don't feel like they owe anybody anything. See, once you get into power, I don't owe you
a thing. Where men have this little patronage type of thing. Well, you did me a favor so I'm going
to do you a favor. A lot of women are like, tough, I'm here now. (Chicago drop-off)
We've got a hormonal thing that goes on in our bodies that allow us to be sympathetic. We have a
tendency to listen more and come to a better conclusion whereas men, they just kind of think one
way and that is the only way. (Tacoma drop-off)
The candidates that left the most positive impression on these women were candidates who
seemed to understand their lives, and whose slightly rougher edges made them seem more
ordinary. They want candidates in touch with women's lives, sharing their multiple roles,
and who are not too "upper class." At the same time, they demand a certain degree of
professionalism and strength. They leap on women who seem soft or weak, saying that she'd
be "eaten alive."
I thought she was a people-person. In her first ad she was with, I think, every kind of background.
She was with kids; she was with working people; she was with the police. I don't know. She came
across -- I don't know -- warm. Like she would be for you. (Chicago drop-off)
I think she addressed the issues -- what mattered and I think that is what I liked about her. She
addressed what matters and not the hubbub of all that other kind of stuff out there. She addressed
what mattered and that is what I liked about her. (Tacoma drop-off)
She was herself. She didn't have to dress all fancy. She just -- I felt she was very educated. She
can deal with the average person -- any person she could [talkover] (Chicago drop-off)
She seemed like a real person speaking, not the smooth, polished. (Chicago drop-off)
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
16
It just struck me, too, the way she was shown talking to kids in a classroom, talking to somebody
on a job site. That said to me that she actually goes out and makes it a point to try to get
differentpeople's points of view, making an effort, rather than I'm here at the kingdom, come see
me. (Tacoma ticket-splitter)
Or, as a Tacoma ticket-splitter said: "she spoke on a level that I think just about anybody
could understand. Working class. Just the basics."
EMILY's List -- Focus Group Findings
17
Chron
THE WHITE HOUSE
de hore 65th (Linda LADER 8/7 phil) ou' ou
herson
WASHINGTON
to on
August 3, 1995
David Neff
Executive Editor:
Christianity Today
465 Gundersen Drive
Carol Stream, Illinois 60188
Dear David:
Thanks for your letter of July 13 and for your
kind words about my speech at James Madison
High School. I also appreciate your candid
assessment of the Georgetown speech. While I
know you agree that the economic issues I
addressed are vitally important, I also
understand and appreciate your concern that
transcendent values be promoted, too. I thank
you for sharing your thoughts about it.
I've taken the liberty of enclosing the whole
series of recent speeches I've given, and I
hope you'll let me know what you think. I look
forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Biu Clenton
CHRISTIANITY
TODAY
July 13, 1995
The President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500-2000
Dear Mr. President,
I was very pleased yesterday to read several wire-service reports of your speech at James
Madison High School and to talk to someone who was present for the event.
A directive such as you have given to Education and Justice is an important step in secur-
ing the sense of personal freedom Americans should have in exercising their religious
liberty.
I sincerely hope that the effort that you are putting forth is highly effective. Nevertheless,
with several constitutional challenges to RFRA pending in the courts, it may be necessary
to move beyond these simple directives to a constitutional amendment. I am opposed to
any School Prayer Amendment, but some versions of the Religious Equality Amendment
are anything but that, and I am convinced they might clear the air. The media generally,
however, have these two amendments hopelessly confused.
I should say that yesterday's speech encouraged me because I had felt a bit let down by
the previous week's speech at Georgetown University. I had received a fax from the
White House press office before the Georgetown speech, suggesting that its primary goal
was to call attention to our "common ground." As I read the transcript of the speech, I felt
that its focus was too much on reaching our "middle class dreams," and thus the speech
did not seem to lift America's vision any higher than wallet level. There was little sense
of the transcendent values that we hold in common: justice. freedom, equality, "purple
mountain majesties," etc. But yesterday's affirmation of the role of religion in our lives
helped to correct that impression. Please remind the American people on a regular basis
of the transcendent things that should, for all our diversity, act as superordinate goals.
[
I spoke last night with Linda Lader. (That wild & crazy woman called me from London
where it was 2:30 AM!) She said your long-term record on the role of religion in public
life is not generally recognized and should be brought forward. I agreed.
Within minutes of yesterday's speech, some organizations were calling you a political
opportunist. (The news release I received from Pat Robertson's ACLJ was one of the
worst.) I knew that it was not merely considerations of political timing that drove that
speech because of our earlier conversation and correspondence we had about Lincoln's
spirituality. If people realized you had addressed this topic in this way as Governor
Clinton, it might help to dispel that impression of opportunism. I wonder whether any of
465 Gundersen Drive
Carol Stream, Illinois 60188
Phone 708 260-6200
Fax 708 260-0114
A PUBLICATION OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY, INC.
e-mail: [email protected]
your staff has time to unearth dusty Arkansas speeches or comments on this topic.
It has been a long time since have had personal contact. (I chose to attend the February
version of Renaissance Weekend this year to avoid the crowds.) But perhaps our paths
will cross again.
Sincerely,
David
David Neff
Executive Editor
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
95AUG 8 A2: 06
OFFICE OF THE STAFF SECRETARY
Fax Transmittal Sheet
TO:
LINDA LADER
Fax Number: 638-4141
Phone Number:
FROM: Todd Stern
SUBJECT: Copy of letter signed by the President
DATE:
08/07/95
NUMBER OF PAGES (including cover sheet):
4
MESSAGE:
If all pages are not received, please call 202/456-2702
The document accompanying this facsimile transmittal sheet is intended only for the use of the individual or
entity to whom it is addressed. This message contains information which may be privileged, confidential or
exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or
the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified
that any disclosure, dissemination, copying or distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the
contents of this communication is strictly prohibited.
de
THE WHITE HOUSE
A
in no 100% cat him 3
hore
WASHINGTON
&
August 3, 1995
David Neff
Executive Editor:#
Christianity Today
465 Gundersen Drive
Carol Stream, Illinois 60188
Dear David:
Thanks for your letter of July 13 and for your
kind words about my speech at James Madison
High School. I also appreciate your candid
assessment of the Georgetown speech. While I
know you agree that the economic issues I
addressed are vitally important, I also
understand and appreciate your concern that
transcendent values be promoted, too. I thank
you for sharing your thoughts about it.
I've taken the liberty of enclosing the whole
series of recent speeches I've given, and I
hope you'll let me know what you think. I look
forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Biu Clenton
CHRISTIANITY
TODAY
July 13, 1995
The President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500-2000
Dear Mr. President,
I was very pleased yesterday to read several wire-service reports of your speech at James
Madison High School and to talk to someone who was present for the event.
A directive such as you have given to Education and Justice is an important step in secur-
ing the sense of personal freedom Americans should have in exercising their religious
liberty.
I sincerely hope that the effort that you are putting forth is highly effective. Nevertheless,
with several constitutional challenges to RFRA pending in the courts, it may be necessary
to move beyond these simple directives to a constitutional amendment. I am opposed to
any School Prayer Amendment, but some versions of the Religious Equality Amendment
are anything but that, and I am convinced they might clear the air. The media generally,
however, have these two amendments hopelessly confused
I should say that yesterday's speech encouraged me because I had felt a bit let down by
the previous week's speech at Georgetown University. I had received a fax from the
White House press office before the Georgetown speech, suggesting that its primary goal
was to call attention to our "common ground." As I read the transcript of the speech, I felt
that its focus was too much on reaching our "middle class dreams," and thus the speech
did not seem to lift America's vision any higher than wallet level. There was little sense
of the transcendent values that we hold in common: justice. freedom, equality, "purple
mountain majesties," etc. But yesterday's affirmation of the role of religion in our lives
helped to correct that impression. Please remind the American people on a regular basis
of the transcendent things that should, for all our diversity, act as superordinate goals.
[
I spoke last night with Linda Lader. (That wild & crazy woman called me from London
where it was 2:30 AM!) She said your long-term record on the role of religion in public
life is not generally recognized and should be brought forward. I agreed.
Within minutes of yesterday's speech, some organizations were calling you a political
opportunist. (The news release I received from Pat Robertson's ACLJ was one of the
worst.) I knew that it was not merely considerations of political timing that drove that
speech because of our earlier conversation and correspondence we had about Lincoln's
spirituality. If people realized you had addressed this topic in this way as Governor
Clinton, it might help to dispel that impression of opportunism. I wonder whether any of
465 Gundersen Drive
Carol Stream, Illinois 60188
Phone 708 260-6200
Fax 708 260-0114
A PUBLICATION OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY, INC.
e-mail: [email protected]
your staff has time to unearth dusty Arkansas speeches or comments on this topic.
It has been a long time since have had personal contact. (I chose to attend the February
version of Renaissance Weekend this year to avoid the crowds.) But perhaps our paths
will cross again.
Sincerely,
David
David Neff
Executive Editor
AUG 09 '95 12:00PM MASSEXEC OFFICE HEALTH&HUMAN SER
P.1/2
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
WILLIAM F. WELD
GOVERNOR
ARGEO PAUL CELLUCCI
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR
FAX TRANSMISSION
To:
The President
The White House
Fax:
(202)456-6703
Voice:
From:
William F. Weld
Governor
Date:
August 9, 1995
1 page(s) will follow this cover sheet.
AUG 09 '95 12:00PM MASSEXEC OFFICE HEALTH&HUMAN SER
P.2/2
waller
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE HOUSE
BOSTON 02133
(617) 727-3600
WILLIAM F. WELD
GOVERNOR
ARGEO PAUL CELLUCCI
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR
August 9, 1995
Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
Stoff Secy
President of the United States
The White House
Pres. has,
Washington, DC 20500
not seen N&
Dear Mr. President:
It should be no surprise that the discussions between our administrations related to our
pending welfare reform waivers have been challenging, since no state has ever implemented a
reform of this breadth.
I am writing to ask that you reconsider the Administration's decision to close negotiations
with the Commonwealth It would be a shame if such a key reform is held up over a single
issue. We are pushing the envelope some. You permitted Wisconsin to experiment in two
counties with a straightforward time limit; our statute calls for a statewide demonstration - but a
time limit only for able-bodied individuals and in the state with the highest per capita
commitment to child care.
You joined with Oregon in cutting new ground in approving their rationing model in
Medicaid. In that spirit, I am asking you and Secretary Shalala to move back from the view she
enunciated in her recent letter that exceptions approved in other states should fit Massachusetts
as well. It just doesn't mesh with our statute.
It is not unreasonable for the federal government to share with a state the business of
defining the safety net -- especially if the state has demonstrated the kind of strong commitment
to assisting the poor that has been true for so long in Massachusetts.
If our statute is approved, you will have our commitment to make this program work
through a careful and sensitive implementation.
Thank you, in advance, for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Bm
William F. Weld
CRasco
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
- met um at NI#
8/7/95
Jim Dorskind
originalsat sant
HIV/AIDS
- given copy to AIDS offin
to Dorskind
by
They might want to use
him and ON Mill Agu
Please coordinate
Allan "Jay" Fox, IV
the reply.
reply to Luin - Be
Howdy, my name is Allan "Jay" Fox, IV and this is my daughter Megan. MEGAN HAS AIDS,
and that is what this is all about. During the past three years Megan and I have traveled over a 100,000
miles throughout the United States and Canada telling "OUR STORY" of how HIV/AIDS has affected us
and how it can affect you. Let me start by saying, MEGAN AND I ARE NOT LOOKING FOR YOUR
PITY AND DO NOT WANT YOU TO FEEL SORRY FOR US BECAUSE, WE FEEL BLESSED
WITH THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE FOLKS ABOUT HIV/AIDS. I WANT TO
STRESS TO Y'ALL THAT MEGAN IS NOT DYING FROM AIDS, SHE IS LIVING WITH AIDS.
First, here are some facts and these are just the tip of the iceberg.
FACT I
Many folks believe HIV/AIDS is a disease of only Gays and IV Drug Users. Let me tell y'all this
is about as far from the truth as possible!
FACT II
In 1992 it was estimated that as many as one out of every one-hundred people in the United States
could be infected with HIV and not even know it!
FACT III
In some countries over 50% of the population are known to be infected with HIV!
FACT IV
Nobody dies from HIV/AIDS they die for complications of the opportunistic diseases brought on
by a depressed immune system!
FACT V
The only way to know that you are not infected with HIV is to be tested!
FACT VI
If it is discovered early on that you have HIV/AIDS you can be treated to slow down the progression
of the disease!
THE FOLLOWING IS OUR STORY
It all started back in 1963, when Megan's mother, Carol, and I were married. However, it was not
until 1982 that we decided to start a family. This is when all our problems began, but at the time we were
not aware of them. Carol's gynecologist told her that to conceive she would have to undergo surgery for the
removal of Fibroid Tumors. During this surgery, she received a blood transfusion that was contaminated
with HIV. We were not to learn about the HIV for over eight (8) years.
1
On June 15, 1984, Carol and I were blessed with the birth of our daughter, Megan Alyssa Fox. For
the next six (6) years we were as happy and proud as any parents could be. Then in November 1990, after
some routine surgery, Carol's White Blood Cell count was found to be low. After running several tests,
Carol commented to her doctor, do you think I might have AIDS, as I had a blood transfusion in 1982. He
told her that he didn't think she had AIDS, but agreed to test her for HIV so as to put her mind at ease.
On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, Carol's doctor informed her that she had tested
positive for HIV. The following Monday, Megan and I were also tested. Our results took about ten (10)
days to come back. When all test results were in, Carol and Megan had tested positive for HIV and I was
negative. Since both Carol and Megan had HIV they were put on the same drug AZT. With both of them
on AZT, there was no way to keep it from Megan that she and her mother had the same illness.
Carol was afraid of children being cruel toward Megan, SO she wanted the fact that they had HIV
to be kept a secret. Then in July 1991, the bottom fell out, as Carol was diagnosed as having Lymphoma
Cancer. Since Cancer is one of the opportunistic diseases caused by a depressed immune system, Carol was
now classified as having AIDS.
For the next five (5) months Megan watched her mother get sicker and sicker from the Cancer
brought on by the same HIV she had. Then on Christmas day 1991, my wife of twenty-eight (28) years and
Megan's mother DIED OF LYMPHOMA CANCER BROUGHT ON BY AIDS.
I felt it was much more important to spend quality time with Megan then make rich people richer.
Therefore to spend as much time as possible with her, I quit my job. By doing this I qualified for survivors
benefits from Carol's Social Security as long as I took care of Megan. By changing our lifestyle and dipping
into our savings I felt we could survive.
My plans were to travel and show Megan as much as possible during the summer of 1992. Then
since Dr. Philip Pizzo of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was World renowned for his research on
HIV/AIDS, I wanted to get her enrolled in one of his HIV/AIDS experimental protocols at NIH in Bethesda,
Maryland.
We sold our home in Texas and moved in with my sister to maintain a residence of a sort. Then
Megan and I hit the road for Alaska and the adventure of a lifetime. We traveled all summer and
everywhere we went, I told both friends and strangers about how Carol had gotten HIV and passed it on to
Megan. After traveling over 18,000 miles and experiencing nothing negative about Megan having HIV, we
arrived in the quaint little fishing village of St. Michaels, Maryland. This was where Carol had grown up
and was now buried. We rented a little house across the street from Carol's, parents. Besides being across
the street from Megan's grandparents and two (2) blocks from Carol's grave, we were only an one hour and
a half drive from NIH, and Dr. Pizzo, and his outstanding research team.
Upon our arrival in St. Michaels, I decided, since the local population was only about 1,200, it might
be easier to be public about Megan's HIV, than try to keep it a secret. During the 1992-93 school year,
Megan attended the St. Michaels Elementary/Middle School. This is where I made my first public talk about
Megan's life with HIV. Unknowingly to me at the time, I was creating a support group of the entire
community for Megan and myself. Had it not been for this support I feel Christmas of 1992 would have
been a total nightmare.
2
In January 1993 Megan was accepted at NIH where Dr. Pizzo and his HIV/AIDS research staff
would follow her. This was where both Megan and I first came in contact and made friends with our true
peers, those being other children with HIV/AIDS and their adult care givers. It was great support getting
to know these children and we looked forward to our visits to NIH to see our new friends.
Megan and I again spent the summer of 1993 traveling over 17,000 miles and returning to the Yukon
Territory and Alaska. However, by the time we returned to NIH at the end of the summer, Megan had gone
into FULL-BLOWN AIDS. Although Megan was in the FULL-BLOWN AIDS condition she still managed
to attend school during the 1993-94 school year and was promoted to the fifth grade.
In September of 1992 FULL-BLOWN AIDS was reclassified. Now it is not necessary to have
succumbed to one of the opportunistic diseases to be classified as having FULL-BLOWN AIDS. If the CD-
4 cells in your immune system go below 200 you are said to have FULL-BLOWN AIDS.
During the summer 1994, we did not travel because Megan, had to return to NIH several times,
because we were trying to start her on a new experimental HIV/AIDS drug therapy.
Megan is just like any other little girl EXCEPT SHE HAS AIDS. You will not get HIV/AIDS from
her unless you do something really stupid. In fact you are more dangerous to Megan than she is to you.
As I stated in "OUR STORY" Carol received the blood transfusion that was contaminated with
HIV in 1982, but it was not discovered until 1990. Prior to this discovery, HIV/AIDS was really of no great
concern to me. I felt that because neither Carol nor myself were, PROMISCUOUS, GAY or IV DRUG
USERS we didn't have to worry about HIV/AIDS. However, HIV/AIDS does not discriminate between
who it infects. Just like Carol and Megan were, ANYONE OF YOU COULD BE HIV POSITIVE AND
NOT EVEN KNOW IT.
The point I want to get across is, GET YOURSELF TESTED FOR HIV, because if you know you
have the disease you can be treated. In addition you can take steps so as not to pass it on to someone else.
I like to use the comparison of HIV/AIDS to Diabetes. Nobody dies from Diabetes, they die from
complications. Just like a Diabetic can live with Diabetes, SO can a person live with HIV/AIDS. However,
in both cases YOU MUST TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND BE TESTED.
Most local Health Departments offer FREE HIV TESTING. These tests are CONFIDENTIAL,
whereas only you and the person who draws your blood know you are being tested. Likewise the person
who gives you the test results and you are the only ones that know how you tested.
In Megan's case the discovery of HIV was earlier then that of Carol's. As I said previously she is
now being treated at NIH by Dr. Pizzo and his fine research team. In addition she receives prophylactic drug
therapy to keep her from getting some of the opportunistic diseases. HAD IT BEEN DISCOVERED
EARLIER THAT CAROL HAD HIV, TREATMENT COULD HAVE BEEN STARTED AND SHE
MAY NEVER HAD GOTTEN THE CANCER SHE DIED FROM. THEREFORE, EARLY
DISCOVERY OF HIV IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO YOU.
3
In closing I would like to say. There is nothing to be ashamed of about having HIV/AIDS so, for
the sake of you, your loved ones and the rest of the world GET YOURSELF TESTED FOR HIV.
Thank you for allowing us to speak with you today and may God Bless each and everyone of y'all.
Should you wish to reproduce or quote anything contained herein, you have my permission to do
SO.
Allan Allan Respectfully, J. Fox, IV
(or)
507 Railroad Ave.
6510 Emerald St.
St. Michaels, Md. 21663
Austin, Tx. 78745
Phone: 410/745-5731
Phone: 512/443-2205
4
we Murill
write Then
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
ATTACHMENT
foun
5/7/95
Be
Special Guests' Biographies
Imal
Cc Debis
Kenny and Rosemarie Weaver, and daughters Michelle and Melinda, Port Lavaca, TX:
In September 1993, in connection with the Make A Wish Foundation, Kenny visited you at
the White House with his oldest daughter, Melissa, who was dying of leukemia. Kenny
thanked you for signing the FMLA because it enabled him to spend the last weeks of his
daughter's life with her. Melissa died one week later.
Diane and Melvin Atwood, Little Rock, AR: Diane met you in March of this year at the
Emmanual Baptist Church in Little Rock. She told you that FMLA saved her life. She has
Hodgkins' Disease and has had to take time off for many treatments -- chemotherapy,
radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. Finally, an experimental drug treatment,
Interferon, saved her life. Without FMLA, she couldn't have kept her job and her life
insurance which she needed to pay for those treatments. She says that FMLA helped her get
through the emotional and financial burdens on their entire family.
J.C. Shardo and family, Atlanta, GA: J.C. met you in 1993 when her brother, "Swartz"
(pronounced Schwartzie), was first diagnosed with cancer. You sent a special greeting to
Swartz before a 10-hour operation. During the months before his death, J.C. and her six
siblings spent as much time as possible by his side. J.C. and her family feel that being able
to be there for Swartz in his time of need was one of the most meaningful experiences of
their lives. The Shardos will hand you a letter which Swartz wrote to you before he died.
You will open it for the first time.
Bill and Debbie Fish and family, Saginaw, MI: Bill Fish works in production for Saginaw
Ball and Screw. Early last spring, his wife, Debbie, developed glaucoma and became blind.
Thanks to the FMLA, Bill was able to take time off to drive her to the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor, 85 miles away, where the doctors operated and restored her sight.
Deborah and Christopher Ruffin, Hyattsville, MD: The Ruffins' daughter, Kristin, was
diagnosed with leukemia in November 1993. She had a relapse in November 1994 and had
to travel to South Carolina for a bone marrow transplant. Deborah works for the District
government and has been able to use annual and sick leave to be with Kristin, but her,
husband, Chris, who works for Fox TV, has relied on FMLA to obtain the time off. Kristin
is staying at the NIH now.
Christie Sens, Fairfax, VA: Christie, a teacher in the Fairfax County school district, took
leave to recover from a difficult pregnancy. Christie's child was born in August 1993 -- the
time the FMLA went into effect. After giving birth, she needed more time to recover from
the pregnancy. Her supervisor denied her request for leave, but Christie located a copy of
the FMLA and informed her supervisor. She was then granted leave. Her child, who is
turning 2 years old, will accompany her.
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
THE WHITE HOUSE
8-7-95
Br. President -
95 AUG 7 AB: 47
The UP Protes for Carr DAVID
Meety to be mext Sunday. HE
can do satuday if he leaves
by 5 Pm
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
Rescue response to your note on food stamp fraud. Carol reports that USDA is
taking a number of steps to reduce fraud -- last year's rate was 7.65%, down from
8.29% in 1993. In May, USDA sent a food stamp reform proposal to the Hill that
includes incentives to states to reduce errors and sanctions on the highest error rates.
To date, the House and Senate have adopted only a portion of the USDA proposals.
The House welfare bill would increase sanctions on states with above-average error
rates, though it isn't clear whether Dole's bill will include these provisions. USDA is
also working on administrative action to reduce the error rate.
Gibbons memo on PCAST report on magnetic fusion energy. PAST has
completed its review of the U.S. Magnetic Fusion Energy program, emphasizing the
importance of fusion as an environmentally attractive and perhaps essential energy
source for the nation by the middle of the 21st century. The panel recommends
funding the program at $320 million/year for the next ten years -- a retrenchment
from current Administration plans, but adequate to keep the program going in a
meaningful way. The panel also found that the cuts Congress is now considering
would be so damaging as to halt progress toward the fusion goal.
Response from Secretary Riley: private management of public schools and
charter schools. Private management: limited experimentation shows some
improvement in the physical operation of schools, but mixed results in student
performance. Substantial criticism of EAI (Education Alternatives Inc.) by teacher's
unions, though teachers in EAI schools respond more positively. Charter schools: no
information on effectiveness yet, though research on other public schools providing
choice and greater autonomy suggests that sense of ownership by staff, students and
parents helps galvanize efforts toward common goal. Charter schools are growing
rapidly in popularity; degree of autonomy differs among charter schools; while
teachers unions support the idea, their role in protecting employees leads to
advocating more limited flexibility for the schools.
(H)
Letter from Secretary Glickman on Oklahoma City. Secretary Glickman draws
your attention to the outstanding service of USDA's National Finance Center in the
wake of the bombing. NFC processes the paychecks and renders other financial
services for over 40 government agencies, and maintains the record keeping for the
government's Thrift Savings Plan. NFC ensured that salary payments to surviving
federal employees in the Murrah building were not delayed, re-routing electronic
transfers where necessary. NFC provided immediate assistance to rescue personnel to
assist in identification efforts and waived requirements for death cases so that benefits
to survivors were paid quickly as possible.
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
THE WHITE HOUSE
8/7/95
WASHINGTON
August 3, 1995
95 AUG ! P3:04
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
JOHN H. GIBBONS
ASSISTANT TO THE OF PRESIDENT FOR
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
SUBJECT:
PCAST Panel Report on Magnetic Fusion Energy
I am pleased to transmit to you the report of a special panel of your Committee of Advisors
on Science and Technology (PCAST). This panel reviewed the U.S. Magnetic Fusion
Energy program. The principal objective of this program is to provide the U.S. with an
abundant, safe, environmentally attractive, cost-competitive new energy source. Chaired by
John Holdren, this PCAST panel is to be congratulated for providing a thoughtful and
technically sound scheme for restructuring the fusion program at a substantially reduced level
of funding. This report was unanimously approved by PCAST on July 10th.
The PCAST report supports your policy of treating research and development (R&D) as a
key long term investment. It underscores the importance of fusion as an attractive - possibly
essential -- energy source for our nation in the middle of the next century and beyond. The
large scale of fusion experimental technology, the long time to commercialization, and recent
extraordinary achievements argue for continued strong Federal support within the Department
of Energy. Further, international collaboration is necessary for demonstrating practical
fusion energy.
The panel recommends funding the U.S. magnetic fusion energy program at $320 million per
year through the next decade. Although this program requires considerable retrenchment
from current Administration plans, we strongly endorse the panel's framework. It will
support an important plasma science program, continue momentum toward the goal of
commercial fusion power, and sustain international R&D activities.
As you know, the Congress is considering a funding level for fusion that is well below the
PCAST-recommended budget. The panel also evaluated the consequences of a more
dramatically reduced budget proposal that is roughly equal to the Congressional mark. It
concluded that the program would lose essential elements and halt progress toward the fusion
goal. Thus, if the U.S. is to sustain its commitment to plasma science and fusion
technology, Federal support at the PCAST recommended level will be required.
THE U.S. PROGRAM OF
FUSION ENERGY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Report of the Fusion Review Panel
The President's Committee of Advisors
on Science and Technology (PCAST)
July 1995
MEMORANDUM
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
8.7.95
TO:
THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
BETTY
RE:
SEN. JOHN KERRY
DATE:
AUGUST 4, 1995
Senator John Kerry called - would like for you to return call.
Pat Griffin requested that you not return call until you speak with
him.
Sen. Kerry will be in the office late tonight and most of Saturday.
224-0214
G He Twicks Ron,
Comad OU now- -
Be
/ THE of
Cr Bowles and
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
8/7/95
Tyson ?
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
spealing yes a
95 AUG 5 P4: 27
August 5, 1995
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT STORE
FROM:
ERSKINE BOWLES
LAURA TYSON
SUBJECT:
Update on Budget Working Group
Actibities
Appropriations Update
House. Thursday, the House completed action on the Labor/HHS Appropriations
bill (219-208). Nine Republicans opposed the bill and six Democrats (the margin of
difference for defeat) supported the bill. The House was unable to complete
Defense Appropriations prior to recess.
Senate. The Senate is expected to complete action on the Treasury/Postal
Appropriations bill today. Dole still intends to complete the Defense and Interior
Appropriations bills prior to departing for recess.
Cabinet Activity
Members of the Cabinet, Sub-Cabinet, and Senior Administration Officials are
conducting extensive constituency and media outreach, and frequent trips to districts
and visits with elected officials to educate the American people about the differences
between the Republican budget resolution and your balanced budget.
Medicare Regional Media
We have begun implementing a two week radio strategy targeting key legislative and
senior markets. 19 White House, HHS and Labor Dept. officials will give us two 45
minute slots each week for morning and evening drive radio.
Four budget/Medicare media tongs were held this week with Tyson, Stephanopoulos,
Rivlin and Griffin. Five more tongs are scheduled for next week.
1
Medicare Education
Recognizing the need to provide reporters with basic education on the status of the
Medicare Trust Fund, Administration actions, and the Republican plan, we have
organized a series of reporter briefings by Dr. Tyson, Chris Jennings, and Gene
Sperling.
The first 2 briefings occurred on Friday, August 4. 2 more briefings are scheduled
for next week. In addition to the oral briefing, a Medicare education document was
prepared by the Budget Working Group and given to each of the reporters. A copy
of that document is attached.
Participants 8/4/95
Eleanor Clift
Newsweek
Tom Oliphant
Boston Globe
Robyn Toner
New York Times
Lisa Greene
USA Today (Money Section)
Josh Moss
Washington Times
Jay Carney
Time Magazine
David Broder
Washington Post
Martin Kasindorf
Newsday
George Rodrique
Dallas Morning News
Catherine Berger
ABC News
Bill Plante
CBS News
Jeff Levine
CNN
Kevin Bohn
CNN
Dina Temple-Raston
Bloomberg Business Wire
Alexis Simendinger
BNA
We are also planning to place an op-ed from the Administration trustees (Rubin,
Reich, Shalala) to address these issues.
State-By-State Analyses
We prepared a booklet for the House Recess highlighting the state-by-state impact of
the Republican cuts on Older Americans, Students, and Working Families. All
House Democrats received this material in their Recess Packets.
White House Media Affairs mailed the comprehensive State-by-State analysis to top
150 editorial boards and all D.C. news bureaus.
The following agencies have also done nation wide releases of State-by-State
comparisons of the Republican Budget's drastic cuts vs. the your balanced budget
plan: USDA, HUD, HHS (Medicare), Education (Education & Job Training)
2
SUMMARY OF THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY
Monday, July 31, 1995
RIVLIN Mid-Session Review: OMB issued its Mid-Session Review of the Budget,
highlighting the Administration's success in reducing the deficit and now forecasting
a balanced budget in 9 years under your balanced budget plan.
Other Activity
-
Sec. Pena conducted radio interviews with target cities regarding
impact of transit cuts to rural areas.
-
Sec. Reich held an OSHA event on Republican attacks on worker
protection laws.
Tuesday, August 1, 1995
POTUS Environmental Statement: Your statement on the GOP amendment
reinstating the Environmental riders was the major budget news of the day.
Other Activity
-
Sec. Ron Brown did a Sperling Breakfast.
-
Adm. Johnson participated in a radio interviews with WBTE in
Charlotte, NC.
-
Sec. Reich participated in a Satellite tour with communities dislocated
due to base closures. The communities included Philadelphia,
Charleston, San Antonio and key sites in California.
-
Sec. Glickman was in MN for Farm Fest Convention where there was
a forum on budget cuts.
Wednesday, August 2, 1995
-
Sec. Pena conducted radio interviews regarding impact
of transit cuts to rural areas.
-
Sec. Pena appeared before the Senate Commerce
Science and Transportation Committee on FAA reform.
-
Sec. Reich held press event on summer jobs.
3
Thursday, August 3, 1995
POTUS Event Highlighting Extreme GOP Cuts to Education and
Training:
Your meeting with Congressional Democrats and 10
education practitioners served to reinforce your
commitment to education and your concerns regarding
the Labor/HHS/Education appropriations bill approved
by the House last night.
Media Affairs set-up print, TV and radio interviews in
targeted congressional markets (Buffalo, Cleveland,
Pittsburgh, Worcester, Madison and Baltimore) for
participants in the Education event. Sent POTUS
remarks to regional and education reporters.
While the bill was eventually approved, it should be
noted that none of the targeted Members representing
individuals we invited to the radio address ended up
voting in favor of final passage.
RIVLIN House Testimony on Mid-Session Review
Specialty Media. White House Media Affairs began implementing a
specialty press conference calls focusing on African-American,
Hispanic, women's and older American press.
Other Activity
-
Public Liaison conducted a briefing for the leadership of
the African-American organizations on Education,
Medicare, Medicaid, and the EITC.
-
Public Liaison conducted a briefing for business
associations through the Am. Society of Assn. of
Executives (ALAE).
-
Public Liaison conducted four conference calls with
hispanic leaders in CA, TX, CO, AZ, NY, FL, and IL.
-
Public Liaison conducted a briefing for Meeting with
Families USA Medicaid coalition.
-
Sec. Brown met with Washington Business Reps. to
discuss and update on budget issue priorities.
-
Sec. Brown addressed Women's briefing regarding
minority business.
-
Sec. Shalala was in Anaheim California addressing the
California Teachers Association meeting.
4
-
Sec. Shalala briefed seniors in Anaheim California on
Medicare
-
Sec. Reich released data on worksite fatalities and likely
increases under the Republican budget.
-
ONDCP Director Lee Brown attended an Empowerment
Zone Event in Atlanta, GA.
-
Sec. Glickman released state-by-state numbers on the
impact of Republican budget cuts on rural areas.
Friday, August 4, 1995
Education. The Department of Education did a budget release to
11,700 daily newspapers
House Recess Materials. Prepared and distributed House Recess
packets for Members going home to their districts, which includes
state by state as well as county by county analysis. Also included
talking points that stress the impact of the Medicare cuts on
beneficiaries and directly respond to RNC trust fund scare tactic ad.
Other Activity
-
Treasury Sec. Rubin Attended Sperling breakfast.
-
Labor Sec. Reich participated in Family Medical Leave
Act hearing.
-
Maria Echaveste, Director of DOL Wage & Hour, and
Asst.Sec. Anderson will hold an amplification event for
the anniversary of FMLA.
-
HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros did an event
emphasizing the impact of GOP cuts on Urban Policy
and Budget Events in Portland, ME
-
Interior Secretary Babbitt participated in a conference
call with media in New York state, focusing on the
impact of GOP cuts on clean water and environmental
issues.
-
HHS Secretary Shalala attended Peace Corps convention
in Austin, TX.
-
SBA Adm. Lader spoke to the graduating class of
Minority Business Executives at Dartmouth.
-
EPA Adm. Browner was interviewed by Business Week
and Christian Science Monitor. Regarding the GOP
environment cuts.
HHS Dep. Sec. Broadnax addressed the National Black
Nurses Association in Washington DC.
5
-
Dir. of the Office of Civil Rights Dennis Hayashi spoke
at National Convention of the Asian Pacific American
Labor Alliance (AFL-CIO) in New York, NY.
Saturday, August 5, 1995
POTUS Family Medical Leave Act 2nd Anniversary Radio
Address
Other Activity
-
Shalala at National Women's Political Caucus in Nashville,
TN.
-
Sec. Cisneros budget event in Burlington, VT
Sunday, August 6, 1995
-
Sec. Cisneros tours Empowerment Zone in Camden, NJ
Monday, August 7, 1995
Medicare County-by-County Numbers. Analysis released out to all
counties in the country, all states, all state legislators.
Press releases on the county numbers by county
executives in the following states: Ohio, Iowa,
Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, Virginia, Washington,
Illinois, CA, Minn., MD, Kentucky, Georgia, Deleware,
PA, Oregon.
Press briefings by HHS and White House officials.
Speaker Gingrich's Medicare Teleconference/Rally in Georgia.
Monday, Speaker Gingrich hosts a Medicare teleconference/rally in
Atlanta, GA. Friendly elected officials and groups have been notified
and provided talking points / fact sheets / background information.
Coinciding with the timing of the rally, the county by
county information will be released.
Public liaison is working on events with elected officials
and senior groups to counter the Gingrich event.
We also hope to have an Op-Ed by Reich, Shalala, and
Rubin in Monday's papers.
6
Regional Media Roundtables with Rivlin, Sperling, Feder and
Jennings to release Medicare county-by-county numbers. Numbers
will go out via U.S. Newswire to 50 state APs and all major dailies,
radio stations and tv stations nationwide.
Women. Large budget briefing for women's groups focusing on
Medicare, and the Labor/HHS/Education appropriations bill.
African Americans. Conference calls with regional African-Ameican
leaders and ethnic leaders.
Religious Leaders. Briefing for the national religious groups.
Other Activity
-
Sec. Pena will do a budget event in Des Moines, IA
-
Sec. Pena will conduct radio interviews with target cities
regarding impact of transit cuts to rural areas.
-
Sec. Brown will release Export Enhancement
Act\Competitiveness Report this week.
-
Sec. Reich will be on CNN Morning News on budget.
Tuesday, August 8, 1995
POTUS Environment, Health, and Public Safety event
Details are being finalized on a Community Right to Know Executive
order.
In conjunction with your event, Governors and
Legislative Leaders and Committee Chairs will put out
press releases on the environmental impact of the
Republican cuts.
Possible White House release of Environmental State-
by-State impact numbers
Administrator Browner will travel on the press bus to
the event in Baltimore, and brief the White House press
core on the impact of the drastic cuts and your
executive action.
Other Activity
-
DOT Sec. Pena will do a budget related event in
Cleveland, OH
7
-
Commerce Sec. Brown and Amb. Kantor will meet with
Washington Business Representatives will take place in
White House
-
Labor Sec. Reich will hold a conference of Mayors
-
Treasury Asst. Sec. Larry Irving will be in Alaska to
focus on the Budget and NII issues.
Wednesday, August 9
POTUS National Baptists Convention (Charlotte, NC)
Cabinet Briefing on recess message and the Medicare materials we
have available for them for their recess events.
Thursday, August 10, 1995
POTUS Press Conference
-
Sec. Brown will meet with Business Representatives on
sustained development
-
DOT and EPA are expected to release State-by-States reports
this week.
8
FUTURE ACTIVITIES
Recess Planning
Political Affairs and Legislative Affairs compiled a target list of
House members. Each Cabinet member has been assigned a number
of targeted members to keep the pressure on over the recess through
press interviews and travel.
A political "SWAT Team" consisting of groups, political operatives,
state party chairs, local officials, and outside validators, has been
mobilized to attack the GOP budget proposal though talk radio and
press/events in targeted states.
-
OMB finishing analyses of GOP cuts on 50 major cities.
-
Cabinet / Group activity
-
Mayors will meet in Seattle on Aug 28th. Plan is to have them
do events in their cities that week, culminating with a huge
event.press conference with 50 Mayors on the 8/28th. Possibly
Put them on Sunday News shows on the 27th.
September Planning
Meetings continue with key education groups and Congressional staff
to coordinate back-to-school activities in early September.
We are reviewing options for your participation in Back to School
events during the second week in September. The Department of
Education is working with groups around the country to instill a
budget message into hundreds of Back to School events nationwide.
We are also considering the possibility of having a meeting with you
and University Student Body Presidents from around the country.
Planning also continues for the last two weeks of September. We are
working on strategy to counter GOP release of Medicare plan set for
September 21.
9
DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
National Institutes I of Health
Building
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Official Business
Room GANAS total smill white The
Cc'd Leon
Penalty for Private Use
Who else?
ERSKIOVE
President
The White House
Havold
Washington, D.C. 2050
SOSNIK
111
DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health
I
Building
Room
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300 126 toto To The The
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
8/7/95
President
White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
111
t
Cc'd Leon
Who ? else?
HUMAN SERVICES USA
HEALTH
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
OF
DIRECTMENTO
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
National Institutes of Health
8/7/95
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
August 4, 1995
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
As the two scientists directly charged by you with overseeing the country's health research
enterprise, we are writing to you today about the devastating effects of tobacco use on the
health of our Nation. We know you are considering some very important decisions that
address this pressing problem, and we want to express our concern about tobacco use and
urge you to take action.
For over 50 years, the American people have depended on the National Institutes of
Health, including the National Cancer Institute, to discover new knowledge about health
and disease, with the expectation that those discoveries would be used to benefit the health
of our citizens. A vast amount of scientific research has been conducted on tobacco use
over the last 40 years. All of these studies have concluded that tobacco use, especially
cigarette smoking, is extraordinarily harmful. Cigarette smoking causes one in five deaths
in the United States--over 400,000 every year. In fact, lung cancer kills more women
than does breast cancer and more men than does prostate cancer.
The terrible health consequences of smoking could be prevented if people stop smoking.
But many people cannot. Each year nearly 20 million smokers try to quit, but only 3
percent succeed. This is because cigarettes are, in essence, devices for the delivery of an
addictive drug, designed to hook the user at a young age and for life. Today there is
absolute, unassailable scientific evidence that nicotine is addictive. Children, especially
teenagers, are highly vulnerable. Every day 3,000 teenagers in America begin to smoke;
in fact, nearly 80 percent of all adult smokers began smoking as teenagers. Smoking is
increasing among our children, and we know that more and more teenagers are becoming
addicted. Over 80 percent of teenagers who smoke one pack or more daily feel they are
dependent on or "need" cigarettes. These addicted young people will carry into their
/ future the high risk of disease and premature death caused by tobacco use.
Page 2 - The President
Mr. President, there are few actions that you could take during your Administration that
would have a more beneficial and more durable impact on the health of America than the
measures you are considering. The support you have from the scientific and medical
community for action is clear and unmistakable. As scientists and physicians, we urge
you to use the full resources of your office to protect the health of our citizens.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
thurd Var mus Van muz
herls Kim
Harold Varmus, M.D.
Richard D. Klausner, M.D.
Director
Director
National Institutes of Health
National Cancer Institute
95 AUG 7 A/O : 41
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20500
DATE: August 4,1995
Leon Panetta
Harold Ickes
Erskine Bowles
TO: Tony Lake
Mike McCurry
George Stephanopoulos
FROM: Staff Secretary
I assume we don't want to do
this. Any thoughts about how we
should handle?
Todd
No. we should
a A his say POTUS 60P will opponent debate
send to
at me
apprick time is
but The
a long, (ong
ariginal sent to
ways from
I'm Dorshint 8/7/95
picking a
worth nominee"
MME CC
alided
The Dallas Morning News
95 AUG 4 P12 : 58
Rena Pederson
Vice President/Editorial Page Editor
August 2, 1995
The Honorable Bill Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Clinton:
On behalf of The Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Committee on
Foreign Relations, we are writing to invite you to participate in a debate on
lifting the Bosnian arms embargo and its consequence for American
foreign policy. We have invited Sen. Richard Lugar to argue the case for
lifting the embargo and invite you to make the case against.
The format we envision is a truncated Oxford Union format. We
will flip a coin to determine the first speaker, who will speak for six
minutes to state his case. The second speaker will then take the floor for six
minutes. Each speaker will then be given four minutes for rebuttal. The
moderator's role will be limited to introduction of the speakers and
enforcement of the time limits.
We expect the debate to be televised (widely covered by the media).
The 20 minutes allocated for actual debate will allow for sufficient time for
introduction, wrap-up and commercial space at the front end of the debate.
The debate itself will be continuous and uninterrupted. Our objective is to
provide citizens in Texas with insights into one of the most vexing foreign
policy issues of our time. To this end we have invited two of the most
thoughtful and eloquent decision makers to increase the public's awareness
of the complexities of this issue and its impact on America's role in world
affairs.
We will work with you to schedule a date which will be both
mutually convenient and timely, hopefully during the month of August or
September. (Perhaps on your way back from vacation in Wyoming?)
Communications Center, P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265, 214/977-8259
Kindly have your office contact Ms. Pederson at 214/977-8259 so that we
may proceed.
Rena Sincerely, Pederson Richad tide
Rena Pederson
Richard W. Fisher
Editor, Editorial Page
Founding Chairman
Dallas Committee on
Foreign Relations
cc: Sen. Richard Lugar
95 AUG 7 All : 28
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20500
DATE: August 4,1995
Leon Panetta
Harold Ickes
Erskine Bowles
TO: Tony Lake
Mike McCurry
George Stephanopoulos
FROM: Staff Secretary
I assume we don't want to do
this. Any thoughts about how we
should handle?
Todd
To: Todd; M.he
Storm
Fr: GS
I would just
uped.
6)
The Dallas Morning News
95
AUG
4
P12
:
58
Rena Pederson
Vice President/Editorial Page Editor
August 2, 1995
The Honorable Bill Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Clinton:
On behalf of The Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Committee on
Foreign Relations, we are writing to invite you to participate in a debate on
lifting the Bosnian arms embargo and its consequence for American
foreign policy. We have invited Sen. Richard Lugar to argue the case for
lifting the embargo and invite you to make the case against.
The format we envision is a truncated Oxford Union format. We
will flip a coin to determine the first speaker, who will speak for six
minutes to state his case. The second speaker will then take the floor for six
minutes. Each speaker will then be given four minutes for rebuttal. The
moderator's role will be limited to introduction of the speakers and
enforcement of the time limits.
We expect the debate to be televised (widely covered by the media).
The 20 minutes allocated for actual debate will allow for sufficient time for
introduction, wrap-up and commercial space at the front end of the debate.
The debate itself will be continuous and uninterrupted. Our objective is to
provide citizens in Texas with insights into one of the most vexing foreign
policy issues of our time. To this end we have invited two of the most
thoughtful and eloquent decision makers to increase the public's awareness
of the complexities of this issue and its impact on America's role in world
affairs.
We will work with you to schedule a date which will be both
mutually convenient and timely, hopefully during the month of August or
September. (Perhaps on your way back from vacation in Wyoming?)
Communications Center, P.O. Box 655237, Dallas. Texas 75265, 214/977-8259
Kindly have your office contact Ms. Pederson at 214/977-8259 so that we
may proceed.
Rena Sincerely, Pederson Richad Hide
Rena Pederson
Richard W. Fisher
Editor, Editorial Page
Founding Chairman
Dallas Committee on
Foreign Relations
cc: Sen. Richard Lugar
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
THE WHITE HOUSE
8/7/95
WASHINGTON
August 4, 1995
95 AUG 4 P8: 02
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
Doug Sosnik
SUBJECT:
Weekly Report
1996 Presidential News
Vermont DGA Meeting. Local press coverage of your visit to Vermont has been almost
universally positive. The people of Vermont were thrilled to have you make the first
Presidential visit to Vermont in five years.
Bob Dole. The Christian Coalition is opposing Bob Dole's welfare reform bill. In a letter to
Dole, Brian Lopina, Government Affairs Director for the Coalition, wrote that the group was
"disappointed" because the bill "will do little to change the alarming increase of illegitimacy
which results in a seemingly never-ending cycle of poverty and despair. We are still hopeful
at this late hour that you can be persuaded to add strong illegitimacy provisions. ... Opt-in and
stay-at-home provisions are not acceptable."
Pete Wilson. On Thursday, August 3, Governor Wilson signed a $56.4 billion state budget
bringing to an end the second-largest budget delay in California history. Wilson was able to
overcome opposition from conservative Republicans over funding for abortions and family
planning and also reached a compromise with Los Angeles County Democrats regarding the
amount of money granted to the county from the state budget. Wilson has been kept off the
campaign trail by the legislature's failure to enact a budget and this week he "missed a chance
to show case his presidential bid" at the National Governors Association meeting.
Also, the Wilson campaign continues to receive national coverage as a result of the University
of California Board of Regents' decision to end affirmative action in the state's public
universities. In response to accusations that Wilson's current position on affirmative action
contradicts 21 bills Wilson signed as governor, his staff issued a report on all 21 bills in which
they explained why they believe the measures do not represent an inconsistency. A recent poll
by the Los Angeles Times found that by a margin of more than 2-1, Californians endorsed an
initiative to end racial preference programs that is proposed for the 1996 ballot.
A Wall Street Journal poll this week found that, among Republicans expressing a presidential
preference, Wilson's numbers have doubled since the UC Board of Regents vote, with 10% of
respondents choosing Wilson.
New Hampshire. Phil Gramm's campaign received an unexpected boost when Gov. Steve
Merrill (R-NH) declared that Gramm is the candidate he is closest to philosophically. Merrill
said, "I am closest to Phil. I like a conservative who dares to draw a line in the sand and who
says, 'I am not going to come over to your side. I am going to stand and fight.'" The comment
came as a surprise given that Merrill has had nothing nice to say about Gramm since the Senator
bungled his handling of Arizona's and Delaware's attempts to move their primary dates. Merrill
says he will not make a decision on an endorsement until the fall. Merrill also praised Gramm's
welfare reform bill, saying: "Gramm has a good bill, and he's going to get a lot of support."
Merrill also said that the Administration and Dole bills also have good features.
Dole reportedly will soon be endorsed by freshman Rep. Charles Bass (R).
After a meeting with New Hampshire's chapters of NARAL and Planned Parenthood and other
womens' rights groups, Arlen Specter declared himself to be the only Republican around willing
to combat the party's right fringe; which he says "threatens the soul of the party and the soul
of America." In a meeting with the Boston Herald editorial board, Specter accused Pete Wilson
of exploiting racial issues to further his political goals, adding that he believes "Gov. [Bill] Weld
probably has heartburn over what Wilson's doing." Weld's spokesperson replied that Specter
was taking "pot shots" because the Senator has no record on the issues.
Governor Evan Bayh (D-IN) attended a state party picnic this week in Hanover. Bayh gave a
very strong Clinton-Gore stump speech, emphasizing how important the 1996 election will be
for the country.
Administrator Lader is travelling to the state today, August 4th, and we have worked closely
with his office and with John Broderick in developing a schedule. Among other things, he is
making an address at Dartmouth's business school, doing a great deal of press and attending a
press availability with Governor Merrill, who is very supportive of what SBA has been doing
in this Administration.
Iowa. Campaigning in Iowa, Lamar Alexander warned Republicans that "Bill Clinton is not
going to be easy to beat. He's very persuasive, he runs towards the center, he now has an
enemy in the Republican Congress so we as a party have to be careful about who we
nominate." Pat Buchanan, meanwhile, in the middle of a 33-town tour of the Buckeye State,
responded to Phil Gramm's claims that Buchanan's campaign is desperate because it is running
so low on funds. Referring to Gramm's sizeable war chest, Buchanan asked "How'd you get
those millions, Phil? When you have a $4 million dinner, that's not contributors, that's
investors." The other Republican candidates and their surrogates have been attacking Gramm
for his huge warchest, his cornball style and his meanness.
Dan Quayle will headline the Iowa GOP straw poll on August 19th.
Recent Polling: Indiana. The people of the Hoosier State remain a tough crowd for the
Administration. A Mason-Dixon poll released this week reports that your job performance ratio
in the state is 37% positive/63% negative. Your re-elect percentage is 28%, with 38% saying
2
they would consider another candidate and 34% saying they would vote to replace you. Dick
Lugar leads in his home state with only 36% of the vote, followed by Dole with 23%, Buchanan
with 13% and Gramm with 10%. In general election match-ups Lugar leads you by a 53%-34%
margin and Dole leads you by a 45%-37% margin. You lead Gramm by a 43%-31% margin.
The poll also showed that Governor Bayh remains very popular, enjoying a 57% favorable/12%
unfavorable job rating.
Perot. In a recent interview with Gannett, Perot accused both parties of failing to deliver on
their key promises of a balanced budget and government reform, singling out the Democrats on
the former and the Republicans on the latter. He said, however, that he is "beyond optimistic
that we will get the system fixed and that we will see major changes before 1996.' He also
said that he did not want to be "in politics" next year, claiming that would be "irrational."
1995 Races
Louisiana Gubernatorial. The current thinking on the race in the state is that virtually any of
the major Democratic candidates in this race can beat former Governor Buddy Roemer (R), with
the exception of Rep. Cleo Fields (D). One of the stronger candidates in the contest, State
Treasurer Mary Landrieu (D), has been badly, perhaps fatally, damaged by charges of cronyism
pertaining to a school tuition waiver. Landrieu was running a "good-government" campaign and
will likely continue to draw the fire of the rest of the field on this issue. Senator Breaux is
watching the race very closely and has pledged to work very hard on behalf of whomever ends
up in the run-off with Roemer. You will recall that he made the difference in the Edwin
Edwards-David Duke race four years ago.
Yet another candidate, State Rep. Robert Adley (D), entered the race this week. Adley referred
to himself as a "conservative, Christian Democrat."
Mississippi Gubernatorial Race. Governor Kirk Fordice and Secretary of State Dick Molpus
debated Thursday at Mississippi's historic Neshoba County Fair which has been held every
August since 1892 in Philadelphia, MS. Philadelphia is Molpus' home town and press reports
say that Fordice was entering into a virtual "lion's den" of Molpus supporters. It was a bitter
debate with the two candidates sparring over such issues as negative campaigning and Fordice's
acceptance of money from gaming interests. The debate became especially bitter when the
candidates were asked about reopening the case of the 1964 murders of three civil rights
YY
workers. Fordice refused to apologize for something that happened 30 years ago and insisted
that Mississippi now has the best race relations in America. Molpus, on the other hand, stood
by the apology he made to the families of the victims on the 25th anniversary of the slayings in
1989.
A Mason-Dixon poll released today showed that Fordice has slightly increased his lead over
Molpus since Mason-Dixon last polled in June. The new poll shows that although Fordice
would still take 54% of the vote - the same as in the June poll Molpus dropped from 36% to
34% and 12% remain undecided. Molpus's best showing in the poll was in the Delta region,
3
but Fordice dominated everywhere else - most significantly in southern Mississippi where
Fordice leads Molpus 62% to 26%. The poll did show that there is a vast racial split among
Mississippi voters. While Fordice would capture 72% of the white vote, Molpus would, in turn,
capture 72% of the black vote. (Mississippi is 63.5% White and 35.6% Black.)
San Francisco Mayoral. Campaign finance reports for the period 1/1-6/30 show Mayor Frank
Jordan (D) outraised his competitors, garnering more than $500,000; second was Roberta
Achtenberg (D) with more than $190,000; Willie Brown netted about $165,000; Supervisor
Angela Alioto (D) raised $67,000. Jordan's report shows 27 donors "appear to have
contributed" more than the $750 maximum that "could lead to substantial fines" from the Fair
Political Practices Commission. In addition, Willie Brown continues to be "undercut by charges
that he is "beholden to special interests"as evidenced by recent finance reports showing two
Brown campaign committees for the Assembly receiving $40,000 from Phillip Morris after
Brown entered the mayoral race.
Baltimore Mayoral Race. After picking up the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police
last week, City Council President Mary Pat Clarke picked up two more union endorsements this
week in her primary challenge to Mayor Kurt Schmoke. The Baltimore city firefighters and fire
officers threw their weight behind Clarke. One factor in the firefighter's decision to back Clarke
was Mayor Schmoke's decision to close three fire houses this year when Clarke fought hard to
keep them open. Mayor Schmoke did, however, pick up the endorsement of private health care
workers this week.
Mayor Ed Rendell. Organized Labor is still trying to recruit a candidate to run against Mayor
Rendell, but has been unsuccessful at this point.
1996 Races
Rep. Billy Tauzin. As you may know, Tauzin is expected to switch parties this weekend.
Senator Sam Nunn. Gordon Giffin has told us that Nunn's probability of running for reelection
is no higher than 55%. Nunn has set an internal deadline of the end of August to resolve this
issue. If Nunn does not run, the leading candidate is Secretary of State Max Cleland. Buddy
Darden was once interested in running but is no longer.
Senator Bill Bradley. Although he has said he fully intends to run, Bradley has still not
announced a run in 1996 and he has not participated in much fundraising this year. His likely
Republican challenger, Rep. Dick Zimmer (R) has raised more money than any Republican
Senate challenger in the United States - he currently has more than $1 million cash on hand.
Senator Bradley currently only has a little more than $600,000 cash on hand.
Senator John Kerry. During the first six months of 1995, Senator Kerry raised more than $2
million towards his reelection - more than any other Senator who is up for reelection in 1996.
Kerry raised more in the first six months of 1995 than Senator Kennedy did in a comparable
4
period in 1994. Of the 33 Senators up for reelection in 1996, Kerry is second only to Phil
Gramm in cash on hand. A large portion of this money was raised at the Boston fundraiser you
participated in last month.
Other Senate FEC Report News. Like Pell, Senator Nancy Kassebaum (R) has raised no
money this year and has only $112,000 on hand, perhaps indicating that she will not run.
Senators Tom Harkin, Max Baucus, Carl Levin and Paul Wellstone posted very respectable
figures, with Wellstone's near-$1 million total attracting the most attention, given his shoestring
1990 race and his high profile on the campaign finance reform issue.
Colorado Senate Race. Representative Wayne Allard (R-04) said on 7/29 there is a "98 percent
chance" he will make the bid for the seat of retiring Senator Hank Brown (R). The FEC reports
show that Allard has "collected nearly $284,000 to spend on a possible run."
Illinois Senate Race. The Illinois Democratic Party will be holding a series of U.S. Senate
candidate forums in August to give party regulars the opportunity to question the candidates on
the issues. The meetings are essentially a pretext to permit the Party to endorse Rep. Dick
Durbin (D) at the State Central Committee meeting on September 11th. Such an early
endorsement -- in a high-profile contested primary without an incumbent -- is unprecedented for
the Illinois party. Given that former state Treasurer Pat Quinn (D) is running on an outsider,
reformist message, the move will may play into his strategy.
Senator John Warner. A recent Mason-Dixon poll shows that only 42% would vote to reelect
Senator Warner in 1996. In the past year his excellent/good job rating dropped from 68% to
54% and his fair/poor job rating rose from 28% to 41%. A primary scenario with Jim Miller
had Warner taking 41% to Millers' 38%. In a three-way primary race including VA GOP Chair
John McSweeney: Warner 41%, Miller 34%, and McSweeney 6%. The poll showed Senator
Warner faring better in the general election when they matched him against two likely
Democratic challengers Mark Warner and Leslie Byrne.
As you know, the GOP in Virginia vowed revenge against Senator Warner in 1994 when he
openly opposed then Senate candidate Oliver North. Currently, his only announced challenger
is Republican Jim Miller who ran against Oliver North in the 1994 primary.
Texas Senate Race. Attorney and former Harris County Democratic Chair John Odam (D)
announced his Senate candidacy this week. A former army lieutenant, Odam blasted Gramm
for his lack of military experience, saying that "my record of public service, military service and
community service stack up well -- especially against a professional politician who took five
draft deferments during the Vietnam War and has worked for the government his entire life."
Rep. Greg Laughlin (R-TX). Laughlin drew another primary opponent this week with the
announcement that former Rep. Ron Paul (R) will run. Paul left the House in 1984 only to lose
the U.S. Senate primary to Phil Gramm. He was the Libertarian Party's presidential nominee
in 1988.
5
North Carolina. Speculation about your plans for tobacco regulation continues to dominate the
headlines in North Carolina and the FDA continues to be the subject of harsh criticism on both
sides of the political aisle. Governor Hunt issued a statement yesterday stating that he had been
assured that the White House had not yet made a decision on FDA regulation.
Former Glaxo, Inc. CEO Charlie Sanders has raised almost $750,000 so far and has about
$500,000 on hand. Harvey Gantt has only about $10,000 on hand, leading some to believe that
he may not make the race. (He has hired Mandy Grunwald and Celinda Lake for a '96 Senate
race.) The Charlotte Observer reports that a number of supporters of Harvey Gantt are working
for Sanders because they believe he has a better shot at defeating Helms. Sanders will have a
tough time capturing a large enough percentage of the white vote to defeat Gantt, given that
Gantt enjoys substantial support among whites and has the African American community locked
up. Also troubling to Sanders' campaign was his 26-year-old son's guilty plea this week on
counterfeiting charges. Sentencing has not been scheduled but he faces up to 15 years.
Missouri Gubernatorial. This week, two Republicans, State Senator Bill Kenney and State
Auditor Margaret Kelly announced their candidacy for Governor. Governor Carnahan's camp
is pleased there will be a Republican primary.
Should
Idaho Senate Race. Walt Minnick (D) says he wants at least 60 days to think about it, but
speculation grows that he will challenge Senator Larry Craig (R). Minnick's qualifications are
impressive: descendant of an 1860s pioneer; raised on a Palouse wheat farm; No. 1 graduate
of Harvard's MBA program in 1966; magna cum laude at Harvard Law; Army lieutenant and
White House drug policy official under Nixon who helped create the Drug Enforcement
Administration. His name I.D. is just 11%.
Montana Congressional. Dwight MacKay, Chief of Staff for Senator Conrad Burns (R), is
resigning his position to take on Pat Williams (D-At Large) who will be seeking his 10th term
in 1996. Other candidates include ex-Montana GOP chair Rick Hill and farmer-rancher Alan
Mikkelsen (R).
Ohio CD-06. Ted Strickland who was defeated in 1994 by now Congressman Frank Cremeans,
has been following Cremeans to various speeches and events with a video camera. Strickland
says that his goal is to "find out what he's doing." Strickland is determined to win his seat back
in 1996 which he lost by 2 percentage points to Cremeans, and Democrats are optimistic about
his chances.
Other Political News
Georgia Redistricting. Federal judges in the Georgia redistricting case have ordered an August
22nd hearing and have asked that the state and plaintiffs each submit plans for new congressional
districts by August 15th. This is, however, only one day after the August 14th special session
Governor Miller has called. The courts have ruled that "suggestions should be narrowly drawn
and minimally disruptive." Governor Miller has indicated to us again that he does not want the
Administration involved in the redistricting.
6
Rep. Mel Reynolds (D). Beverly Heard, the woman who initially accused Reynolds of having
sex with her when she was 16, finally agreed Friday to testify in Reynolds' trial.
NRA Membership. The Associated Press reported this week that the National Rifle Association
has lost nearly 10% of its membership this year, dropping its total to 3.2 million. The NRA
claims that much of the drop can be attributed to a hike in dues from $15 to $35
school Choice. The ACLU and the Milwaukee teachers union, with legal assistance from Brady
Williamson, filed suit this week challenging Wisconsin's week-old law that gives poor
Milwaukee parents vouchers to pay for educating their children at private religious schools.
Mayor John Norquist (D) supports parochial school choice and has been very critical of the
lawsuit.
cc:
The Vice President
Leon Panetta
Harold Ickes
Jack Quinn
George Stephanopoulos
Melanne Verveer
7
THE BOSTON GLOBE
MONDAY, JULY 31, 1995
Clinton's reelection strategy: dump the Democrats
Republican "flat tax," while giving 80
In the past two weeks, the Democrats
mess with your Medicare," he cried.
candidates criticize Clinton, they risk elect-
ROBERT KUTTNER
percent of Americans a bigger tax break.
have mustered a degree of unity despite
Excuse me, Mr. President, but don't you
ing a Republican president. The Republican
Later this year. Gephardt will unveil propos-
these schisms. A Democratic filibuster in the
mean: "I'm not going to let the Republicans
National Committee could not have devised
ast spring the Democratic Party
als on health security and the problem of de-
Senate, with strong White House backing,
mess with your Medicare?" Why the gratu-
a neater bind.
L
clining wages.
derailed the Republican bill on deregulation.
ran some voter focus groups. They
itous slap at "the government?" Who do you
For the Republicans of this era, the solu-
had good news and bad news. A ma-
But Gephardt's president has another
House and Senate Republicans are unable to
think brought us Medicare - the John Han-
tion to all economic problems is the same.
reach agreement among themselves on wel-
jority of voters readily identified
game plan. Bill Clinton hopes to get reelect-
cock Co.?
Shrink the government. For Democrats the
fare reform. Defections of moderate Repub-
Republicans as the party of privilege - but
ed by positioning himself as a "different kind
Medicare, justifiably, is one of the most
issues are more complex. But in the present
of Democrat" - a foe of big government
licans may well save such liberal programs
few could articulate what Democrats stood
valued government programs. It works pre-
climate, Democrats will have a hard time de-
for.
(though a gentler foe than the Republicans)
as legal services, food stamps and the Corpo-
cisely because it is universal and publicly
vising a program that credibly addresses the
ration for Public Broadcasting.
It's hardly a surprise that Democrats are
and a. conciliator who can work with the Re-
funded. The Republicans would wreck it with
voters' pocketbook blues.
publicán congressional majority.
After embracing a budget that would re-
suffering an identity crisis. Traditional
funding cuts and privatization. Government
The politics of budget balance will pre-
quire steep cuts in Medicare, Democrats
Democrats and self-styled New Democrats
Clinton and his latest crop of advisers are
is the good guy here.
nonetheless have been able to attack Repub-
clude spending serious money on such mea-
have almost opposite conceptions of what the
convinced that the voters are tired of parti-
Clinton's rhetoric puts him precisely on
sures as education and training. And the
licans for backing stiffer Medicare cuts in or-
party should represent. No wonder voters
san bickering; they want results. In this sce-
both sides of this divide. If Clinton can't even
der to champion tax cuts for the affluent. All
general reluctance to regulate business
are perplexed.
nario, Clinton wins reelection as the great
of this manages to evoke, however faintly,
defend Medicare without impugning "gov-
makes it hard to alter the growing polariza-
House minority leader Dick Gephardt,
compromiser and the Democratic Party
the Democrats' glory days as the party that
ernment," the Democrats' identity crisis will
tion of wages and salaries.
for one, wants to reclaim the Democrats' his-
fends for itself.
uses the public sector to temper the inequi-
likely continue.
These dilemmas are hardly eased when
toric role as champion of working Ameri-
The tactic, not surprisingly, has infuriat-
ties of the private one and bring economic
Heading into the 1996 election, tradition-
the Democratic president and his nominal al-
cans. This entails sharpening partisan and
ed many House Democrats, who see Clinton
security to the nonrich.
al Democrats are yoked to a president who
lies in Congress are pulling in opposite direc-
class differences, reinforcing the perception
as pursuing his own reelection at their ex-
Yet even at last week's successful and
defines his legitimacy precisely in terms of
tions. Clinton has called for a climate of
of Republicans as party of the rich and devis-
pense. When Clinton describes himself as a
highly partisan Capitol Hill rally celebrating
his distance from them. This posture implic-
greater conciliation and civility. He might
ing a program to address the declining eco-
different Democrat, it invites the question:
the 30th anniversary of Medicare and vow-
itly encourages ticket splitting. In one ver-
begin with his own party.
nomic security of the average family.
different from whom? Well, different from
ing to defend it against Republican attack,
sion, voters support Clinton for president
For example, Gephardt's recent tax blue-
Dick Gephardt and much of the House
Clinton managed to rain on his party's pa-
and the Republicans for Congress.
Robert Kuttner's column appears regularly
print proposed a tax system as simple as the
Democratic caucus.
rade. "I'm not going to let the government
Alternatively, if Democratic congressional
in the Globe.
THE BOSTON HERALD. 8/1
From Page 1
Weld
ought to be protections for chil-
dren," he said.
The same concern was ex-
pressed in a July 29 letter to
Weld from U.S. Health and Hu-
man Services Secretary Donna
E. Shalala, who added "adults
who are making a good faith ef-
blasts
fort to work should not be pena-
lized."
Weld, who had made a person-
al plea to the president for the
approval, said he would continue
to push for the plan.
"I'm going to go back and hit
my head against the door again
and see what I can do," he said.
Under the federal Aid to Fam-
ilies with Dependent Children
prez on
program, states must get federal
approval before making major
program changes.
The Clinton administration
has a self-imposed 120-day dead-
line for processing waiver appli-
cations.
welfare
The deadline for action on the
Massachusetts application was
Saturday, but the application re-
mains alive as state and federal
officials work on the two-year
cutoff.
Ironically - at least from the
perspective of Weld and those
reform
supporting the Massachusetts
plan - Clinton yesterday told
members of the National Gover-
nors' Association that he plans
to streamline the waiver process
as he tries to fulfill his 1994
campaign pledge to "end welfare
as we know it.'
Gov: Clinton is stalling
The president said that state
plans with key characteristics -
work requirements, time limits,
on Bay State's changes
sanctions against fathers who
don't pay child support, require-
Al
ments that teen mothers live at
home, and using food-stamp
By ROBERT CONNOLLY
funds to pay for wage subsidies
- will be acted on in 30 days.
BURLINGTON, Vt. - Gov. William F. Weld ac-
Several of those characteris-
cused the Clinton administration yesterday of un-
tics are at the heart of the Bay
dermining real welfare reform after President Clin-
State plan.
ton OK'd welfare overhaul
Addressing the governors ear-
plans for four states but left
lier in the day, Senate Majority
Massachusetts off the list.
Leader Robert Dole sounded a
theme that was music to many
A top adviser to the president
attendees, saying the federal
said the Massachusetts plan re-
government should essentially
mains in limbo because it "fails
turn welfare over to the states.
to protect kids."
Dole, Clinton's possible op-
At issue is a key aspect of tl.
ponent in next year's presiden-
plan: brooming mothers off the
tial election, proposed sending
rolls after two years, whether or
block-grant subsidies to the
WILLIAM WELD
not they've found jobs.
states and allowing them to set
Bruce Reed, Clinton's top wel-
rules and determine eligibility.
Dole (R-Kan.) said he will put
fare adviser, said the White House simply can't buy
his welfare plan before the Sen-
that approach.
ate later this week.
"We see it as a fundamental issue that there
Clinton outraged some Repub-
lican governors by saying Dole's
plan was off base because states
need federal guidance, lest they
spend welfare block grants on
non-welfare projects.
AUG-04-1995 09:53 FROM
TO
12024567929
P.02/02
Opinion
Bill Zeliff's aim
Co-chairman of the Waco hearings shot himself in the foot.
B
ill Zeliff had intended to impli-
cate the president and excori-
Editorial
ate the attorney general. In-
stead. he embarrassed himself.
The First District congressman had
hearings that all the facts have yet
tried to be fair for much of the 10-day
come to light his mea culpa - will
hearings into Waco that he co-chaired.
only serve to feed the rumors.
Then he let partisanship get the best
But enough has come out for ra-
of him.
tional Americans to conclude that the
By the hearings' end
tragedy at Waco result-
on Tuesday, Zeliff had
ed from government
failed to show believ-
The tragedy at
mistakes, not govern-
THE CONCORD MONITOR Thursday, August 3, 1995
able evidence that Pres-
Waco resulted
ment malevolence.
ident Clinton was close-
Davidian leader David
ly involved in the deci-
from govern-
Koresh was a sexual
sion to send in the FBI
ment mistakes,
abuser of children. The
for the fatal assault at
government had cred-
the Branch Davidian
not government
ible reports that he was
compound - a claim
malevolence.
stocking illegal weap-
Zeliff made two days
ons. Federal agents had
earlier on a Sunday
a legitimate interest in
morning talk show. Instead, he was
finding out what was happening inside
switching back and forth, saying one
the compound.
minute that Clinton was deeply in-
The tactics and judgments they
volved, or the next that, as president.
made. though, were flawed through-
he should have been. That prompted a
out - from the Bureau of Alcohol, To-
reporter to ask Zeliff whether he could
bacco and Fircarms' decision to storm
make up his mind.
the compound after its cover was
Zeliffs link of Clinton to Waco was
blown, to the FBI's decision to use a
based on pure assumption and weak
tank and potentially hazardous tear
evidence wishful thinking not rea-
gas instead of persuasion and another
son. He speculated that Attorney Gen
week's patience. If the hearings lead
eral Janet Reno, confirmed only a few
to tighter rules on the use of force and
weeks earlier, hadn't been on the job
new insights into the mind of fanatics,
long enough to make the critical deci-
they will have proven uscful.
sion to end the siege with force. As ev-
As much as the Republicans want-
idence, he presented a memo from
ed to use Waco to embarrass the pres-
Clinton's chief of staff to the president
ident, the hearings were dicey. Repub-
that "no significant action would be
licans faced a tricky balance. They
taken (in Waco) without White House
wanted to discredit the ATF, which
approval."
enforces firearms laws they have
That memo, however, was written
vowed to repeal. But they also didn't
two months before the raid, when a
want to appear to be abetters of ex-
Republican holdover was acting attor-
tremism. defenders of cults and oppo-
ney general and when efforts contin-
nents of law and order.
ued to resolve the standoff peacefully.
Zeliff complicated their task He put
Under questioning by Zeliff, the un-
Republicans on the defensive from the
flappable Reno repeated what she has
start, when he let gun lobby hirelings
said all along: She discussed the plan
help with the committee's investiga-
to storm the building with Clinton. He
tion. That led to charges the hearings
asked good questions based on facts
were a setup for the NRA.
she presented. He left the strategic
When it looked like he had regained
decisions to her and didn't interfere.
credibility, Zeliff made the clumsy in-
That was appropriate, she said.
sinuations about Clinton. That created
The presidential tangent aside, the
expectations of bombshells that never
Waco hearings elicited volumes of old
fell on the climactic day of testimony
information and minor revelations.
from Reno.
Since Waco had become a battlecry
Republicans needed someone with
for right-wing militias and anti-gov-
finesse to run the hearings. It turned
ernment paranoids, it was worthwhile
out they had the wrong guy. Too ac-
1
in the end that the events were de-
customed perhaps to softball ques-
bated under Capitol Hill lights.
tions on Channel 9 and flattering
$
No amount of evidence will stanch
Union Leader editorials, Bill Zeliff
conspiracy theories. And Zeliff's dark
showed he was not ready for Washing-
comment at the conclusion of the
ton's prime time.
h
$
Shakes Up
Burlington
71
Barre Times Argus
By DIANE DERBY
Vermont Press Bureau
BURLINGTON - It was A
8/1/95
mixture of pleasure and politics
Monday as President Clinton vis-
ited Burlington, browsing in &
downtown cratt shop and shaking
hands with dozens before pitch-
ing his welfare reform proposal
to the nation's governora.
Related Story, Page 8
Clinton was greeted by about
300 people, including most of
Vermont's political leaders, when
Air Force One arrived at the
Burlington International Airport
around 11:30 a.m.
The crowds waiting in the hot
midday sun were rewarded with
handshakes from the president.
It was one of those once in a
lifetime experiences," said Marie
March, who managed to touch
Clinton's hand as he worked his
way down the crowd.
From there, a 28-car motorcade
(See Burlington, Page
(Continued from Page One)
he and the group of Vermont pol.
Clinton's administration has
whisked Clinton downtown.
iticians ate.
granted welfare reform waivers
where crowds had begun gather-
Lunch was on the house, al-
to 29 states since he became
ing behind police barricades long
though Dean dropped a $20 bill
president.
before his arrival. As Clinton
on the table as a tip.
"The first experiment we ap-
moved down the Church Street
The visit scemed impromptu,
proved was for Governor Dean to
Market Place, the throng pressed
but Stratty Line's brother, Chris,
make it clear that welfare in
forward to shake Clinton's hand
said White House officials had
Vermont would become a second
or take his photograph.
worked with the diner to set up a
chance, not a way of life,'
menu. "I guess he has lots of Al-
Clinton said, referring to the
The president did his part to
lergies," he said.
waiver that enabled Vermont to
support Vermont artisans, drop-
In ail, Clinton's downtown visit
embark on welfare reform two
ping about $300 in one-half hour
took days of preparation, but
years ago.
of shopping at the Frog Hollow
lasted less than two hours.
M. Jane Kitchel, Vermont's so-
State Craft Center: Clinton
Clinton's afternoon speech to
cial welfare commissioner, said
bought a finger puppet of a par
the summer meeting of the No.
the president's vision for welfare
rot, a chocolate frog, ceramic
tional Governors' Association at
reform closely rosembled Ver-
whistle, pottery. glass vase and
the Shoraton hotel came just
mont's plan:
cup.
hours after Scnate Majority
"If you look at the broad areas
The whistle was made by
Leader Robert Dole appeared in
of design and direction, what
Montpelier artists Delia Robin-
the same room to offer a plan of
Vermont has put in place is very
son. The clay whistle was in the
his own.
much in line with what the pres-
shape of a woman holding the
With Congress split over how
ident said today," said Kitchel,
world.
to reform the welfare system,
who was among the 850 guests
The employees of the craft cen-
Clinton urged governors to forge
and governors who filled the
ter gave Clinton a puppet image
ahead with their own plans, and
Sheraton meeting room for the
of himself filled with catnip as a
promised that the federal govern-
president's half-hour address.
gift to the presidential cat, Socks.
ment would respond promptly to
While the president spoke, po-
Back outside, a military heli-
states' requests for the waivers
lice were arresting eight protest-
copter circlod overhead, while Se-
that are needed to do so.
'ers outside the hotel. It was the
cret Service men talked into
Clinton told the governors his
third day of demonstrations by a
their shirtsleeves. From the roof-
administration would approve
group protesting the planned ex-
tops, police scanned the crowd
the waivers within 30 days if
ecution of Mumia Abd-Jamal, a
with binoculars.
they met the criteria; it now
Philadolphia journalist who was
Clinton worked the crowd for a
takes four months to complete
convicted in 1982 of killing a po-
time before meving on to the
the process.
lice officer.
Onsis Diner, long a Democratic
"Now, we can and we should
The eight were arrested after
stopover in Vermout political cir-
do more. and WC shouldn't just
sitting down in the roadway out-
cles, for lunch with Gov. Howard
wait around for the congressional
side the hotel.
Dean, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.,
process to work its way through,"
Christopher Craff. Vermont bu-
Rep. Bernard Sanders, I.Vt., and
said Clinton, who chaired the
reau chief of the Associated Press,
other members of their entou-
NCA in the late 1980s while he
contributed to this story.
rage.
was governor of Arkansas.
Stratty Lines, owner of the
Clinton outlined five standards
that states should work toward
Call Milne Travel-Fare War.
Oasis, served up & turkey sand-
wich with lettuce and mustard
in reforming welfare, including a
Good For Travel Thru 12/15/95.
while his grandson, Nicholas
provision that minor welfare par-
SAVE BIG ON AIRFARES!
Lines, 5, popped up behind the
ents must live at. home and con-
Call 479-0541 or 800-752-
president in the next booth.
tinue their schooling in order to
0558. Offer expires August 9th.
Clinton chatted with the buy as
receive benefits.
AUG 02 '95 12:35
The Des Moines Register
DES MOINES, IOWA
WEDNESDAY,
^
2,
1995
PRICE 35 CENTS
Excellent
161 P02
Farm program cuts attacked
An aide finds 'some real problems in rural America'
Prece
Congress has voted to reduce farm.
plan, Dunn said, would cost a typical
By GEORGE ANTHAN
program spending by $13.4 billion
Iowa corn farmer who receives in-
THE REGISTER'S WASHINGTON BUREAU CHEF
over the next seven years while
come support payments based on
President Clinton has proposed a
300 acres of corn about $4,000 a
hand
Washington, D.C. - Clinton ad-
$6 billion cut over 10 years.
year more than if Clinton's budget
ministration officials Tuesday re-
Also, the House has passed a
plan is adopted.
newed their attack on House-passed
$62.5 billion agriculture appropria-
Dunn added that the fiscal 1996
budget cuts for farm and rural devel-
tions bill for fiscal 1996, which
spending bill passed by the House
opment programs and said Agricul-
begins Oct. 1. The measure is $4 bil-
would reduce USDA rural housing
ture Secretary Dan Glickman would
lion below Clinton's request, with
loans in Iowa from the current
recommend a presidential veto of the
funds being cut from niral housing
$13.3 million a year to $7 million.
fiscal 1996 agriculture appropria-
and small-community water and
5152445051 IA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
will this ant the
Under Clinton's fiscal 1996 budget,
tions bill if the Senate fails to restore
sewer projects. It's expected that
he said, lowa would be allocated
some key spending levels.
Congress also will reduce farm in-
$19.2 million for rural housing next
come and price support subsidies to
year.
meet the budget plan's spending tar-
Dunn said lowa communities are
gets.
getting almost $23 million for water
"We've begun to take a look at
and sewer facility loans and grants,
how the overall seven-year budget
but would be cut to $16 million next
proposal and how the fiscal 1996 ap-
year under the House bill.
propriation bill would affect differ-
He said USDA fficials in the state
Fur.
ent-parts of the country," said Mike-
estimate that some 300 communities
at
Dunn, deputy undersecretary. "And
need sewer facility improvements
we find some real problems in rural.
and that there currently is a two-
Thanks
America, including Iowa, between
year backlog of applicants for aid.
what Clinton and Congress havepro-
"The impact of this cut will be tre-
State
Mile Wim
posed."
mendous," Dunnsaid.
Dunn said. Iowa farmers would
He said. the House action also
lose some $157 million a year. in cash
would: end: a small program under
income support subsidies under the
which the USDA has been lending
congressional seven-year budget
$1.5 million to: $2 million a. year in
plan. He said Clinton's proposed
Iowa to rural residents who seek to
budget would cost Iowa farmers
start asmall business and are unable
$37 million a year in lost payments.
to get startup credit from commer-
cial lenders.
MT
The congressional Republicans
AUG. 5.1995 12:41AM P 2
FROM : Panasonic PPF
union Leader 8/4
A Modest 'Defense' of Dole
He's Not Too Old To Be President
Ne
This guest editorial was written by
ture, provide food stamps or carry on a
Strafford (
Union Leader columnist Jack Kenny.
few score other big government pro-
to pay for
grams Dole has supported over the
Some or the criticisms being leveled
years. But he is on the right track.
at Republican Presidential front-
After 35 years in Congress, he is be-
runner Bob Dole are unfair and mis-
ginning to come to terms with the doc-
guided. True, Speaker of the House
ument he has sworn to uphold.
AND WE'
Newt Gingrich's oft-quoted descrip-
On the issue of taxes, Dole also
LEAVE TH
tion of the Kansas senator as "tax col-
shows signs of becoming what George
lector for the welfare state" is only too
ON FOR
Will has called a "late-blooming Bu-
accurate, as the Dole record abundant-
chananite." He now realizes that rais-
BUT YOU
ly illustrates.
ing taxes is both bad politics and
TO PAY F
But some of his critics miss the
ruinous economics He has promised
point entirely when they raise the so-
to veto any tax increase that Congress
called "age issue," as Time magazine
might legislate, a pledge he refused to
did in last week's cover story. There
take when he campaigned here in
are a lot of reasons why Bob Dole
should not be the next President, but
1988. In 1990, he helped George Bush
age is not among them - unless one
break his "Read my lips" pledge by
guiding a $250 billion tax hike
wishes to argue that the 72-year-old
White House hopeful is still too young
through Congress. Then he suggested
for the job. That argument is not as
Mr. Bush find some lip balm. Clever
fellow, that Bob.
far-fetched as it might seem.
Recall that in this, his third quest
Yes, Dole is definitely a "late bloom-
Ox-
for the Presidency, Dole has discov-
er" who is now sounding all the
ered the meaning of the Tenth
themes conservatives want to hear. He
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
may even come around to believing in
At his campaign kickoff in Exeter in
them himself, but that's going to take
April, Dole said he favored limiting
time. At the rate he's progressed thus
the federal government to those pow-
far in his career, Dole will, by a con-
Affirn
ers delegated to it by the Constitution
servative estimate, be ready for the
and leaving all else to the states and
White House when he turns 149-years-
By WALTER E. WII
the people. He has not, of course, ex-
old. Chances are he'll be campaigning
ECEN
plained where in the Constitution the
in New Hampshire at the time.
R
gents
and
federal government has been dele-
Let your grandchildren vote for
ably,
gated the power to subsidize agricul- him.
Jesse
blacks. For argur
Media Missing the Real Story
race-based hiring
in terms of its lor
Wide Revulsion in What Today Passes as Entertainment'
In the world of
can be deadly be
Guest commentary by Reed Irvine,
prime time shows, as are partial nudi-
a disease that's C1
chairman of Accuracy in Media, the
ty and soft-core sex scenes you didn't
person would get
Washington-based press watchdog
see even five years ago. This is the
Affirmative action
group and Joe Goulden, AIM's director
sort of moral pollution which upsets
been a palliative
of media analysis.
Bob Dole and many other persons.
lieved, but not cu
lem for a large se
But the meanest commentary on
We've seen a good example of how
population. Let's
the Dole speech came from a New
Why can't more
our mainstream media are out of step
York Times columnist named Frank
to the nation's pre
with the rest of the country. The story
Rich, who was a drama critic before
ties like Berkeley
involved Sen. Bob Dole's strong pro-
the Times turned him loose with a twi=
and Yale on acade
test against violence and sleaze in
Student
1/2
12
THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE
JULY 30, 1995
IPSHIRE for GRAMM
Lanar
Gramm makes show of strength in N.H.
Lanur!
By Ann Scales
At GOP picnic, Texan hits Dole plans
GLOBE STAFF
HOPKINTON, N.H. - Locked in
seeking the Republican presidential
shire in his trademark plaid shirts in
a virtual dead heat for second place
nomination next year, Gramm and
an effort to boost his campaign, sent
in most national polls, the campaign
Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana were
his wife, Honey.
of presidential contender Sen. Phil
the only ones to appear at the annual
In what state GOP organizers
Gramm of Texas made a big splash
Republican State Committee picnic
described as the first major organi-
GLOBE STAFF PHOTO/JANET KNOTT
here yesterday at an event where
here yesterday.
zational test of the campaign,
Mike Blundo and his daughter Amanda leave the annual Republican
the pool of undecided voters was
Lamar Alexander, the former
Gramm emerged as the clear win-
State Committee plenic yesterday In Hopkinton, N.H.
fairly shallow.
governor of Tennessee who has been
ner, judging from the number of
From a field of nine candidates
walking the roads of New Hamp-
campaign signs and workers at the
picnic.
When people get
At one point Gramm made a joke
to know me, they
out of it, telling a campaign worker,
"be sure you take all these signs
are going to get to
down
so we can use them again."
know that I'm
When asked later whether he
was disappointed that most of the
shooting with real
other candidates did not appear,
bullets.'
Gramm responded: "I came here
looking for a job and I think when
SEN. PHIL GRAMM
you show up for a job interview and
Republican of Texas
there's not a long line, you ought to
be happy."
Charlie Arlinghauf, executive di-
rector of the New Hampshire Re-
publican State Committee, said that
a candidate who is what he says he
is, and who has a record to back that
although Gramm's physical presence
appeared to have boosted his turn-
up."
Gramm then attacked Dole's wel-
out of supporters, it was nearly
equaled by Patrick Buchanan's sup-
fare proposal, saying it does not
porters.
have a binding work requirement
David Carney, state campaign di-
and that it "encourages people to
rector for Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas,
come to America to go on welfare."
said there were few undecided vot-
Gramm said his welfare proposal
ers, a group to whom Dole is trying
would require "able-bodied men and
to appeal.
women who are riding in the welfare
Carney said he did not realize
wagon to get out of the wagon and
the event was a test of the organiza-
help the rest of us pull."
tional strength of the candidates. If
Lugar, who arrived at the event
it was, he said, "I guess we flunked."
late, having appeared earlier at the
It was not Dole's organization to
commissioning of the USS Maine in
which Gramm assigned a flunking
Portsmouth, spoke briefly about his
grade, but rather his politics.
plan to abolish income taxes and tc
"Bob Dole has been a moderate
encourage family savings.
in Washington, D.C., for 35 years.
Gramm, for his part, continued tc
He's been a conservative running for
polish his appeal to the core of New
president for four months. I was con-
Hampshire's conservative voters
servative before conservative was
who will vote in the nation's first
cool," Gramm said, in an oft-repeat-
presidential primary in February.
ed remark.
He is spending the rest of the
"And in an era where we have a
weekend appealing to voters in what
president who reinvents himself ev-
he called a crucial state and one he
ery four or five months, when we
vowed to win.
have candidates who reposition
"I have a lot of work to do. Bot
themselves to run for president ev-
Dole has run for president three
ery four or eight years
I think
times, he's been a national public fig
people will find it refreshing to have
ure since I was a junior in high
school, and you get an advantage by
having been at this thing for a long
time," Gramm said in an apparen
reference to Dole's age. Dole turned
72 last week, and his age has become
an issue among the other presiden
tial contenders in the campaign.
Gramm said that as a Southerne
he had obstacles to overcome in Nev
Hampshire. "I speak a foreign dia
lect to the ear of people in Nev
Hampshire. They sound funny to m
when they talk, but we think alike
and that's the important thing.
"When people get to know me
72
they are going to get to know tha
I'm shooting with real bullets."
AUG 01 '95 16:20
P.4
Minorities
blamed for
right-wing
Minorities: Told
landslide
their votes matter
T.P. 8-1-95
By GWENDOLYN THOMPKINS
From A-1
tered voters may help keep Cyn-
Staff writer
thia McKinney, D-Ga., in office.
son told his audience at the
But some at the conference
African-Americans who failed
Hyatt Regency Hotel.
wondered if the Motor Voter Law
to participate in last fall's elec-
"We, too, have been asleep at
the switch," he said. "Does it (the
will backfire for black voters by
tions must shoulder much of the
conservative victory) possibly say
registering more conservative
blame for the white conservative
white constituents and members
landslide, voting rights advocates
we stopped organizing in our
told the Southern Christian
communities? Does it suggest a
of the Christian right.
Leadership Conference on Mon-
lack of leadership from some of
"Are those our votes?" Harri-
day, warning that this pattern of
our elected officials?"
son asked the crowd.
abstention amounts to political
Voter registration, a precious
McKinney; Louisiana guberna-
suicide by the black electorate.
political tool for African-Ameri-
torial candidate Cleo Fields, D-
Combined with a recent Su-
cans during the civil rights
Baton Rouge; and two other
preme Court decision destabiliz-
movement, may help to loosen
black members of the U.S. House
ing minority congressional
the conservative grip, said pan-
of Representatives were unable to
districts and successful attacks
elist James Ferguson, executive
attend Monday's opening session
on affirmative action in Califor-
director of the National Coalition
of the conference's 38th annual
nia, the right-wing sweep at the
on Black Voter Participation.
convention because of business
polls has caught black voters un-
Successful voter registration
on Capital Hill. But Monday af-
prepared, said former Alabama
hinges on targeting black com-
ternoon in Washington, Fields
legislator Antonio Harrison, one
munities that can tip crucial
defended the 1993 act.
of three panelists who served up
races, Ferguson said. Under the
1993 National Voter Registration
"Motor Voter can help any-
an apocalyptic vision of race rela-
tions in national politics.
Act, also known as the Motor
body who uses it, be it Christian
While black voters historically
Voter Law, he said, an estimated
right or Christian wrong," said
20 million Americans will register
Fields, who has made voter regis-
have swayed important elections,
to vote, and the National Coali-
tration the thrust of his cam-
too many neglected the polls in
tion will target cities nationwide
paign.
November, said Harrison, direc-
to make sure that black voters
If black voters only knew how
tor of the Electoral Participation
are in that number.
important they are, the political
Project in Washington, D.C.
Since November, he said, con-
In Georgia, nearly $7.1 million
outlook of the United States
servative legislators have revealed
has been budgeted to implement
would be entirely different, Har-
the act, said Curtis Atkinson, as-
rison said. "In the states where
an agenda that virtually ignores
sistant secretary of state. And in
the SCLC has chapters, there are
the needs of black constituents.
the state's 11th Congressional
229 electoral votes. You only
"Just in case anyone might
District, which will be redrawn in
need 270 to be the president of
have missed it, the white folks
the wake of a June ruling from
the United States. We have the
took back America last year. and
the Supreme Court, newly regis-
ability to shape the world."
they are further affirming that
take-back at every. turn," Harri-
See MINORITIES A-4
Revolution's out of control, Charlie
7/31/95 Monitor
Does Rep. Bass really
Is it that you can't envision how awful the
My Turn
Connecticut River used to be in the '50s,
believe in all this?
when the water was so foul you couldn't
see two inches into it?
Some of the people who are now mak-
your party killed the Goals 2000 program,
By PETER HOE BURLING
which was begun under Presidents Rea-
ing public policy down there in Washing-
For the Monitor
ton are motivated by greed. They will do
gan and Bush. Then you went on to vote
you and us terrible damage with their de-
down, or make massive cuts in, all federal
(Editor's note: Peter Burling, a former
student loan programs. You slashed the
mands for an end to environmental protec-
Democratic state representative from Cor-
tion.
Pell grants and obliterated the Eisenhow-
nish, is a distant cousin of first-term U.S.
er funds.
I noticed in a local paper that your fa-
Republican Rep. Charles Bass. He wrote the
ther has stepped into the fray to protect
Those cuts won't do much to balance
following as a "letter to my cousin Char-
you from the angry sniping that's begin-
the budget, but they will create a huge ed-
lie.")
ning to break out around the state. His is a
ucation deficit. Middle-class and poor peo-
powerful voice to raise in your behalf. The
D
ear Charlie,
ple will not be able to get college educa-
problem is, your father probably voted for
I see the "revolution" rolls on in
tions without those loans and loan guaran-
some of the things you are now slashing to
Washington. Is it still as exciting
tees. So why do you want to kill the Pell
the bone. The decade of the '50s, when
for you? How are you fairing with all those
grants? Why does your party want to do
your father was a congressman, was a
right-wing theorists? For a man who con-
away with the Eisenhower grants, which
time of expansive foreign aid, growing sup-
sistently voted as a state senator to keep
help prepare our teachers to teach better?
port for the middle class, and real commit-
the government from suppressing repro-
And what lies at the heart of your par-
ment to student loans and other programs
ductive choice, it must seem a bit tricky
ty's attack on the environmental laws?
with the radical right wielding so much
to get people educated. Did your father
Your campaign never mentioned that you
vote against those, the way you are doing?
power.
were going to let private industry re-write
What bugs me, Charlie, is this whole
The drive to reduce the federal budget
our environmental laws to their own liking.
deficit, which you endorse, is very impor-
notion of "revolution." People come up to
But that's what is happening. In the last
tant. But it does not require the kind of
me and talk of the new "we, the people
few weeks, you've voted to give all the
radical excesses that are now being car-
revolution," as if the last 50 years had not
power to private industry, and remove it
ried out in the name of frugality.
been about the American people.
from those who care for the environment.
Save the funding for drug-free schools,
I guess it's fun to think that the Ameri-
You've voted to make private enforcement
Charlie. Save the Pell Grants that help
can electorate voted for all the things
lawsuits impossible, while at the same
175,000 low-income students. Save the oth-
you're now doing down there, and I'm sure
time you've given private industry the
er student-loan programs that will let our
it helps to feel that there is a kind of di-
power to use courts to stall environmental
work force be educated and competitive in
vine, or at least inspired, quality to all the
standards indefinitely.
the next century. Do not do damage to our
cuts you're making. But much of what is
Your colleague, Jim Hansen, the chair-
national environment that we cannot re-
going on in Congress is neither divine nor
man of the House Subcommittee on Na-
pair.
inspired; much of it is frankly greedy or
tional Parks, wants to start shutting down
And finally, Charlie, be suspicious of
stupid.
national parks. Some in your party even
those who like to talk about the revolution
Please tell me why it's necessary to do
tried to eliminate funding for the Environ-
they are leading. Once the guillotine is out
away with so much of the federal govern-
mental Protection Agency. To what end?
in the market square, a great deal of mis-
ment's support for education? This month
Is it that you don't remember, Charlie?
chief can get done.
167 P10
AUG 02 '95
-
5152445051 IA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Harkin account
has $1.2 million
ASSOCIATED PRESS
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin has nearly
$1.2 million in the bank for cam-
paigning, though he has yet to for-
mally announce he'll seek a third
term, new reports showed.
Harkin said the reports show "I
will be ready organizationally and fi-
nancially" when it's time to begin
the campaign. Harkin, a Democrat, is
considered a sure bet to seek another
term in office.
His fund raising far outstrips any
of the Republicans making noise
about running against him. State
Rep. Steve Grubbs of Davenport has
announced his campaign for the GOP
nomination, and state Sen. Maggie
Tinsman of Davenport has said she'll
run as well.
Conservative activist Leroy Corey
has also said he'll seek the GOP nom-
ination.
AUG
3
'95
8:44
FROM MAX BAUCUS-BUTTE
A4-The Montana Stonaaru, DONE.
TO DC-PRESS
PAGE. 001
Dirty campaign?
Contest for U.S. Senate
off to a depressing start
A dirty and trivial U.S. Senate
paign Committee is typical. The
campaign might be shaping up for
release says that "Rehberg cam-
Montana. That judgment might be
paign falters skirting FEC report
premature, but based on the con-
regs (and) Oh yeah He's al-
tent of news releases sent to this
ready breaking promises."
A-4
newspaper by the supporters of
The release goes on to insinuate
Democratic Sen. Max Baucus and
that Rehberg has run afoul of Fed-
Republican Lt. Gov. Dennis Reh-
eral Election Commission rules,
berg, who are expected to be their
even though he has not.
Montana
parties' Senate nominees next
The release then makes much of
year, it's 2 fair guess.
Rebberg's "broken promise" not to
Std.
Rehberg has criticized Baucus
campaign while he's serving in his
for making a statement last spring
that Baucus would consider accept-
capacity as lieutenant governor.
The release said that Rehberg was
8/3/95
ing voluntary campaign spending
able to attend a fund-raising event
limits, and then making it clear
later that he would not. Rehberg
in Washington by "exploiting a
calls this "hypocrisy," even though
loophole in Montana law" that
Baucus always indicated that if he
allows the lleutenant governor "to
take as much vacation as he
faced & well-heeled, well-known
likes."
candidate, he probably would not
"Now that be's in the big
limit his spending.
A recent news release from the
leagues," the release snarls,
Republican National Senate Cam-
"Dennis Rehberg will likely learn
that voters have a thing against
paign Committee stated that a re-
cent University of Montana poll
shifty. cynical candidates who
showed Baucus to be vulnerable.
can't keep a promise and exploit
The poll, the release pointed out,
loopholes."
found that only 48 percent of re-
Shifty, cynical candidates who
spondents approved of Baucus'
can't keep a promise? Tough talk,
performance, while.2 percent dis-
coming from supporters of a man
approved. What the release didn't
who once made a promise about
say is that Republican Sen. Conrad
gun control.
And what prompted this name-
Burns had almost the same per-
calling diatribe from the Baucus
formance ratings, 49 percent ap-
proval, 26 percent disapproval.
camp?
If the Republicans want to pester
Here's how the release itself ex-
Baucus about spending limits,
plains it: "The Friends of Max
that's OK Jack Mudd challenged
Baucus" announced this week that
Conrad Burns to accept spending
they have amassed a $1.1 million
limits in 1994, too. Burns refused,
war chest to fend off the nasty,
because well-heeled incumbents
negative campaigning that is al-
always refuse. Mind-boggling cam-
ready taking place in Montana."
paign spending is a legitimate
It looks more like the Baucus
issue, but It's also become a tired
campaign is making excuses to
campaign gimmick. Rehberg
justify what has every promise of
should give it a rest.
turning into a dirty campaign.
Similarly. gloating over a poll
That's one promise we hope will
that shows Baucus with high nega-
not be fulfilled, by either Max
tives isn't the same as intelligent
Baucus or Dennis Rehberg. It
discussion of the issues.
won't wash for either of these guys
If the Rehberg campaign is
to pretend to take the high road
dwelling on trivia, however, the
while their proxies run the smaar
Baucus campaign is looking oml-
machines. Both men should order
nously ugly this far ahead of the
the dirty birds among their suppor-
elections. A recent release from
ters to clean up their acts and keep
1-5
the Democratic Senatorial Cam-
them cleaned up.
Mass. GOP fears
gains are eroding
By Brian C. Mooney
ams, are close to deciding whether
GLOBE STAFF
to challenge incumbent Democratic
congressmen next year.
Massachusetts Republicans
But some GOP leaders worry
may put up their most impressive
privately that this will be the first
slate of congressional candidates in
of a series of steps that plunge the
News
many years in
party back into its pre-1990 status
1996. But it could
of near-irrelevance.
Analysis
be a case of rob-
Under this scenario, the party's
bing Peter to pay
return to respectability since 1990
Paul.
could be erased, the result of a par-
The good news for the state's
ty rebuilding effort that has been
minority party is that several
more top-down than bottom-up.
credible candidates, including state
There's plenty of-evidence to
Sens. Brian Lees of East Long-
support this theory. Meanwhile,
meadow, Richard Tisei of Wake-
some hardliners fear the party, es-
field and Jane Swift of North Ad-
REPUBLICANS, Page 34
REPUBLICANS
election of Gov. Weld, Lt. Gov. Paul
wiped out two years later when the
"We ran some pretty good candi-
er compromises with the overwhelm-
Continued from Page 29
Cellucci and state Treasurer Joseph
GOP lost four of the seven pickups
dates last year," said Lees, the Sen-
ing Democratic majority in the Leg.
Malone.
plus three other Republican seats in
ate minority leader now weighing a
islature
chewing confrontation with Demo-
Republicans also knocked off six
the Senate.
challenge to Democratic US Rep.
crats for an accommodating partner-
sitting Democratic state senators,
Last year, as Weld and Cellucci
Richard Neal in the 2d Congression-
Democrats had a point
ship, has already blown its chance
won two of three open Senate seats
ran up the score with an eye-popping
al District anchored by Springfield.
"When we ran in 1994, a lot of
for the grassroots-level growth that
that changed hands and picked up
record 42-percentage point margin
"We were well-organized and
might have followed the 1990 break-
Democrats said, We helped to do
seven seats in the House.
over the Democratic tandem of
thought we were in pretty good
through)
the job that's made things much bet-
The gains in the upper chamber
Mark Roosevelt and Bob Massie -
shape. But we got smoked."
That year the GOP ended the
gave the party enough senators 16
and Malone tightened his grasp on
Lees and others cite the accom-
ter,'" said Lees. "And you know,
Democrats' 16-year stranglehold on
out of 40 - to sustain a Weld veto.
the treasurer's job the GOP picked
modating posture Weld took to sta-
they had."
all six constitutional offices with the
It was short-lived, however -
up one measly seat in the Senate
bilize state finances and achieve oth-
Others are more cynical. "Bill
1994.
year.
Weld era:
setts.
worth it."
ing of running again that it's n
candidates who lost and were.thin! thin!
"It sent a signal to several of ou
for the state of the party these days
who otherwise does not blame Weld
"That was a mistake." said Lees,
bete noir to other Republicans.
for the Democratic power broker. a
Weld declared. "He's a good man.") man.
hope you'll vote for Bill Bulger."
ton polling place and urged a vote ("I
dent William M. Bulger's South Bos-
when he showed up at Senate Presi-
cause on Election Day last year
Weld did nothing to help the
in either party.
independents. or to those unenrolled
percent, but all of the shift went to
more, from 42.9 percent to 40.2
1994. Democrats dropped even
in the 1990 primary to 13 percent in
publicans slipped from 13.3 percent
As a percentage of voters. Re-
percent of the vote.
ate candidates received only 43.5
Malone hitting 63 percent, GOP Sen-
Cellucci surpassing 70 percent and
1994, a high-water mark with Weld-
dropped to 43.7 percent. And in
cast. In the off-year 1992, the figure
races collected 46.2 percent of votes
Republicans in contested Senate
Globe analysis shows that in 1990,
votes have eroded. For example. a
Down the ticket, Republican
from 38 in 1990 to 63 in 1992 to 77 in
1992 and 14 in 1994; in the House,
ber grew from three in 1990 to 12 in
out a fight. In the Senate, the num-
seats have gone to Democrats with-
More and more legislative
from 38 in the 1990 election to 35 last
the 160-member House has dipped
The number of Republicans in
Consider these trends in the
ty's long-term health in Massachu-
concern Republicans about the par-
are unsettling statistics that ought to
lucci and Malone at the top, there
Despite the success of Weld. Cell
was the day he took office."
party is in worse shape today than i
tional political aspirations. "So the
can loyalist. referring to Weld's na
agenda in this state." said a Republi
Weld's agenda was never the party':
comes just a flash in the pan."
constitutional offices.
Brighton.
2/2
quested anonymity. "And 1930 be-
one top Republican official who re-
"Then we're back to 1989," said
Democrats sweep the remaining
lone's open treasurer's slot. and
ucci or another Democrat wins Ma-
State auditor A. Joseph DeN-
Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy 2d of
winner loses the governorship to US
limits, carve each other up and the
their posts in 1998 because of term
Cellucci and Malone give up
loses, in the state Senate.
The party fails to gain. or even
a mixed bag or worse.
. The congressional contests are
walkover of token opposition.
Kerry rolls to reelection in a
warts goes something like this:
envisioned by some Republican stal-
A plausible worst-case scenario
Worst-case scenario
seats Tisei's and Lees'.
shoe.4
BE
leave open two formerly Democratic
fourths of its Senate leadership and
the 7th, the GOP will lose three-
Tisei takes on Edward Markey in
in the 1st Congressional District and
runs against incumbent John Olver
If Lees challenges Neal. Swift
fill vacancies down the ticket.
potential candidates to step up and
lacks the Democrats' deep bench of
cess and carries risk to a party that
cans in 1996 does not guarantee suc-
But even a good crop of Republi-
trol both houses of Congress and can
is the fact that Republicans now con-
Also helping the recruiting effort
media exposure.
Regardless of his own plans.
han of Lowell.
state
race.
outnumber Republicans, 8-2.
the state delegation, Democrats now
for the first time in many years. In
run with the clout issue on their side
state office races to drain money and
lengers in 1996 when there will be no
of Republican congressional chal-
Rappaport predicted a strong slate
second-term US Rep. Martin Mee-
Democratic US Sen. John Kerry or
ble challenge next year to either
has not yet shut the door on a. possi-
chairman
Jim
Rappaport.
legislative candidacies. said GOP
1990 contributed to the drop-off in
Dissipation of the voter anger of
tions. Bulger was a big issue in the
won and lost in two previous elec-
Donald for the Senate seat he had
match with Democrat Brian Mc-
of Weymouth. who barely won a re-
dercut by it" said Robert Hedlund
01- CERTAIN a
who
jom Hundrox
Edmisten faces flak
ERIN'S LEGACY
for hiring his friend
Woman, 23, got series of jobs
By BILL KRUEGER AND JOHN WAGNER
STAFF WRITERS
o
RALEIGH - Secretary of State Rufus Edmisten
ch
found himself at the center of a political storm
tal
Wednesday for helping a 23-year-old
Jo
INSIDE
female friend get a series of state
on
Richard
government jobs, both Inside and outside
his department.
Cr
Petty may
Edmisten regularly called the woman
at
run
at home on his state-owned cellular
U
against
phone, and he took her to a conference in
is
Edmister.
Montana at taxpayers' expense while she
a
3A
was a part-time employee in his office.
WRAL-TV first reported the story
t
Tuesday night. The television report also
indicated that Edmisten created a new
Randy Parker of Holly Hill, Fla, works to potch the roof of his
full-time position in his department that
home after Hurricane Erin passed by. Erin, downgraded to a
he was considering offering to the woman, Rosemary
McBryde.
tropical storm and in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday night, is
Edmisten acknowledged in an interview Wednes-
blamed In Florida for two deaths, minor property damage and
day that he had hired McBryde to work in his office
widespread power outages. Story, page 4A.
while she was a student at N.C. State University and
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEE EDMISTEN. PAGE 16A
Edmisten's assistance in get-
EDMISTEN
ting McBryde jobs is not In
question. His help dates back to
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
1991, when she was a freshman at
N.C. State University.
that he later helped her get a job
McBryde's father, Roy
in the state Commerce Depart-
McBryde, said that because he
ment. He said the woman was the
and- Edmisten were longtime
daughter of a longtime friend, and
friends, he asked Edmisten to look
that he had done nothing wrong.
after her when she arrived in
Raleigh from the family's home in
"When In the world did it
Marshville.
become a crime for somebody to
In an interview with The N&O,
help a friend of the family?"
McBryde said she frequently
Edmisten said, adding that he
house sits and does other chores
considered the young woman
for Edmisten's family, and that
"like a daughter to me."
she and Edmisten often attend
Edmisten said that both the
basketball games and other sport.
Montana trip and the cellular
ing events.
phone calls to her home were
She said that if she were a male,
legitimate work-related expenses.
no one would be questioning the
The report came at a time when
Rufus Edmisten says h has done
way Edmisten has helped her.
other problems in Edmisten's de-
nothing wrog.
McBryde was hired as a part-
partment are coming to light.
time employee in Edmisten's of.
fice in May 1991 and worked
In a discreet letter to Edmisten
edge of his superviso.
periodically there until December
last year - obtained by The News
After the television report, the
1994, when, with the benefit of a
& Observer- State Auditor Ralph
state Republican Pary called for'
recommendation from Edmisten,
Campbell cited several instances
Edmisten's resignaion. Later
she was offered a job in the
of improper behavior in Edmis-
Wednesday, Edmiste and other
Commerce Department as an In-
ten's department, including em-
Democratic Party, leders fired:
formation-communjcations spe.
ployees' abuse of telephones and
back, accusing the GP of trying
clalist.
an employee. who worked for
to turn an "Willinforhed" news
In July 1994, McBryde traveled
seven months without the knowl-
story into a political pwer grab.
with Edmisten and a few other
employees from his office to the
national conference In Montana.
McBryde has resigned her post-
that one of the employees, George
The cost of her trip, including
tion, and said she has no plans to
Parrott, made calls to pawn shops
travel and hotel, was $1,232.
seek the new job.
to sell jewelry as part of a private
"If this is what state govern-
business he worked with.
A spokesman for Edmisten said
ment is about, I don't want any
McBryde did a great deat of
Parrott - unavailable for
organizational work for the entire.
part of it." she said.
comment Wednesday - put to
conference, which was coordinat-
The report from Campbell, the
\
gether a continuing education
ed by a staff member in Edmis.
state auditor, includes the follow-
seminar in Atlantic Beach for
ten's office.
ing findings:
funeral home directors.
Edmisten's cellular phone re-
An employee. Roy H. Everett
The purpose of the seminar was
cords show regular calls to
Jr., worked in the department's
to provide the directors with
McBryde, even after she moved to
securities division for seven
Information about investment
the Commerce Department, rang-
months without the knowledge of
fraud, but Parrott also received
ing from 7:30 a.m. to midnight.
the division head. For much of
continuing education credit the
Edmisten said that he called
that period, the auditor said,
he needed. to maintain his OR
McBryde late at night to ask her
Everett worked out of his home in
funeral home director's license.
to help with odd jobs in his office
Hamilton.
Although the letter from Cam
that needed to be taken care of the
"There is a lack of evidence,
bell was written almost a ye:
next day.
written and otherwise, that the
ago, it has not been made publ
In June, Edmisten placed two
employee worked more than a
before. Campbell's office typica
calls to Gov. Jim Hunt's chief
minimal amount," Campbell says
ly issues news releases announ
budget adviser, Marvin Dorman,
in the letter.
ing new audit reports, but does r
to discuss adding another securi-
Everett, who no longer works
do so with management lette
ties investigator position in the
for the department. said in an
such as the one sent to Edmister
secretary of state's office.
interview that he never worked
Campbell released the lett.
Edmisten said be bad McBryde
out of his home.
when it was requested by T.
in mind when be tried to create
An unspecified number of
N&O, saying the employees
the new position, but said that she
employees made 1,867 personal
scrutinized were no longer wor
was never assured of getting the
long-distance calls on state tele-
ing with the department at I
lob. He said she never applied for
phones during the 12-month period
time the letter was written.
he position. and that if she had
ending November 1993. The calls
Staff writers Carrick Moll
reen hired, it would have been as
cost the state $1,478.
kamp and J. Andrew Cur'
I trainee.
Campbell said in an Interview
contributed to this report.
'Your Turn,' New Hampshire
The Press Failed Us on Goals 2000
By WAYNE D. KING
the national imperative of a highly edu-
But WEVO is not the only example.
T'S AN AGE-OLD story in New
cated citizenry.
Channel 9 shamelessly runs campaign
Hampshire. A press corps, cowed
So the right wing - silenced by the
style ads with Governor Merrill telling
by the fear that they may lose ac-
Soviet monolith in the late '50s - sud-
New Hampshire folks what a great
cess to the governor, fails to ask
denly became a force in the public dia-
place New Hampshire is to raise a fami-
the tough questions that we ex-
logue.
ly and do business
If Jack Heath
pect of the "third
In most other states the Press under-
ever moves on he can run commercials
estate." The re-
stood the necessity to educate the pub-
touting the value of ice cubes to arctic
news re-
lic on the details of Goals 2000 and
natives.
sult
porting that
furthermore to hold public officials ac-
And, who can forget The Union Lead-
reads like a "he
countable for their statements. Those
er? Joe McQuaid knows what Steve
who persisted in lying about the intent
Merrill is thinking before anyone else
said, she said"
does
divorce court
of Goals 2000 faced a far more aggres-
usually before Steve Merrill.
With reporting like this it's no won-
transcript of an
sive challenge to their distortions. But
in-depth probing
in New Hampshire it was business as
der the public feels like the proverbial
mushroom.
of the issues.
usual.
Where were the reporters who made
This time it
With few exceptions, New Hamp-
the connection between broken cam-
was Goals 2000.
shire's media is more like our own ver-
paign promises over kindergarten and
The well crafted
sion of the Soviet Tass than the free
WAYNE KING
technology enhancement in the schools
federal plan to
press envisioned by Thomas Jefferson.
and the refusal to allow schools to find
improve educa-
Like the manna which flowed from the
those resources elsewhere?
tion in America. Started under Presi-
communist leadership to the party
Where were the reporters who asked
dent Bush and continued under
faithful, much of New Hampshire's
if the champions of "local control" had
President Clinton, Goals 2000 is a part
press has tied their economic fortunes
somehow been loebotomized (no - this
of an ongoing national process to retain
to their loyalty to those in power. It is a
is not a typo) and now were seeking to
America's competitive edge in a global
perverse conspiracy of silence
tell schools and communities that they
economy.
shrouded with reporting that sheds
could not have the power to make deci-
little light on truth - reporting that re-
sions themselves?
Unlike the 1957 National Defense Ed-
flects all of the heat of public debate
This persistent lack of real reporting
ucation Act, a clear precursor of Goals
and none of the light.
has cast a long shadow over our be-
2000, adopted in response to a national
Privately they wring their hands
loved state. Today Goals 2000, as well as
crisis of confidence spurred by the
about the need to compromise their
the thousands of children who would
launch of the Soviet Sputnik satellite,
professional ethics and publicly they
have been enriched through its provi-
Goals 2000 has rallied the far right in
act like groupies that would make Dead
sions, are the victims. Innocent victims
its quest to eliminate public education.
Heads look indifferent by comparison.
of a one party system with an irrelevant
Today, with the bear behind the bush
press. Tomorrow it will be some other
There are few examples more power-
less clear to us, there is less national
important issue on which we are short-
ful than that of public radio. In just 10
determination. Unlike the threat of So-
changed. A two party system might
years, WEVO has been reduced from a
help but with a press like this one we
viet superiority, Americans are less
significant force in the public policy di-
likely to tie other very real threats like
may have to wait as long as the Soviets
alogue of New Hampshire to reading
did.
declining wages for middle income citi-
news headlines directly from the front
zens and a concentration of wealth in
section of the The Union Leader
(Wayne D. King is a former state sen-
the hands of a small elite minority of
sniveling shadow of its grand promise.
ator.)
union Leade 7/31/95
AUG.
03
(THU)
08:26
DEMOCRATIC PARTY NM
TEL: 5052540014
P. 002
BLM Target
Of Probe
Grazing Bill Sparks
from PAGE A1
BLM Lobbying Probe
ishable by removal from office or employment, a fine
and up to one year imprisonment," Thomas warned in
West's Senators Upset
ries throughout
the letter, which demanded that BLM employees rurn
the West which
over notes and other materials.
Over News Coverage
cast (the bill) in
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idabo, also complained that after
a very disparag-
the BLM circulated its media strategy "we have seen
ing light"
By RICHARD PARKER
oped pieces, public comments, interviews and actions
Pruhibitions
Journal Washington Bureau
taken by state directors of the BLM and, or, their public
E
lobbying
WASHINGTON Western sena-
"don't keep you
information personnel."
In late June, New Mexico BLM Director Bill Calicins
tors, upset with news coverage of a
from talking to a
wrote a guest opinion article that appeared in the Jour
bill to overhaul federal grazing reg-
reporter or an
aal The article pointed out differences between the
ulations, are investigating whether
editorial board,'
administration and the GOP senator's approach to pub-
dozens of Bureau of Land Manage-
said
Interior
spokesman
DOMENICI:
lic lands
ment employees violated lobbying
restrictions by contacting newspa-
Mike Gauldin
Wants to curb
In the article, Calkins said the agency "does not sup-
port the Livestock Graring Act as currently written."
pers and broadcast outlets.
Western
federal grazing
In an interview Tuesday. Domenici said Calkins
The Interior Department main-
Republicans and controls
claimed he didn't want to write the article but was made
tains it did nothing wrong and
the relivestock
charged that Senate Republicans
industry have been stung. by a
to do so.
"The point was be went ahead and did what they
are trying to silence government
string of unfavorable editorials and
asked him to do," Domenici said. Domenici added that
employees
opinion pieces in newspapers from
be does not believe career employees "should be pmo-
The legislation, by Sen. Pete
Oregon to Montana and New Mexi-
Domenici®R-NM. would limit fed-
moting on the one hand or be openly arguing against
CO. Thomas, chairman of the Senate
eral control over grazing practices
Energy Subcommittee OR Over
legislation that's pending."
Calkins was not available for comment A spokes
on public lands. The bill recently
sight, said late Monday he is investi-
woman said the communications plan from BLM head
passed the Senate Energy and Nat-
gating whether career :BLM
ural Resources Committee.
quarters in Washington requested edimrial ophions
employees violated prohibidons on
In . letter to Interior Secretary
lobbying by expressing opinions on
and that Calkins complied.
Bruce Babbitt, Sen Craig Thomas,
Domenici's bill
Domenici is backing the investigation.
Wyo., said a média plan by BLM
Thomas warned Babbitt there
"It is my understanding that Western BLM held
Arring Director Mike Dombeck
could be serious repercussions.
employees have been told by superiors in Washington
has resulted in BLM employees to
to be publicly critical of the bill," Domenici said in a
"Violation of this section is pun-
the hald espousing the horrors of
ter to the Journal earlier this summer. The bureaul
(the bill) and numerous media sto-
crats in Washington somehow believe that criticlsm of
See BLM on PAGE AS
the bill would be more creditable coming from BLM
employees in the field, rather than from Washington
sources. I believe this is a misuse of career civil sch
vants, who are not political appointees and should not
be forced to do the bidding of the politions in Washing-
too."
Federal law prohibits government agencies from lab
bying Congress, but Gauldin said the BLM has done
nothing wrong.
A Justice Department guideline prepared in April
said government employees may. communicate direct-
ly with the Congress and with the public through
"speeches, appearances and published writings & sup-
port administration positions."
The guideline forbade government employees from
doing such things as sending telegrams and letters ask-
ing recipients to contact Congress on legislation
Livestock groups in the West also are nassiling the
BLM. In . recent letter, Idaho cattle growers chad-
lenged the agency to "defend the charges that have
been disseminated from your office, through the
press."
Bill Hume, the Journal's editorial page editor, said he
often receives opeds from government officials about
legislative issues. He said Calkins' article did not urge
the defeat of Domenici's bill
"I don't condone people breaking the Law," Hume
said "But I would rather all people err on the side of
airing the issues."
August 1,1995
U.S. panel's audit costs Braun $340,000
Illegal contributions
and accountants-$54,264 in the
committee had reduced the debt
Braun's campaign added Susan
last six months-is partly why the
by $104,000, and it was the first
Holloway Torricelli as the cam-
stall senator's ability
Chicago Democrat has been un-
time that the debt declined.
paign's national finance director.
able to erase debts that now total
In the first six months of 1995,
Torricelli was the fundraising di-
to retire election debt
$581,000.
Braun reported receiving $265,000,
rector for Democratic U.S. Sen.
Braun is only one of four U.S.
but $71,000 of the money collected
Dianne Feinstein's 1994 California
senators since 1986 who have had
was returned to donors who had
campaign, the country's most ex-
By Ray Gibson
campaign finances scrutinized by
exceeded the legal limit of $1,000
pensive Senate race.
TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
the Federal Election Commission,
for each election.
Braun's campaign also hired
U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun's
the agency that oversees compli-
Tony Podesta, a political con-
A.B. Data to conduct direct mar-
campaign spent $340,000 since 1992
ance with federal election laws.
sultant brought on board by the
keting for the campaign fund.
to pay lawyers and accountants to
Previous finance reports have
senator, said Braun still must re-
Podesta said the campaign was
straighten out the campaign's
shown that Braun's campaign ac-
fund $29,000 more to other donors
eager for the FEC to complete its
Tribune file photo
books in the face of a rare audit
cepted contributions over the legal
who also exceeded the legal limit.
audit. He said federal auditors last
by election authorities, campaign-
limits and failed to report some
Podesta said Braun has beefed
met with campaign staff in Febru-
U.S. Sen Carol Moseley-Braun
finance records released Tuesday
political donations as required by
up her fundraising staff and ef-
ary. Podesta said the campaign
(D-III.) is one of only four sena-
show.
law.
forts. He predicted that she easily
has cooperated with the investiga-
tors the Federal Election Com-
The continued drain of cam-
The $581,000 debt actually was
will eliminate the debt before run-
tion, providing everything that the
mission has audited since 1986.
paign funds to pay the lawyers
good news for the campaign. The
ning for re-election in 1998.
auditors had requested.
5152445051 IA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
161 P07
AUG 02 '95 12:38
Abusing welfare dollars
It's irresponsible to give money to
states without accountability.
S
enate Majority Leader Robert Dole
Unlikely? Check Wisconsin, which has
scoffed at President Bill Clinton's
attempted to cope with an influx of wel-
warning about the Republican wel-
fare families from Chicago, where a family
fare package. The president had said that
of four on Aid to Families with Dependent
without a requirement that a certain share
Children receives $103 less per month than
of federal block-grant money go for the
it would in Wisconsin.
poor, there would be a "race to the bottom"
The courts have ruled that states face
in benefits as states slashed welfare.
constitutional problems if they use resi-
"I wonder which states he thinks would
dency requirements to try to keep out wel-
participate in such a race," Dole said.
fare seekers. Such requirements have a
If he has to wonder, he isn't up to speed
on the facts of life of welfare. And that's
"chilling effect" on the right to travel.
hard to believe.
In contrast to Mississippi's $144, Iowa
The lead in the race to the bottom has
provides $495 to a welfare family of four
long been held by Mississippi. The national
(federal money pays five-eighths of that).
average welfare grant to a family of four is
Alaska, where costs are significantly
$435 per month. Mississippi pays $144.
higher, pays $1,025; California, $723;
And of that, less than $32 comes from Mis-
Wisconsin, $617.
sissippi taxpayers.
When such huge differences in state
Federal taxes pay the rest - meaning
spending on poor families exist even when
Mississippians pay their welfare recipients
the federal financing formula attempts to
less than $8 per person per month.
dispel them, it's not unrealistic to suggest
Of all the states, Mississippi has the
that even wider differences will develop
greatest financial incentive to provide
under the Republican plan to dump the for-
money for welfare, because every $1 the
mula - encouraging an influx of the poor
state spends brings in more than $3 from
to Northern states.
the feds, the highest ratio offered in the na-
Welfare is a national problem in need of
tion. But Mississippi still balks.
a national solution. Innovations in true re-
Given the option of spending the federal
form initiated by states are and should be
money on less mundane things, Mississippi
encouraged; they can become models for
could cut welfare further. That could drive
federal programs. The Republican plan to
Mississippi welfare families - and those
hand federal money to the states with no
in Alabama, Louisiana and some other
accountability is an irresponsible misuse of
states - to seek greener pastures.
taxes.
8/2
Cc: Panetta and
Tyson?
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
THE WHITE HOUSE
8/7/95
WASHINGTON
95 AUG 5 P12 : 20
yes - no
August 4, 1995
ambens others?
sperling
ERSR, Bowles
we new a sungler
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT VISIDENT
Marslk Ickes
chart on This to
have out-
THROUGH:
LEON PANETTA
LAURA TYSQN
Ut'sdirus
FROM:
ROBERT GENE SPERLING GORDON Spening
SUBJECT:
Clinton Record and Perot Promises
This memo compares the Clinton Administration's record with Ross Perot's proposals in
two books published during and immediately after the 1992 campaign: United We Stand,
which came out during the campaign, and Not For Sale at Any Price, published shortly
after we proposed our budget in 1993. While Perot made many other statements on many
other subjects, the great majority of his substantive positions were stated in these books.
The memo is divided into three sections: Economic Policy, Domestic Policy, and Political
Reform. His statements on foreign policy and social issues like abortion and race are
sketchy and are not included. In the three main areas mentioned above, we have tried to
highlight similarities while also emphasizing key differences. An executive summary
follows.
One note of caution: Perot's proposals tend to be vague. Therefore, except for the 28
specific items in his budget calculations, it is hard to give exact percentages as to how we
have done compared to his proposals. What we can say is that we have at least partly
achieved nearly 70% of his 28 general budget proposals. We will work over the next
couple of days to see how many common achievements or proposals we can list and see if
there are any other ways of doing percentages that would hold up. One thing that is
certainly striking is how much closer to us he is than to the Congressional majority when it
comes to public investment and the role of government.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I. ECONOMIC POLICY
Both the Clinton Administration and Ross Perot have both put forth economic plans that
call for balancing the budget while increasing key public investments in education and other
areas.
Of 28 items in Ross' Perot's "deficit reduction plan" from 1993, the Clinton Administration
has accomplished part or all of 19 items (68%), while flatly opposing only 7 items (21%).
Most of the differences can be traced to the fact that we have proposed a more progressive
tax policy while taking less from working families in entitlement -- particularly Medicare --
savings. On tax policy, we pursued a more progressive path with less overall tax increases,
more on those in the highest income ranges, more protection for the middle class, while
providing tax breaks to the working poor; Perot's larger tax increases were more heavily
targeted at low-and middle-income individuals. Perot called for heavier five year savings in
Medicare and Medicaid and agriculture.
Key Similarities
Historic Deficit Reduction. Perot advocated $754 billion over 5 years in deficit
reduction, much of it unspecified; the Clinton Administration is already achieving $1
trillion in deficit reduction over seven years from its 1993 budget plan. In the 10 year
balanced budget, we propose an additional $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction over 10
years.
Major Spending Cuts. Perot advocated cuts in "wasteful spending and subsidies" in
general terms, but he singled out only six specific discretionary programs for cuts in his
two books. His balanced budget actually increased discretionary spending. The Clinton
Administration cut 300 programs totalling $255 billion in its first two budgets,
including wasteful subsidies like those for honey, wool, and mohair. In our current
budget, we propose $434 billion in discretionary savings over 10 years, with 85% in
nondefense areas.
Investments in People and Jobs. Perot supported increased investments in five
domestic areas: education, cities, research and development, defense reinvestment, and
infrastructure. The Administration has increased investment in all of these areas.
Indeed, Perot actually called for higher amounts of investment in R&D. "Where will
we be twenty years from now," asked Perot, "If we don't continue to make important
public investments?" (United We Stand, p.61)
2
Entitlement Savings from Most Well-Off: Perot supported measures taken in 1993
such as repealing the limit on income subject to the Medicare wage tax and raising the
portion of Social Security benefits that are taxable to 85%.
Tax Incentives for Job Creation. Perot joined the Administration in supporting
permanent extension of the R&D tax credit, investment tax credits, and deductions for
investment in job creation. He also supported reductions in the capital gains tax that
were far deeper and less targeted than ours.
Key Differences
Perot Relied on Tax Increases More. Perot's budget had $320 billion in tax
increases compared to $250 billion in the President's 1993 budget-- 28% more than the
Clinton 1993 plan.
Perot's Tax Changes Were Far Less Progressive. Perot supported smaller tax
increases on the wealthiest Americans, far larger tax increases on the middle-class
(including a 50-cents gas tax, cuts in the home mortgage deduction, and a tax on
employer-provided health care), and no tax relief for working poor families (earned
income tax credit).
Perot Was Willing to Take More Contractionary Risk with 5-Year Balanced
Budget. While our 10-year plan protects working families and minimizes the dangers
of economic slowdown by reaching balance gradually over 10 years, Perot proposed a
5-year balanced budget, with no discussion of its potential short-term impact on the
economy.
Perot Cut Health Care More Deeply. While both Perot and the Administration
supported health care savings, Perot's were over twice as deep ($179 billion to $56
billion) and he proposed increases in Medicare B premiums and a tax on employer-
provided health care. Perot never spelled out how $140 of his $179 billion in health
care savings would be achieved. Even with our new balanced budget proposal with
health savings in the context of reform, Perot's five year plan still calls for heavier
Medicare savings ($120 billion in five years versus our $124 billion over seven years).
Perot Cut Agriculture More Deeply. Perot proposed cutting agriculture subsidies by
$18 billion, compared to $2 billion in reductions in the Clinton 1993 and an additional
$4.2 billion proposed over 7 years in the 10-year balanced budget proposal.
Perot Supported the Balanced Budget Amendment (eventually). Perot actually
changed his position from opposition during the 1992 campaign to support shortly
afterwards.
3
II. POLITICAL REFORM
Perot shared with the President the same overall political reform agenda: reduce needless
bureaucracy and wasteful spending; rein in special interest lobbyists; and diminish the role
of big money in campaigns.
Perot put special emphasis on three idiosyncratic goals which the President has not sought
to achieve: (1) drastically reducing the benefits of government service; (2) restricting the
influence of foreigners in government; and (3) dramatically altering the electoral process.
The President, on the other hand, has emphasized the goal of reinventing government far
more than Perot did.
The President has achieved or supported about two-thirds of Perot's political reform
agenda. Because of Congress's failure to act on our campaign finance and lobbying reform
proposals, however, we have partly or fully achieved only about two-fifths of the items on
Perot's agenda.
Key Similarities
Cutting White House, Executive Branch, and Congressional Staffs. Perot called for
"drastic" cuts in the number of executive branch employees and 30% cuts in White
House and congressional staffs. We are cutting 272,000 executive branch employees
and cut 25% from the White House staff while challenging Congress to do the same.
Improving Government Performance. Perot advocated increased flexibility for
federal employees and better treatment of citizens by government. These are key
achievements of the reinventing government initiative.
who
Lobbying Reform (Though We Support Tougher Steps). Perot proposed closing the
"revolving door" and stopping top officials from lobbying for foreign governments. We
did both. Perot also supported a gift ban similar to those we have advocated, although
none has yet been enacted. In addition, the Administration has taken steps in two areas
Perot did not emphasize: closing the "lobbyists' loophole," which Perot did not discuss,
and supporting much broader lobbyists disclosure legislation. The President is also
making a new Executive Order requiring Lobbyist Disclosure for all lobbying of the
executive branch.
Line-Item Veto. Both support giving the President the line-item veto.
Campaign Finance Reform. Both the President and Perot have called for limiting
PAC contributions, although Perot called for somewhat harsher limits in his second
book. Both have also called for bans on the use of soft money and free air time for
major federal candidates.
4
Differences
Perot Supported Cutting Federal Employee COLAs. While the Administration
delayed COLAs in 1993, Perot supported eliminating them indefinitely.
Perot Supported Term Limits in His Second Book. Perot actually changed his
position on term limits from opposition to support. The Administration has consistently
opposed them.
The Clinton Administration Supports Voluntary Spending Limits; Perot Did Not.
Miscellaneous Issues. Perot supported a range of changes in election law that the
Administration has not addressed, including eliminating the electoral college, moving
elections to Saturday and Sunday, eliminating the 89th wing of the Air Force, closing
down Camp David, and forbidding non-citizens from volunteering on campaigns.
5
III. DOMESTIC POLICY
Perot's domestic policy program had little in common with the current view of some of the
Congressional majority that government is the source of every problem. Rather, his
positions were more of an undeveloped, skeletal form of the "new Democratic" approach,
moving away from top-down bureaucracy and toward a government that is a partner with
citizens and communities in solving problems from the grassroots up.
Except for some important but isolated issues such as private school choice and nuclear
power, many of Perot's proposals are not too different from our own.
Health Care: Universal Coverage in the Private System. While Perot was harshly
critical of our efforts in 1994, in 1993 he agreed that there was a health care crisis and
outlined principles of reform very similar to ours: gradual movement toward universal
coverage, based on a basic benefits package, within the private system. [He is coming
out with a new book on health care soon.]
Education: Top Down Support for Bottom Up Reform. Perot supported higher
standards and greater autonomy and accountability within the public school system,
both key objectives of Goals 2000. He also supported greater investment in education,
particularly pre-school, which the Administration has achieved.
Differences. The President has put far greater emphasis on increasing college
opportunity and improving job training, goals which Perot rarely discussed. In
addition, while the President has supported choice within the public schools but
opposed using public money to support private schools, Perot supported private
school vouchers.
Crime: Punishment and Prevention. Like the President, Perot supported getting
tough on criminals through measures such as "three strikes and you're out" and a
crackdown on gang violence. But Perot also joined the President in supporting
preventive efforts such as expanded drug treatment and skills training for prisoners.
Differences. Perot did not emphasize the importance of police officers or community
policing, and he did not support the President's goal of putting 100,000 more police
officers on the streets.
Welfare Reform. In his books, Perot did not emphasize welfare reform nearly as
much as the President. The only area in which he offered details was improving child
support enforcement, where his proposals were similar to the President's, including
keeping a national database and using tax forms to withhold income from deadbeat
parents. Perot supported improving incentives for people on welfare to move to work,
but he did not offer any details of the sort we presented in 1994; nor did he support the
EITC.
6
Environment and Energy. While as a businessman Perot often disregarded
environmental concerns, as a candidate he supported an environmentalist agenda. Like
the President, he rejected the idea of a tradeoff between jobs and the environment.
Policies supported by Perot that the President has pursued include encouraging
businesses to implement sustainable development strategies; supporting a leadership
role for the U.S. in global development; investing in environmental technologies; and
increasing user fees for private use of public resources.
Differences. Perot supported expanding use of nuclear energy, which we have
opposed. He also supported using higher gas taxes to reduce foreign oil imports,
while we have sought to increase domestic production and use of alternative fuels.
7
I. ECONOMIC POLICY
The Clinton Administration and Perot share a basic framework for national economic
policy: eliminate the budget deficit, but increase key public and private investments in
people and in jobs.
A numerical analysis of Perot's "deficit reduction plan" from 1993 confirms the overlap: of
28 line-items in that plan, the Clinton Administration accomplished most or all of his
proposals in 12 areas (43%); accomplished modifications of his agenda in another 7 areas
(25%); and supported but did not achieve another 3 items on his agenda (11%).
This means that the Clinton Administration accomplished part or all of Perot's budget
agenda on over two-thirds (68%) of the items, while completely opposing him on only
21% of the items (6).
Nearly all of the differences come from either the magnitude of entitlement cuts or the size
and targeting of tax increases: we supported fewer tax increases and a more progressive tax
structure than Perot, while opposing deep health savings from working families outside of
the context of health reform.
A. DEFICIT REDUCTION. Perot claimed to have a plan to balance the budget, but the
plan as detailed in his 1993 book relied on a number of errors and exaggerations. He used
an outdated baseline that failed to include over $425 billion in higher deficits over 5 years
that were already projected by CBO. His budget included $140 billion in unspecified
health care cost containment which he never detailed and which his economist, John White,
said he had no real plan to achieve. Perot's budget also included $108 billion in
discretionary domestic cuts that were specified with only six specific cuts that could
account for a fraction of those savings. Finally, he also included $10 billion in savings
from improved tax collection, $21 billion from cracking down on transfer pricing, and $145
billion in interest savings due to deficit reduction.
Taken by itself, the Administration's 1993 deficit reduction plan--with its real, credible
numbers--stands up very well to Perot's sketchy plan. With our proposal for a 10-year
balanced budget, we get to balance just as Perot did--but on a more sensible timeline and
with much less reliance on tax increases.
Perot Changed His Position on the Balanced Budget Amendment from
Opposition to Support; the Clinton Administration Consistently Opposed It. In
1992, Perot opposed the BBA, saying, "Why tamper with the Constitution when
what we need is for Congress to apply restraint over its own procedures?" In 1993,
Perot changed his position and said, "The only way to get our elected servants to
balance the budget and get rid of the debt is to pass the Balanced Budget
Amendment to the Constitution."
8
The Clinton Administration Cut the Deficit by $616 Billion Over 5 Years and
$1 Trillion Over 7, and in the 10-Year Plan, Proposed an additional $1.2
Trillion More in Deficit Reduction; Perot Cut the Deficit by $754 Billion
Through Unspecified and At Times Exaggerated Savings.
Just To Match the Clinton Administration's Record So Far, Perot Would Have
Had To Achieve All of His Specific Savings and 65% of His Soft and
Unspecified Savings. Of Perot's $754 billion in deficit reduction, $393 billion is
from unspecified health care cost containment, barely specified domestic
discretionary cuts, and interest savings. Just to equal our $616 billion in actual
deficit reduction so far, Perot would have had to achieve 65% of these unspecified
savings and 100% of his specific entitlement cuts and tax increases.
Perot Relied on Tax Increases More--$320 Billion to $250 Billion--And Targeted
Them at the Middle Class. If Perot's budget is classified as OMB has classified
ours, it contains $320 billion in net tax increases. (There are $302 billion in tax
hikes by his own admission.) Our 1993 plan as enacted had only $250 billion in tax
cuts-- his was 28% higher over 5 years. In addition, Perot's tax hikes were much
less progressive than ours--much more targeted at the middle class and much less at
the wealthy, with less relief for working families. Perot proposed no expansion in
the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Our Balanced Budget Plan Gets To Balance On a More Reasonable Time
Frame with No New Tax Increases. Perot's proposal created unnecessary
contractionary risks by seeking to balance within 5 years. The Clinton
Administration reduces that risk with a prudent plan to reach balance that protects
working families. There are no new tax increases, and we get to balance in 10 years
rather than five.
9
B. DISCRETIONARY SPENDING CUTS. The Clinton Administration has achieved
more net savings and made more specific cuts than Perot proposed. Much of the additional
savings is from deeper defense cuts, but some is from deeper discretionary cuts. In
addition, the Administration has been able to achieve specific savings--including many
through Reinventing Government--that Perot only vaguely outlined. The Administration
has also proposed many of the same user fee increases as Perot, though many were not
enacted.
Differences
Our Total Discretionary Savings Is Higher Than Perot's, Including Deeper
Proposed Cuts in Domestic Programs. Perot achieved a net reduction of $38.5
billion in discretionary spending between 1994 and 1998: $40 billion in reductions
in Defense and increased net domestic discretionary spending of $1.5 billion ($108
billion in cuts and $109.5 billion in investments). By contrast, the first Clinton
budget included $108 billion in savings from lowering the discretionary caps. While
these savings were predominantly in defense, our current budget proposal calls for
$434 billion in discretionary cuts, with over 85% of these in nondefense
discretionary programs. Over 5 years, the cut from our new plan is $104 billion--
entirely from nondefense programs.
The Clinton Administration Cut 300 Specific Programs; Perot Cut Six. In his
two books, Perot only singled out six specific programs for cuts, four domestic and
two Defense: the Space Station, Superfund, Small Business Administration, Rural
Electrification Administration, B-2 Bomber, and Seawolf. In its 1993 five year plan,
the Clinton Administration cut $255 billion and had cuts in 300 programs in each of
its first two years--including REA and the B-2, but not Perot's other cuts.
The Administration's Achieved and Pending Cuts through Reinventing
Government Are Larger Than Perot's Unspecified Administrative Cuts. Over
two-thirds of Perot's domestic discretionary cuts were achieved from a 10% across-
the-board administrative cut of $73 billion--his only major (but still unspecified)
savings from any sort of reinventing government. Just from Phase I of the
Reinventing Government initiative, the Administration has already achieved $63
billion in savings, predominantly discretionary, including $40 billion from
streamlining bureaucracies and $12 billion from procurement reform. In Phase II,
the Administration proposed $37 billion in savings. While some of this $37 billion
overlaps with the $63 billion and some of it is on the entitlement side, our total
discretionary savings from REGO I and II are greater than Perot's administrative cut.
Defense Cuts. Perot called for $40 billion in savings from defense beyond President
Bush's baseline. The Administration called for more savings in defense in our 1993
five year plan.
10
Similarities
Both Called for Higher User Fees. Perot called for raising air traffic, island
waterway, and natural resources fees. The Clinton Administration proposed increases
in all three categories in the 1993 budget, but most were not included by Congress
in reconciliation. In its current budget, the Administration proposes raising fees for
private use of public goods by continuing the auction of the radio spectrum and
through other measures.
11
C. ENTITLEMENT CUTS. Perot and the Clinton Administration made many similar
reforms in entitlement spending, yet the Clinton budgets have called for less savings than
Perot because his fall heavily on middle class recipients. Of 5 specific changes in
entitlements that Perot proposed, we enacted 3 in the same or very similar form and 1 in
part. In 1993, we achieved Medicare and Medicaid savings of smaller magnitude than
Perot claimed he could ($56 billion versus $179 billion) ($49 billion versus $120 billion in
Medicare). We did not increase costs to beneficiaries, as Perot explicitly would have done
through a proposed $38 billion increase in Medicare premiums over five years. In our
current budget proposal, our added savings from Medicare and Medicaid are still on a
smaller scale than Perot's proposed savings, and still differ in that they do not hit
beneficiaries with cuts.
On non-health care entitlements, Perot and the Administration proposed similar cuts in
wasteful subsidies to special interests. Perot proposed deeper cuts in Agriculture, but we
have achieved savings that he did not propose from direct lending, auctioning the radio
spectrum, and veterans' benefits.
Similarities
Both Repealed $135,000 Limit on Income Subject to Medicare Wage Tax. Perot
proposed, and we supported and enacted, repealing the $135,000 limit on income
subject to the HI (Medicare) wage tax, which raised $29 billion over 5 years from
the wealthiest retirees. Our savings from this went to Medicare Trust Fund and
helped extend its solvency.
Both Raised the Portion of Social Security Benefits That Are Taxable to 85%.
Perot proposed raising from 50 percent to 85 the amount of Social Security benefits
subject to income tax for retirees earning above $25,000 (single) or $32,000
(couple). We proposed the same change, and due to congressional modification,
signed into law an increase to 85 percent for those earning above $34,000 (single) or
$44,000 (couple), raising $18 billion.
Both Cut Federal Retirement COLAs By About $12 Billion. Perot proposed
reducing COLAs for retired Federal employees by one-third, saving $13 billion.
The Administration saved $11.5 billion by delaying COLAs for retirees.
Both Cut Wasteful Subsidies Such as Honey, Wool, and Mohair. Perot proposed
cutting "wasteful subsidies," but was not specific. The Clinton Administration has
eliminated federal support payments for wool and mohair ($1 billion in 5-year
savings) and for honey (about $20 million).
12
Differences
Perot Cut Agriculture More Deeply. Perot proposed "eliminating our entire
system of farm subsidies for giant agricultural corporations," with savings totalling
$17 billion. The Clinton Administration has taken a more targeted approach to
agriculture subsidies, with savings totalling about $2 billion in the 1993 budget, and
an additional $4.2 billion over 7 years in the 10-year budget proposal. The
Administration is also cutting an additional $1.5 billion in order to implement GATT
($600 million through 1998), and has eliminated specific agricultural subsidies such
as wool, honey, and mohair.
Perot Supported Cutting Beneficiaries by Raising Premiums for Medicare B;
the Clinton Administration Has Not. Perot would have raised $38 billion by
raising the Medicare B premium for beneficiaries from 25% to 35% of costs. None
of the 1993 OBRA changes in Medicare targeted cost increases at beneficiaries, and
our 10-year balanced budget calls for no new savings from Medicare beneficiaries.
Both Called For Some Medicare and Medicaid Savings; His Were Larger, Ours
Have Been Real. Perot's projected cuts were $120 billion in Medicare and $59
billion in Medicaid over 5 years, but he never specified how $140 billion in these
savings would be achieved, and his economist, John White, said he had no concrete
plan. In 1993, the Clinton Administration saved $49 billion in Medicare and $7.2
billion mainly by reducing payments to providers. In our balanced budget proposal,
we would achieve $124 billion in additional Medicare savings and $54 billion in
additional Medicaid savings. However, these savings would be achieved in the
context of health care reform. Over the period 1993-98, even combined with the
1993 savings, these savings are smaller than those in Perot's proposal.
Perot Premiums Hikes: Perot called for increasing the Part B premium
from 25% to 35% on at a cost of $38 billion over give years. That
averages over $1000 per beneficiary over five years. We support keeping
the premium at 25%.
We Have Achieved Other Entitlement Savings Perot Did Not Discuss. Our
direct lending initiative is already saving $6.8 billion; in our current budget, we
propose accelerating implementation to save more. In addition, our 1993 budget
saved $3.5 billion from Veterans programs.
13
D. INCREASED REVENUES. Perot's budget included 7 major tax increases. Of these,
the Clinton Administration enacted 3 in the same or similar form, and supported enactment
of one other. We did not support 2 of Perot's tax proposals that would have hit the middle
class hard. In general, our policies on taxes represent a strong contrast with Perot's
proposals in two respects:
First, we enacted smaller tax increases than he proposed, $250 billion versus $320
billion.
Second, our tax policies were far more progressive. Specifically, we cut taxes for
the working poor, which he didn't; we protected the middle class from major tax
hikes, while he raised their taxes significantly; and we raised taxes on the wealthiest
considerably more than he did, so that the burden on working families would be
smaller and real deficit reduction could still be achieved.
Similarities
Both Raised Income Taxes on the Wealthy; the Clinton Administration Increase
Was Larger: Perot proposed increasing the top marginal tax rate for individuals
from 31% to 33% or 35% if necessary. OBRA 1993 created two new top brackets
at 36% and 39.6%, thus raising taxes for only the wealthiest 1.2% of Americans,
joint filers earning over $180,000 in Adjusted Gross Income. The 1993 plan also
imposed a new 10-percent surtax on taxable income above $250,000.
Both Cut Deduction for Business Entertainment Expenses to 50 percent. Perot
proposed, and we supported and signed into law, a reduction in the deduction for
business entertainment expenses from 80 percent to 50 percent, saving $16 billion
over 5 years.
Both Supported Cracking Down on Transfer Pricing; the Administration's
Savings Have Been Less than Expected. During the campaign, we called for new
restrictions on transfer pricing to raise $45 billion; Perot proposed raising $21.4
billion. The Clinton Administration has taken several steps to reduce transfer
pricing, but scoreable savings have been limited to about $4 billion.
Both Supported Higher Tobacco Taxes. Perot proposed raising $19 billion from
higher excise taxes on tobacco. The Clinton Administration supported a higher
tobacco tax in the context of health care reform.
Both Supported Eliminating Unnecessary Corporate Subsidies. Perot's plan
included $22 billion in savings from "wasteful subsidies." The Administration has
already eliminated wasteful subsidies for wool, honey, and mohair, and proposed
cuts in hundreds of programs. In our current balanced budget, the Administration
proposed to eliminate $25 billion in corporate welfare, on both the tax expenditure
and the spending sides.
14
Differences: Our Tax Hikes Were Smaller and More Progressive
We Had Fewer Tax Hikes--$320 billion versus $250 billion. Counting tax
increases as we did, Perot's plan included $319 billion in tax increases ($302 billion
by his own admission), compared to $250 billion in our 1993 plan as enacted.
Perot Supported Large Gas Tax Hike with No Offsets to Protect Working
Families; We Enacted a Small Gas Tax Increase with Protection for Families.
Perot supported a 50-cent gas tax (10 cents increase per year over 5 years) that
would have raised taxes by $158 billion over 5 years, without any increase in energy
assistance or the EITC to protect working families. By contrast, the Administration
enacted into law a 4.3 cent increase in the gas tax (less than 10% as large), raising
$24 billion, while also increasing the EITC and providing a new EITC for 4 million
workers without children to ensure that the effect of the tax did not regressively hurt
poor workers. Earlier, the Administration had proposed a BTU tax that was still less
than half as large as Perot's --$71 billion --and we provided an even more generous
EITC along with energy assistance to protect lower-income families.
Perot Supported Cutting the Home Mortgage Deduction for the Middle Class;
We Don't. Perot supported limiting the deduction for mortgage interest to $250,000
on a first home. The Clinton Administration has not supported that change, which
would raise taxes for middle-class families in areas with high real estate prices.
Perot Supported a New Tax on Employer-Provided Health Care; We Didn't:
Perot proposed taxing employer-provided health care programs in excess of a
premium of $135 per month for an individual and $335 per month for a family. The
Administration supported no such proposal in 1993, although we did say we would
consider such increases ten years into a comprehensive health care reform.
We Supported the EITC for Working Families; Perot Didn't. We proposed and
Congress enacted a $21 billion expansion in the Earned Income Tax Credit,
providing tax relief to 15 million working families earning $27,000 or less. We
have now also proposed $63 billion in tax relief for the middle class. Perot
supported no such credit or tax relief.
The Clinton Administration Supported Making the Wealthiest Pay More than
Perot, Including Increases in Corporate Taxes. As noted above, the Clinton
Administration has enacted higher increases in personal income taxes. The
Administration has also raised the corporate income tax on the top 1 percent of
corporations from 34 to 35 percent.
Perot and the Administration Differed on Several Smaller Tax Provisions. We
eliminated the deduction for lobbying expenses, savings $700 million over 5 years,
while Perot had no such proposal. We also eliminated certain other deductions, such
as those for club dues and moving expenses.
15
E. TAX CUTS. Perot and the Clinton Administration have both supported limited tax
incentives to support job creation. These tax incentives have been similar in form, focusing
on investments and targeted capital gains, but ours have in general been smaller and more
targeted to small businesses. We have also supported a tax cut specifically directed at
helping working families; Perot has not supported such a cut.
Similarities
Both Supported Permanent Extension of the R&D Tax Credit. We achieved a
3-year extension.
Both Supported Investment Tax Credits; Ours Is Smaller and Targeted to
Small Businesses. Perot supported a 10% investment tax credit costing $27 billion.
In 1993, we proposed a permanent small business tax credit for investment in
equipment, costing $12.2 billion. The Administration achieved a 75% increase in
the maximum expensing for small businesses, costing $4 billion.
Both Supported Targeted Capital Gains Tax Cut; Ours Is Much Smaller and
Targeted at Small Businesses. Perot supported a reduction in the long-term capital
gains tax costing $17 billion. He wrote that "we need a stairstepped capital gains
tax, decreasing each year over five years, on shares purchased from public
companies with the money going into the treasury to build the company." He also
claimed that we should have no capital gains for investment in a starting-up small
business. Our 1993 budget included a targeted capital gains exclusion for long-term
investment in small businesses costing just $800 million.
Both Supported Tax Incentives for Investment in Education, Though These
Differ. Perot supported a tax credit for firms that invest in worker training costing
$10 billion. The 10-year balanced budget includes a tax deduction for tuition costs
of up to $10,000, costing $24 billion, and going directly to workers and students or
their families.
The Clinton Administration Has Passed Other Tax Extensions and Incentives
that Perot Did Not Discuss. The Administration supported a series of tax credits
Perot did not discuss, including extending the low-income housing tax credit;
modifying passive loss rules for certain real estate; and extending the targeted jobs
tax credit.
Differences
We Support a Tax Cut for Working Families; Perot Did Not. We support a tax
cut that is targeted to help working families raise their children and pay for
education. While as noted earlier, Perot did support tax incentives for education, he
did criticized a broad middle-class tax cut as too costly.
16
F. INVESTMENTS IN PEOPLE AND JOBS. Unlike many of the leaders of today's
Republican Party, Ross Perot was not reflexively opposed to government. He proposed
increased spending in five domestic areas. The Clinton Administration has expanded
investment in all these areas, though generally not by the amounts he proposed. We would
welcome his support for increasing these investments. "Where will we be twenty years
from now," asked Perot, "If we don't continue to make important public investments?"
(United We Stand, p.61)
Both Invested More in Education: Perot supported $12 billion in increased
education spending over 5 years. The agenda we are trying to implement would top
that growth. in just the two years from 1993 to 1995, we have increased funding by
$5.5 billion for key education investments (including Head Start, Goals 2000,
School-to-Work, National Service, and job training) With our proposed increases in
1996, our total 3-year increase would be $11.4 billion. Over the next 7 years, we
would increase investment in education by $41 billion.
Both Invested More in Cities: Perot proposed $11 billion in new investment in
cities, including enterprise zones. Our empowerment zone initiative offers $2.5
billion in tax incentives and an additional $1 billion in flexible block grants. Our
Community Development Financial Institutions initiative authorizes $500 million to
leverage billions more in private capital. And other investments of ours, like
expanding Head Start and Chapter 1, will also greatly benefit urban areas.
Both Invested More in Research and Development, though Perot Supported
Very Large Increases. Perot supported a massive increase in R&D spending--$46
billion over 5 years, with $13.5 billion more in 1996 than in 1993. Our civilian
R&D budget is up $4.6 billion from 1993 to 1996, and in addition we have
increased investment in dual-use technologies. The Administration has clearly stated
that it will seek to protect critical technology investments in any effort to balance the
budget.
Both Supported Defense Reinvestment. Without a cost estimate, Perot proposed
programs to help convert military bases to other uses and help military personnel
move into civilian employment. Perot wrote that "we need to convert many of our
defense industries to new and productive tasks so that downsizing of our industries
is not accompanied by a downturn in jobs. The federal government can play an
important role." The Clinton Administration has initiated a 5-year, $20 billion
Defense Reinvestment and Conversion Program.
17
Both Believed that there were Methods of Public-Private partnership in
Technology and Innovation without Industrial Policy: While the current
Congressional majority targets for elimination many of the Clinton initiatives that
call for a governmental role in technology and innovation, Perot saw there could be
a role without impeding on the marketplace or leading to industrial policy. In United
We Stand, Perot has three pages on "Target Growth Industries" making the case for
"targeting and stimulating new industries, applications, and inventions..."
Both Invested in Infrastructure. Perot supported $40 billion in added spending on
roads, bridges, and tunnels over 5 years, with a $16 billion increase from 1993 to
1995 alone. The Clinton Administration has increased funding for infrastructure by
smaller but still significant amounts: for example, highway aid is up over $2 billion
from 1993 to 1995; mass transit formula grants are up over $500 million; and there
have been smaller new investments in next generation high speed rail and an
intelligent vehicle highway system. However, many infrastructure investments could
be threatened by a 10-year balanced budget.
18
II. POLITICAL REFORM
In political reform as in economic reform, the Clinton Administration's agenda overlaps
significantly with Perot's. Both have sought to eliminate needless bureaucracy and improve the
way government works; to reduce extravagant perks; to limit the influence of special interest
lobbyists; and to diminish the role of big money in election campaigns.
Within this shared framework, there is a difference of emphasis. Perot and the Clinton
Administration have both treated lobbying reform and campaign finance reform as major
priorities, though Congress has stalled our proposals. Perot has put special emphasis on three
idiosyncratic areas: drastically reducing the benefits of government service (e.g., eliminating
COLAs for current federal workers); restricting the influence of "foreigners" (e.g., banning
foreigners from volunteering on campaigns); and dramatically altering the electoral process (e.g.,
moving elections to Saturday and Sunday). While the Clinton Administration has not supported
these efforts, we have much more vigorously sought to "reinvent government," producing major
savings and improved services that Perot vaguely discussed.
Of the 30 items supported by Perot on the political reform issues that follow, we have completely
opposed or taken no action on only 10 of the items, nearly all from outside the political
mainstream. Thus, the Clinton Administration has partly or fully supported Perot's goals on two-
thirds of these items. However, due to Congressional inaction on our campaign finance and
lobbying reform proposals, we have partly or fully achieved only 13 of the items (43%). Had
Congress enacted just our lobbying reform and campaign finance proposal, we would have
accomplished 19 of the items on Perot's agenda (63%).
A. REINVENTING GOVERNMENT. Perot's rhetoric about improving government that is
similar to ours, but in general he put much greater emphasis on reducing perks for government
officials than on improving services or cutting costs for taxpayers. The Reinventing Government
initiative has achieved both savings and improvements that Perot vaguely sketched but did not
seriously detail. With regard to the perks, we have reduced some of the benefits that Perot
wanted to cut, and sought to reduce others. But the Administration has not embraced Perot's
more draconian proposals or attacked policies that are traditionally Congressional prerogatives.
Similarities
Our Achieved and Pending Cuts through Reinventing Government Are Larger Than
Perot's Unspecified Administrative Cuts. Over two-thirds of Perot's domestic
discretionary cuts were achieved from a 10% across-the-board administrative cut of $73
billion--his only major savings from "reinventing government," which he did not specify
at all. Just from Phase I of the Reinventing Government initiative, we have already
achieved $63 billion in savings, predominantly discretionary, including $40 billion from
streamlining bureaucracies and $12 billion from procurement reform. In Phase II, we
have proposed $37 billion in savings. While some of this $37 billion overlaps with the
$63 billion and some of it is on the entitlement side, our total discretionary savings from
REGO I and II are greater than Perot's administrative cut.
19
Both Cut Federal Employees. Perot proposed "drastically" cutting the number of
executive branch employees. The Administration is reducing the number of federal
civilian employees by over 272,000, to the lowest level since the Kennedy
Administration.
Both Cut White House Staffs. Perot proposed cutting White House staff costs by
25% and White House staff by 30%. We cut the White House staff by 25%.
Both Increased Flexibility for Federal Employees. Perot said employees should
be enabled to be more "responsive.. We need to lift restrictions that keep our
employees from doing their best jobs." Through a new emphasis on achieving
agency missions, the Reinventing Government initiative has cut red tape and freed
employees to focus on getting their jobs done rather than abiding by regulations
Both Support Making Government Serve Citizens Better. Perot said we should
"encourage federal employees to treat citizens as owners." Our efforts to emphasize
customer service and putting outcomes first seek the same goal. For example, the
Administration has reduced a massive SBA loan application to two pages.
Both Applied Laws of Nation to Congress. Perot supported the legislation which
we enacted to make sure that legislation passed by Congress applies to Congress.
Both Support Line-Item Veto.
Both Reduced Use of Limousines By Federal Employees. Perot proposed
eliminating "limousines and chauffeurs" for most federal employees. We have
eliminated car service to the homes of all but a few senior officials. The
Administration continues to allow top officials to use car service (not limousines) for
business purposes only.
Both Supported Cutting Congressional Perks. Perot proposed eliminating
congressional perks such as subsidized haircuts, food, and free parking, and "cutting
other perks by 40 percent." The Congressional budget is traditionally a congressional
prerogative, but the Administration has supported efforts to reduce the congressional
budget in general terms.
Both Supported Cutting Congressional Staffs. Perot proposed cutting
congressional staffs by 30 percent. You challenged Congress to cut their staffs by
25%, and the House is now reducing committee staffs by one-third, though not
personal staffs.
Perot Supported Electronic Town Halls; We Have Expanded Public
Participation Dramatically. Perot proposed using interactive electronic town
meetings to "reach a consensus" on certain issues. The President has used town
meetings and White House conferences across America on different subjects to bring
public debate out of Washington and to learn more about the nation's needs.
However, we have not sought to make binding decisions on the spot at town
meetings.
20
Differences
Perot Supported Reducing the Number of Agencies; We Have Streamlined
Major Agencies and Proposed Eliminating Smaller Ones. Perot called for fewer
Federal departments, though he did not say which he would cut. You have issued
an executive order to reduce agency administrative costs by 14%; the second phase
of the Reinventing Government initiative has offered proposals to dramatically
restructure nine agencies; and we have proposed eliminating the Interstate
Commerce Commission and other smaller agencies.
Perot Supported Eliminating Federal Employee COLAs; the Administration
Delayed COLAs. Perot proposed eliminating all automatic COLAs for Federal
employees. In 1993, the Clinton Administration delayed COLAs for federal
employees in order to reduce the deficit.
Perot Supported Cuts in Elected Officials' Salaries and Pensions. Perot sharply
criticized the "million dollar pensions" of some Congressmen, and proposed cutting
salaries for the President and Congress by at least 10 percent. The Administration
has not addressed these issues, which are traditionally a congressional prerogative.
Perot Supported Reducing Availability of Airplanes and Vacation Retreats for
Federal Officials. Perot proposed selling 1200 government airplanes used to fly
senior officials, eliminating the 89th wing of the Air Force, and closing down
federal "vacation retreats." The only notable such "retreat" is historic Camp David,
which you--like all previous Presidents--have maintained. We have shut down the
executive dining rooms in the White House.
21
B. LOBBYING REFORM. Of Perot's five proposals to reduce the influence of special
interest and foreign lobbyists, we have implemented two by executive order in slightly less
stringent form. We have supported two others --taking a broader and tougher position on
lobbyist disclosure--but Congress blocked our efforts. Thus, we have supported or achieved
80% of Perot's lobbying agenda. We have not acted on one measure supported by Perot
(banning foreign lobbyists), and we have taken one step not supported by him, closing the
lobbyists' loophole.
Similarities
Perot Proposed Closing the "Revolving Door"; We Closed It. Perot sought to
ban former top officials from lobbying government for 5 years. We banned top
officials from lobbying their own agencies for 5 years.
Perot Supported Stopping Top Officials from Ever Taking Money from Foreign
Governments; We Stopped Them from Ever Lobbying. Perot proposed
forbidding any top official from accepting a penny for any reason from any foreign
interest. The Clinton Administration has required senior officials to pledge never to
become registered agents on behalf of any foreign government.
Both Supported Gift and Contribution Bans. Perot sought to ban donations or
gifts by lobbyists to elected officials. We have supported legislation to bar lobbyists
from giving campaign contributions to, or raising funds for, the lawmakers they
contact for one year after the contact, and from lobbying lawmakers to whom they
have contributed for one year after the contribution. In your State of the Union
address, you challenged Congress to voluntarily adopt a gift ban.
The Administration Supported Much Broader Lobbyist Disclosure Legislation
Than Perot. Perot focused on regulating the behavior of foreign lobbyists, but said
little about disclosure by domestic lobbyists. The Administration supported
legislation, blocked by Republicans, that would require all professional lobbyists to
register, fully disclose who pays them and how much they are paid, and require full
disclosure of their interest (i.e., supporting or opposing a particular bill).
Differences
We Closed the "Lobbyists Loophole"; Perot Had No Position on the Issue.
President Clinton eliminated the tax provision that allowed corporations to deduct
the costs of lobbying expenses. He supported no similar policy.
Perot Supported Eliminating Foreign Lobbyists; the Clinton Administration
Supported Tougher Disclosure Laws. Perot supported an outright ban on lobbying
for foreign interests. The Administration has supported tougher disclosure by all
lobbyists, but no such ban.
22
C. CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND ELECTION REFORM. We have supported
campaign finance reforms that would reduce the influence of big money in political
campaigns. The Clinton Administration's proposals have had similarities to those of Perot.
Yet, the Administration has supported constraints on candidate self-financing and voluntary
spending limits that Perot did not support, while the Administration's proposed limits on
PACs have been somewhat moderated by the need to maintain broad congressional support.
In addition, the Administration has not supported procedural changes--such as term limits
and eliminating the electoral college. Finally, through Motor-Voter, we have achieved one
of Perot's major goals of facilitating voter registration.
Similarities
Both Support Easier Voter registration. Perot supported measures to make it
easier to register to vote. You signed the Motor-Voter Act into law.
Both Support Free Air Time. Perot proposed providing equal free time on
airwaves to major federal candidates. We have supported free air time for federal
candidates as well for candidates who abide by voluntary spending limits.
Both Supported Restraints on PACs: Perot Changed His Position from Limiting
PAC Contributions to $1,000, to Eliminating PACs Altogether; We Supported
Limiting PAC Contributions to $1,000. In his first book, Perot called for limiting
contributions to PACs (and all contributions) to $1,000. In his second book, Perot
called for flat-out eliminating PACs. We never supported the latter, but we have
supported a $1,000 limit on PAC contributions. The Administration's campaign
finance proposal last year included the limit for presidential candidates, with a
higher limit for House and Senate candidates.
Both Called for Bans on the Use of "Soft Money." Perot called for eliminating
soft money contributions. The Administration has supported legislation that would
ban the use of soft money in federal elections and for national party committees
except for narrow purposes. Our proposal would allow state party grassroots activity
for federal candidates to be conducted through state parties, funded through "hard
money" raised and disclosed under Federal limits.
23
Differences
We Support Voluntary Spending Limits; Perot Doesn't. We have supported
voluntary limits on campaign spending, with free air time provided to candidates
who abide by the limits. Perot supported no such limits.
Perot First Opposed, Then Supported Term Limits; the Administration Has
Consistently Opposed Them. Perot switched positions on term limits. In his first
book, he said "we don't need term limits as long as we have the ballot." Later,
during the debates, he endorsed term limits. And in his 1993 book, he proposed that
Members of Congress face automatic removal if the deficit reduction plan did not
meet its targets. The Administration has consistently opposed term limits.
Perot Proposed Treasury Confiscation of Excess Campaign Funds. Perot
proposed that unspent campaign funds be given over to the Treasury. The
Administration has made no similar proposal.
Perot Supported Changes in the Campaign Calendar. Perot proposed shortening
campaigns by law and holding elections on Saturday and Sunday rather than
Tuesday. We have made no similar proposals.
Perot Proposed Sharp Constraints on Foreigners' Role in Campaigns. Perot
proposed preventing foreigners from contributing to or serving on campaigns. The
Administration has made no similar proposal.
Perot Proposed Eliminating the Electoral College. Perot proposed a constitutional
amendment to elect Presidents by popular vote. We have made no similar proposal.
Perot Proposed Legislation To Forbid Release of Polling Data on Election Day
Until After Polls Close in Alaska and Hawaii. Currently, news organizations
police themselves to prevent premature release of information on Election Day. We
have made no legislative proposal in this area.
24
III. DOMESTIC POLICY
Ross Perot's central concerns were the economy, political reform, and trade, and he devoted
relatively little space in his books to domestic policy issues. For example, in his first book
he wrote about six pages about education and three or fewer about welfare, crime, the
environment, and health care. The second book hardly addresses these issues at all.
Nonetheless, Perot did outline programs in all of these fields. Perot's ideas have little in
common with the current Republican view that government is the source of every problem.
Rather, his positions were a skeletal form of the "new Democratic" approach, moving away
from top-down bureaucratic solutions and toward a government that is a partner with
communities and ordinary citizens in solving problems from the grassroots up.
Except for some important but isolated issues such as private school choice and nuclear
power, many of Perot's proposals are close to ours.
A. HEALTH CARE
In 1993 and 1994, Perot was sharply critical of the Health Security Act. He called it a
government takeover of health care that would reduce patients' choice of doctors, hurt small
businesses, and cost too much. Denying there was a health care crisis, Perot looked to
doctors to lead reforms that would be implemented on a pilot basis.
During his campaign, however, Perot's line had been very different. In his book he
criticized the health care system, saying, "We have 37 million people who aren't covered at
all Health-care costs have grown at twice our economic growth rate Our companies are
forced to divert money from jobs."
[???]While Perot did not offer a detailed prescription for health care reform, he did suggest
major changes that were similar to our proposals: maintaining a private insurance system
while cutting costs and expanding coverage.
Similarities
Both Supported National Health Reform. Perot said that in the longer-term,
America needed "comprehensive national health care reform based on a public-
private partnership." This was the principle behind the Health Security Act.
Both Supported a National Health Board. The HSA would have established such
a board.
25
Both Supported A Basic Benefits Package. Perot said that a basic benefits
package should be established, though he did not say by whom or what it should
include. The HSA would have established a basic benefits package.
Both Supported Universal Coverage. Perot explicitly called for "universal
coverage." The HSA would have achieved universal coverage gradually.
Both Supported Expanded Preventive Care. Perot said that in the short-run, the
priorities for health care should be cost-containment and preventive care. This is
consistent with the HSA, and in addition, we have greatly expanded support for
preventive care through initiatives like our immunization program.
B. EDUCATION
Perot recognized the importance of education in the new economy: "Failing schools and
shoddy performance are undermining our nation's ability to compete and our children's
expectations for the future." Perot did not share the view of some Republicans today that
the federal government has no role in public education. Rather, he shared the belief that
results should be measured and successes disseminated from Washington, but that
responsibility should continue to remain with communities. In a formula, he supported
"top-down support for bottom-up reform."
We have taken steps in all the major areas that Perot emphasized except private school
choice, while also doing much more than Perot contemplated to emphasize lifelong
learning.
Similarities
Both Supported Improving and Expanding Pre-School Programs. Perot extolled
the benefits of investments in pre-schooling, saying we should "Establish
Comprehensive Pre-School Education." In the Administration's first two years, we
increased funding for Head Start by $1.2 billion, and he signed into law a bill
authorizing $1 billion in support for family preservation programs and family
support programs like HIPPY. Our current budget would expand Head Start by $1.5
billion by 2002 to reach another 50,000 children.
Both Supported "local autonomy with accountability." This Perot formula
expresses the approach of the Goals 2000 legislation that we strongly supported,
which provides funding for schools to set challenging academic standards--and to
help students meet them.
26
Both Supported "Creating National Standards and Measuring Results." Again,
Goals 2000 does both of the things that Perot is calling for, codifying the national
Goals 2000 framework and creating voluntary national standards, while also making
continued support contingent on implementing reform proposals and meeting
benchmarks.
Both Supported Wider Use of School Buildings. Perot said that school buildings
should be used before and after school for day-care, medical clinics, adult literacy,
and other purposes. The Crime Bill includes provisions for community schools that
stay open after hours for these and other purposes.
Both Supported New Methods of Certification for Teachers. Perot said that the
teacher certification system should be reexamined. The Administration has
supported the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, which is
developing a voluntary system of advanced certification for teachers. The
Administration has also supported the development of alternative routes to--but not
lower standards for-certification.
Both Support Some Merit Pay. Perot said that teachers should be paid for
performance. The Administration has supported the efforts of the National Board,
which include support for differentiated pay for board certified teachers, who clearly
achieve the highest standards in the profession.
Both Support Emphasis on Learning in Schools. Perot emphasized the need to
put first things first in schools. The Department of Education has strongly supported
reports on time and learning that seek to refocus schools on learning and teaching
rather than social services.
Both Support Refocusing Educational Research. Perot said that funds should be
shifted from researching what works in education to implementing successful
models. The Administration has refocused research on producing useful information
and on making this research more accessible. For example, the new PATHWAYS
program will make state-of-the-art knowledge about best practices accessible to
teachers across the country with access to the Internet.
27
Differences
We Have Supported Lifelong Learning Measures that Perot Did Not Discuss.
Our agenda has been broader than Perot's, including measures such as School-to-
Work Opportunities, Direct College Loans with Pay-as-you-can repayment, national
service, and Skill Grants for unemployed and low-income workers. Perot said little
in any of these areas.
Both Supported Empowering Parents: Perot Supported Public and Private
School Choice; the Administration Has Opposed Private School Choice. Both
Perot and the Administration have emphasized the need to return power and
responsibility to parents. Perot proposed encouraging school districts to allow parents
to choose among the public schools in the district, while removing federal obstacles
to state and local pilots with private school choice. The Clinton Administration has
supported parenting education, public school choice and efforts to engage parents
more in their children's education, through parental resource centers and through
Secretary Riley's parental responsibility campaign. The Administration has opposed
private school choice.
Both Supported Recruiting Military Professionals To Teach in Public Schools,
Though the Administration Cut This Program. In its first two budgets, the
Clinton Administration supported the "Troops-to-Teachers" program to help military
professionals move into teaching in schools with shortages of teachers. However,
the program is expensive, and the 1996 budget request included no funding for this
year.
C. CRIME. Perot shared the view that America's approach to crime should balance
punishment and prevention. His 1992 proposals show little affinity for the purely punitive
approach of the current House Republicans. The 1994 Crime Bill takes steps in the
direction of all of Perot's proposals except one, without fully achieving some of his goals.
Similarities
Both Support Three Strikes and You're Out. Perot supported mandatory life
sentences without parole for three violent crimes at any age. You signed a proposal
enacting "three strikes and you're out" for adults and giving judges discretion to
impose much tougher penalties on minors.
Both Support Expanded Drug Treatment. Perot supported drug treatment on
demand. The Clinton Administration proposed drug treatment on demand as part of
our health care legislation; proposed the largest increase ever in treatment for hard-
core abusers for three years; and achieved an increase of $140 million in 1994 and
another $250 million in 1995. In addition, the Crime Bill authorized $1 billion for
new Drug Courts, including treatment and testing of drug criminals.
28
Both Support Cracking Down on Gangs. Perot said he would "apply all
appropriate statutes to prosecute gangs and ask the nation's prosecutors and U.S.
attorneys what further legal tools they need." The Crime Bill increases the
maximum prison sentence for gang-related drug or violent crimes by up to 10 years.
Both Support Making Literacy and Skills a Precondition for Prison Release.
The Crime Bill withholds parole credits from federal prisoners who do not have and
are not making progress toward a high school diploma or GED.
Both Support Using Former Military Bases and Other Facilities for Drug
Rehabilitation. The federal government has already converted several military
bases to prisons. In addition, the Crime Bill authorizes the conversion of military
bases for other purposes, including boot camps with drug treatment.
Both Support Establishing Mandatory Drug-testing for Prisoners and Parolees.
The Crime Bill mandates drug treatment and testing for federal prisoners who have
committed drug offenses. In addition, the bill provided additional funding for states
and localities to test and treat prisoners.
Differences
We Have Begun Putting 100,000 Police Officers on the Streets; Perot Had No
Comparable Proposal. Perot did not emphasize the importance of police officers to
fighting crime.
Perot Supported Programs to Divert Gang Members to Entrepreneurship; the
Administration Is Skeptical. Many people believe that they simply give gang
members the opportunity to make money while continuing to engage in illegal
activities.
29
D. WELFARE REFORM. Perot did not provide a detailed welfare reform plan in either
of his two books. He showed significant interest in only one area, deadbeat dads, offering
proposals similar to ours. Perot's vague statements concerning incentives to work may
indicate that he would have favored an approach like ours that emphasizes empowerment
for future work rather than punishment for past mistakes.
Similarities
Both Support Keeping a National Database of Deadbeat Parents. The Clinton
Administration's welfare reform legislation would set up such a database.
Both Support Using Tax Forms to Withhold Income from Deadbeats. Our
welfare reform allows for wage withholding only from child support delinquents,
while Perot would have authorized wage withholding for all parents who owe child
support payments.
Both Support Crackdown on Deadbeats. Perot wanted to make crossing state
lines to avoid child support payments a felony. Our legislation would have
established a more uniform enforcement system, allowed states to use central
registries, and required them to withhold drivers and professional licenses from
delinquent parents.
Both Support Improving Incentives to Work. Perot said, "We need income
incentives to enable people who work, even minimally, to see immediate positive
results in their monthly income." Ironically, Perot did not call for the EITC as we
did.
Differences
We Have Offered Comprehensive Welfare-to-Work Proposals; Perot Didn't.
Perot offered nothing comparable to the Work and Responsibility Act or to the
current budget proposal in either expanding education and training or requiring able-
bodied welfare recipients to go to work.
30
E. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY. Perot's views on the environment were hard to
discern. As a businessman, he showed blatant disregard for the environment, blowing up
an entire coral reef and driving a bird onto the endangered species list by illegally clearing
land. In his off-the-cuff remarks, he said things such as, "You can't have a whole area
devastated because of this exotic concern over a handful of birds [spotted owls]; and "If
we're broke we can't fix the environment. We have got to rebuild our industrial base."
Perot also expressed support for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Yet in his campaign platform and certain other statements, Perot supported an
environmentalist agenda. His book argued that "protecting the environment versus creating
jobs" represented a false choice, saying instead that "A strong, considered environmental
strategy. can create growth and jobs." Most of the proposals in United We Stand expressed
vague but strong support for environmental strategies similar to ours--emphasizing sensible
regulation, environmental protection, global environmental leadership, and environmental
technologies. There are only twornotable items on which Perot and the Administration
differ: a gas tax and nuclear power.
Similarities
Both Support Business Strategies for Sustainable Development. Perot said
government should work with industries to prevent pollution rather than fighting
against them. The Administration is doing so through numerous initiatives. The
Council on Sustainable Development unites business leaders with top Administration
officials to develop public policy recommendations. The Climate Change Action
Plan relies almost entirely on public-private partnerships and incentives to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles joins
public and private sector in the "clean car" initiative.
Both Support Incentives over Regulation. Perot criticized overregulating and
emphasized creating incentives as an alternative. With the Vice President's
leadership, the Administration has already announced landmark regulatory reforms,
with results including: cutting the reporting and record keeping burden of EPA by
25%; creating one-stop emissions reporting; providing a six-month grace period for
small businesses to correct pollution violations; and extending the use of emissions
trading--a market incentive--for more air and water pollution sources.
Both Support Leadership Role in Global Economic Development. Perot said that
the United States should support international efforts to limit population growth and
reduce poverty. The Administration took a leadership role at the population growth
conference in Cairo, and our first two budgets provided funding for international
family planning for the first time since 1985.
31
Both Support Investing in Environmental Technologies. Perot said U.S.
companies should remain at the forefront in developing new environmental
technologies. The Administration recently released a 19-point plan to promote the
export of environmental technologies through export financing, streamlined
regulations, and other measures. Our current budget also proposes a budget for
environment technology investments at EPA that is three times larger than the 1993
level.
Both Support Higher User Fees for Mining and Timber, Though the
Administration's Efforts Were Thwarted. Perot said that private industry should
not be allowed to use up public resources for personal gain without paying for it.
The Administration has sought to increase fees for private use of public resources,
although Congress did not act on most of the increases.
Both Support Natural Gas Industry. Perot expressed support for natural gas and
proposed reexamining its regulation. The Clinton Administration has continued
processes that are opening up natural gas markets to free competition and enabling
large users to buy gas directly from producers and transmit it along established
pipelines.
Differences
Perot Supported Expanding Nuclear Energy; We Have Not. Perot called for
renewed efforts to develop nuclear power sources in the U.S. The Administration
has not sought to do this.
Both Support Cutting Down on Oil Imports: Perot Supported Much Higher
Gas Taxes for this Purpose; We Didn't, But Support Increased Domestic
Production and Alternative Fuels. Both Perot and the Administration supported
the goal of reducing oil exports. He would have achieved this goal mainly through
an extremely high gas tax. The Administration supported a much smaller increase in
the gas tax, but have pursued a dual strategy of boosting domestic oil production and
encouraging energy efficiency. The Administration has supported increased
investment in technology to lower exploration and production costs, and announced
support for deep water royalty relief in order to spur domestic production. In
addition, the budget has increased the funding for renewable energy by over 20%,
and the Administration is working to reduce energy consumption in federal
buildings.
Perot Supported Increased Clean Coal R&D; the Administration Has Opposed
It. The Administration is phasing out the Clean Coal program. It was designed to
help commercialize technologies in order to help companies comply with the
requirements of the Clean Air Act. That goal has been accomplished, and so the
program is no longer needed.
32
CRasco
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
- met um at NI#
8/7/95
HIV/AIDS
- gun copy to AIDS offin
by
They might want to use
him and on Mee Agu
Allan "Jay" Fox, IV
reply to Luin - Be
Howdy, my name is Allan "Jay" Fox, IV and this is my daughter Megan. MEGAN HAS AIDS,
and that is what this is all about. During the past three years Megan and I have traveled over a 100,000
miles throughout the United States and Canada telling "OUR STORY" of how HIV/AIDS has affected us
and how it can affect you. Let me start by saying, MEGAN AND I ARE NOT LOOKING FOR YOUR
PITY AND DO NOT WANT YOU TO FEEL SORRY FOR US BECAUSE, WE FEEL BLESSED
WITH THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE FOLKS ABOUT HIV/AIDS. I WANT TO
STRESS TO Y'ALL THAT MEGAN IS NOT DYING FROM AIDS, SHE IS LIVING WITH AIDS.
First, here are some facts and these are just the tip of the iceberg.
FACT I
Many folks believe HIV/AIDS is a disease of only Gays and IV Drug Users. Let me tell y'all this
is about as far from the truth as possible!
FACT II
In 1992 it was estimated that as many as one out of every one-hundred people in the United States
could be infected with HIV and not even know it!
FACT III
In some countries over 50% of the population are known to be infected with HIV!
FACT IV
Nobody dies from HIV/AIDS they die for complications of the opportunistic diseases brought on
by a depressed immune system!
FACT V
The only way to know that you are not infected with HIV is to be tested!
FACT VI
If it is discovered early on that you have HIV/AIDS you can be treated to slow down the progression
of the disease!
THE FOLLOWING IS OUR STORY
It all started back in 1963, when Megan's mother, Carol, and I were married. However, it was not
until 1982 that we decided to start a family. This is when all our problems began, but at the time we were
not aware of them. Carol's gynecologist told her that to conceive she would have to undergo surgery for the
removal of Fibroid Tumors. During this surgery, she received a blood transfusion that was contaminated
with HIV. We were not to learn about the HIV for over eight (8) years.
1
On June 15, 1984, Carol and I were blessed with the birth of our daughter, Megan Alyssa Fox. For
the next six (6) years we were as happy and proud as any parents could be. Then in November 1990, after
some routine surgery, Carol's White Blood Cell count was found to be low. After running several tests,
Carol commented to her doctor, do you think I might have AIDS, as I had a blood transfusion in 1982. He
told her that he didn't think she had AIDS, but agreed to test her for HIV so as to put her mind at ease.
On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, Carol's doctor informed her that she had tested
positive for HIV. The following Monday, Megan and I were also tested. Our results took about ten (10)
days to come back. When all test results were in, Carol and Megan had tested positive for HIV and I was
negative. Since both Carol and Megan had HIV they were put on the same drug AZT. With both of them
on AZT, there was no way to keep it from Megan that she and her mother had the same illness.
Carol was afraid of children being cruel toward Megan, SO she wanted the fact that they had HIV
to be kept a secret. Then in July 1991, the bottom fell out, as Carol was diagnosed as having Lymphoma
Cancer. Since Cancer is one of the opportunistic diseases caused by a depressed immune system, Carol was
now classified as having AIDS.
For the next five (5) months Megan watched her mother get sicker and sicker from the Cancer
brought on by the same HIV she had. Then on Christmas day 1991, my wife of twenty-eight (28) years and
Megan's mother DIED OF LYMPHOMA CANCER BROUGHT ON BY AIDS.
I felt it was much more important to spend quality time with Megan then make rich people richer.
Therefore to spend as much time as possible with her, I quit my job. By doing this I qualified for survivors
benefits from Carol's Social Security as long as I took care of Megan. By changing our lifestyle and dipping
into our savings I felt we could survive.
My plans were to travel and show Megan as much as possible during the summer of 1992. Then
since Dr. Philip Pizzo of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was World renowned for his research on
HIV/AIDS, I wanted to get her enrolled in one of his HIV/AIDS experimental protocols at NIH in Bethesda,
Maryland.
We sold our home in Texas and moved in with my sister to maintain a residence of a sort. Then
Megan and I hit the road for Alaska and the adventure of a lifetime. We traveled all summer and
everywhere we went, I told both friends and strangers about how Carol had gotten HIV and passed it on to
Megan. After traveling over 18,000 miles and experiencing nothing negative about Megan having HIV, we
arrived in the quaint little fishing village of St. Michaels, Maryland. This was where Carol had grown up
and was now buried. We rented a little house across the street from Carol's, parents. Besides being across
the street from Megan's grandparents and two (2) blocks from Carol's grave, we were only an one hour and
a half drive from NIH, and Dr. Pizzo, and his outstanding research team.
Upon our arrival in St. Michaels, I decided, since the local population was only about 1,200, it might
be easier to be public about Megan's HIV, than try to keep it a secret. During the 1992-93 school year,
Megan attended the St. Michaels Elementary/Middle School. This is where I made my first public talk about
Megan's life with HIV. Unknowingly to me at the time, I was creating a support group of the entire
community for Megan and myself. Had it not been for this support I feel Christmas of 1992 would have
been a total nightmare.
2
In January 1993 Megan was accepted at NIH where Dr. Pizzo and his HIV/AIDS research staff
would follow her. This was where both Megan and I first came in contact and made friends with our true
peers, those being other children with HIV/AIDS and their adult care givers. It was great support getting
to know these children and we looked forward to our visits to NIH to see our new friends.
Megan and I again spent the summer of 1993 traveling over 17,000 miles and returning to the Yukon
Territory and Alaska. However, by the time we returned to NIH at the end of the summer, Megan had gone
into FULL-BLOWN AIDS. Although Megan was in the FULL-BLOWN AIDS condition she still managed
to attend school during the 1993-94 school year and was promoted to the fifth grade.
In September of 1992 FULL-BLOWN AIDS was reclassified. Now it is not necessary to have
succumbed to one of the opportunistic diseases to be classified as having FULL-BLOWN AIDS. If the CD-
4 cells in your immune system go below 200 you are said to have FULL-BLOWN AIDS.
During the summer 1994, we did not travel because Megan, had to return to NIH several times,
because we were trying to start her on a new experimental HIV/AIDS drug therapy.
Megan is just like any other little girl EXCEPT SHE HAS AIDS. You will not get HIV/AIDS from
her unless you do something really stupid. In fact you are more dangerous to Megan than she is to you.
As I stated in "OUR STORY" Carol received the blood transfusion that was contaminated with
HIV in 1982, but it was not discovered until 1990. Prior to this discovery, HIV/AIDS was really of no great
concern to me. I felt that because neither Carol nor myself were, PROMISCUOUS, GAY or IV DRUG
USERS we didn't have to worry about HIV/AIDS. However, HIV/AIDS does not discriminate between
who it infects. Just like Carol and Megan were, ANYONE OF YOU COULD BE HIV POSITIVE AND
NOT EVEN KNOW IT.
The point I want to get across is, GET YOURSELF TESTED FOR HIV, because if you know you
have the disease you can be treated. In addition you can take steps so as not to pass it on to someone else.
I like to use the comparison of HIV/AIDS to Diabetes. Nobody dies from Diabetes, they die from
complications. Just like a Diabetic can live with Diabetes, so can a person live with HIV/AIDS. However,
in both cases YOU MUST TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND BE TESTED.
Most local Health Departments offer FREE HIV TESTING. These tests are CONFIDENTIAL,
whereas only you and the person who draws your blood know you are being tested. Likewise the person
who gives you the test results and you are the only ones that know how you tested.
In Megan's case the discovery of HIV was earlier then that of Carol's. As I said previously she is
now being treated at NIH by Dr. Pizzo and his fine research team. In addition she receives prophylactic drug
therapy to keep her from getting some of the opportunistic diseases. HAD IT BEEN DISCOVERED
EARLIER THAT CAROL HAD HIV, TREATMENT COULD HAVE BEEN STARTED AND SHE
MAY NEVER HAD GOTTEN THE CANCER SHE DIED FROM. THEREFORE, EARLY
DISCOVERY OF HIV IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO YOU.
3
In closing I would like to say. There is nothing to be ashamed of about having HIV/AIDS so, for
the sake of you, your loved ones and the rest of the world GET YOURSELF TESTED FOR HIV.
Thank you for allowing us to speak with you today and may God Bless each and everyone of y'all.
Should you wish to reproduce or quote anything contained herein, you have my permission to do
SO.
Allan Allan Respectfully, J. Fox, IV IFG
(or)
507 Railroad Ave.
6510 Emerald St.
St. Michaels, Md. 21663
Austin, Tx. 78745
Phone: 410/745-5731
Phone: 512/443-2205
4
we Murill
write Then
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
ATTACHMENT
follow
Be
5/7/95 Jena
Special Guests' Biographies
Debis
Kenny and Rosemarie Weaver, and daughters Michelle and Melinda, Port Lavaca, TX:
In September 1993, in connection with the Make A Wish Foundation, Kenny visited you at
the White House with his oldest daughter, Melissa, who was dying of leukemia. Kenny
thanked you for signing the FMLA because it enabled him to spend the last weeks of his
daughter's life with her. Melissa died one week later.
Diane and Melvin Atwood, Little Rock, AR: Diane met you in March of this year at the
Emmanual Baptist Church in Little Rock. She told you that FMLA saved her life. She has
Hodgkins' Disease and has had to take time off for many treatments chemotherapy,
radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. Finally, an experimental drug treatment,
Interferon, saved her life. Without FMLA, she couldn't have kept her job and her life
insurance which she needed to pay for those treatments. She says that FMLA helped her get
through the emotional and financial burdens on their entire family.
J.C. Shardo and family, Atlanta, GA: J.C. met you in 1993 when her brother, "Swartz"
(pronounced Schwartzie), was first diagnosed with cancer. You sent a special greeting to
Swartz before a 10-hour operation. During the months before his death, J.C. and her six
siblings spent as much time as possible by his side. J.C. and her family feel that being able
to be there for Swartz in his time of need was one of the most meaningful experiences of
their lives. The Shardos will hand you a letter which Swartz wrote to you before he died.
You will open it for the first time.
Bill and Debbie Fish and family, Saginaw, MI: Bill Fish works in production for Saginaw
Ball and Screw. Early last spring, his wife, Debbie, developed glaucoma and became blind.
Thanks to the FMLA, Bill was able to take time off to drive her to the University of of
Michigan in Ann Arbor, 85 miles away, where the doctors operated and restored her sight.
Deborah and Christopher Ruffin, Hyattsville, MD: The Ruffins' daughter, Kristin, was
diagnosed with leukemia in November 1993. She had a relapse in November 1994 and had
to travel to South Carolina for a bone marrow transplant. Deborah works for the District
government and has been able to use annual and sick leave to be with Kristin, but her,
husband, Chris, who works for Fox TV, has relied on FMLA to obtain the time off. Kristin
is staying at the NIH now.
Christie Sens, Fairfax, VA: Christie, a teacher in the Fairfax County school district, took
leave to recover from a difficult pregnancy. Christie's child was born in August 1993 -- the
time the FMLA went into effect. After giving birth, she needed more time to recover from
the pregnancy. Her supervisor denied her request for leave, but Christie located a copy of
the FMLA and informed her supervisor. She was then granted leave. Her child, who is
turning 2 years old, will accompany her.
Prees Don- This is
we night use
sorm mon rin- r I'm sub-
Be
peat
Whene ter dollar g
girl S
"An
dollar
her,
shrin
ple
her
eigh
to
no
up
Joker, 12, Dies in a Rage of Bullets and a Youth, 16, Is Held
To:
POTUS
from:
DAB
By CAREY GOLDBERG
"But it comes to the bigger issue of disrespect between
Friends called him Junior or June or June-Bug.
the younger boy and the older boy."
Quentin Carter was a little guy, a bantam the class
"He came into a rage," Captain Gillespie said. He
clown and one of the smallest students in his sixth grade
was upset about being dissed."
at Intermediate School 109 in Queens Village. Two days
By yesterday, the spot where Quentin Carter died
before his 13th birthday, he pulled one of his usual
on Monday had been turned into a small shrine, where 13
routines on an older youth, nagging him comically for a
votive candles burned to mark the 13th birthday Quentin
quarter outside a neighborhood grocery store.
did not live to celebrate. Quentin's aunt, Sharon Ellis,
The older boy, 16-year-old Brian Wright, was also
said the boy's mother, Wanda, could do little but cry and
seen as a little guy by his peers; not physically, but in
clutch one of Quentin's basketball shirts. His six younger
status. He was nicknamed Shorty, and had the reputa-
siblings she said keep asking "Does this mean Junior's
tion of an easily bullied boy, a Herb or a nerd, high school
not coming back?"
acquaintances said. They branded him a loser.
The police arrested Brian Wright early yesterday
But Brian had a gun. And the night after Quentin hit
morning, and say he has confessed to the shooting. He
faces charges of murder, and will be tried as an adult.
him up for a quarter, the police said, he emptied the clip
Should he be convicted, he could face life in prison.
of his .380-caliber handgun into the smaller youth, stand-
Steve Hart for The New York Tim
"It was a senseless, mindless killing," said the
ing over the 98-pound boy as he lay on the sidewalk and
Queens District Attorney, Richard Brown. "A young
Brian White, 16, left, is charged with the murder
pumping bullet after bullet into his meager chest.
Quentin Carter, 12, over a joke that went awry.
"He shot him over a quarter," said Capt. Bernard
Gillespie, the 105th Precinct tective handling the case.
ntinued on Page B5
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
8/7/95
Class Clown, 12, Isals
Brian Wright did
7
Continued From Page B1
investigators said.
He and Quentin
man on the eve of his 13th birthday
profanity, said K
was killed for no reason. Apparently,
longtime friend
talked to him after
he did nothing more than talk to
nadi
another kid and for that he lost his
day night.
He said that Que
life. In the last analysis, there's little
Brian then pulled
any
more that any of us can say. You've
waistband, brandis
got two lives lost, one a 13-year-old
form
and one a 16-year-old who will spend
"Are you ready to
Quentin admitte
the next 25 years, if not his life, in
rical
that he had starte
prison."
Neighbors and the authorities de-
nounced the proliferation of hand-
guns that make it so easy for minor
quarrels to turn fatal.
nsterda
"I am so sorry, I really am," said
loans p
Eleanor Willis-Lindsey, a neighbor
ther the
of Brian Wright's family on 220th
some S
Street in Queens Village, a well-tend-
plan.
ed neighborhood of shade trees and
t of Juj
tidy walks. "If we could do some-
adway
thing to get these guns off the street,
ere is a
that would be helpful. He's not to
h larg
blame fully. Somebody made that
eating
gun and sold it. Our boys don't need
y mus
two t
to be killed like that."
The police said they were still try-
ing to determine where Brian had
's
de
obtained the handgun. They said
y for
Mr. La
they had not recovered the weapon
yet because Brian had given it to one
y. "Th
of his friends and refused to say who.
ter ven
Accounts of the incident that led
? We'
et and
up to the shooting varied, but all
tion th
agreed that the trouble began when
Quentin hit up Brian for a quarter
Broad
outside a store.
and sor
It was a running joke of Quentin's
to ask for money, said an I.S. 109
ones la
als are
eighth-grader who refused to give
do ex
her name, one of several young peo-
ple who gathered at Quentin's
ing en
shrine. He would often come up to
Opera
her, she said, and say: "Where's my
ing at
1988.
dollar? Where's my dollar?
"And I'd say, what dollar?" the
by suc
atten
girl said. "You didn't give me a
dollar. And he'd say, 'Well, you bet-
r clim
ter give me a dollar tomorrow.'
years
cordin
Whenever he saw you, he would re-
Theat
peat the joke."
y trad
1. Voar OU Falls
Death
in
You Like
THE NEW YORK TIMES METRO THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1995
CITY
He later told the police he felt
not
Class Clown, 12, Is Slain, and Gunman, 16, Is Held
justified because of the disrespect
the
Quentin had shown him. He also ad-
I
mitted to feeling some remorse, the
Bri
Brian Wright did not find it funny,
lived up to his reputation as a tough
drew down on me last night.
police said.
a ti
Continued From Page B1
investigators said.
guy who would take no guff from
The confrontation, flared again,
Minutes later, after friends had
he
He and Quentin traded insults and
anybody.
and Brian again drew his gun and
summoned Wanda Carter to help her
nal
man on the eve of his 13th birthday
profanity, said Kevin Marriott, a
"He told Brian, 'Go ahead and
cocked it. The younger children scat-
hurt son, she arrived to find his life
of
was killed for no reason. Apparently,
longtime friend of Quentin's who
shoot me,''' Mr. Marriott said. But
tered. Investigators said Brian told
ebbing away. His aunt, Sharon Ellis,
Qu
he did nothing more than talk to
talked to him after the incident Sun-
the intervention of an adult stopped
them that he fired once at Quentin
recalled that Ms. Carter "had laid
ha
another kid and for that he lost his
day night.
the ruckus that night, he said.
and missed, and the boy started to
out stretched over the body, and was
I
life. In the last analysis, there's little
He said that Quentin told him that
On Monday night, on a nearby
run across 221st Street. Brian fired
saying, 'Oh God, my son. Please,
bee
more that any of us can say. You've
Brian then pulled the gun from his
Queens Village street, the two
again, catching him in the back, and
Junior, hold on. Please, Junior, don't
got two lives lost, one a 13-year-old
waistband, brandished it and asked,
youths' paths intersected again. The
again, and Quentin fell to the ground,
leave me."
not
and one a 16-year-old who will spend
"Are you ready to die?"
police said that according to Brian's
the police said. As Quentin lay there,
But when the ambulance pulled
like
the next 25 years, if not his life, in
Quentin admitted to his friends
version, Quentin pointed him out to
Brian emptied the rest of his gun into
away, Ms. Ellis said, Quentin's fam-
felt
prison."
that he had started to cry, but he
several friends as "the guy who
the boy's body.
ily noticed that the paramedics had
sho
Neighbors and the authorities de-
nounced the proliferation of hand-
guns that make it so easy for minor
quarrels to turn fatal.
"I am so sorry, I really am," said
THIS IS
Eleanor Willis-Lindsey, a neighbor
of Brian Wright's family on 220th
Street in Queens Village, a well-tend-
TODAY
ed neighborhood of shade trees and
tidy walks. "If we could do some-
thing to get these guns off the street,
that would be helpful. He's not to
gun and sold it. Our boys don't need
BU
OFFER
blame fully. Somebody made that
CAN'T
to be killed like that."
The police said they were still try-
ing to determine where Brian had
TO MI
obtained the handgun. They said
they had not recovered the weapon
S
yet because Brian had given it to one
of his friends and refused to say who.
BUY ONE G
Accounts of the incident that led
up to the shooting varied, but all
agreed that the trouble began when
60,000 suits incluc
Quentin hit up Brian for a quarter
Cricketeer, Amhers
outside a store.
Fierté and other fa
It was a running joke of Quentin's
to ask for money, said an I.S. 109
Italy, England, Fra
eighth-grader who refused to give
from single and do
her name, one of several young peo-
ple who gathered at Quentin's
ettes in pure wool
shrine. He would often come up to
($225-$550 value)
her, she said, and say: "Where's my
dollar? Where's my dollar?
NO
"And I'd say, what dollar?" the
girl said. "You didn't give me a
oor or YOU!
THE NEW YORK TIMES METRO THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1995
B5
CITY
He later told the police he felt
not bothered to turn on the siren, and
ain, and Gunman, 16, Is Held
justified because of the disrespect
they knew that he was dead.
Quentin had shown him. He also ad-
Neighbors and friends said that
mitted to feeling some remorse, the
Brian Wright had never been seen as
it funny,
lived up to his reputation as a tough
drew down on me last night."
police said.
a troublemaker, and authorities said
guy who would take no guff from
The confrontation flared again,
Minutes later, after friends had
he was not known to have any crimi-
sults and
anybody.
and Brian again drew his gun and
summoned Wanda Carter to help her
nal record. But there was not a drop
arriott, a
"He told Brian, 'Go ahead and
cocked it. The younger children scat-
hurt son, she arrived to find his life
of sympathy for him among the
in's who
shoot me,' Mr. Marriott said. But
tered. Investigators said Brian told
ebbing away. His aunt, Sharon Ellis,
Queens Village young people who
dent Sun-
the intervention of an adult stopped
them that he fired once at Quentin
recalled that Ms. Carter "had laid
had known both boys.
the ruckus that night, he said.
and missed, and the boy started to
out stretched over the body, and was
Henry Brooks, 16, said Brian had
him that
On Monday night, on a nearby
run across 221st Street. Brian fired
saying, 'Oh God, my son. Please,
been known as a nerd.
from his
Queens Village street, the two
again, catching him in the back, and
Junior, hold on. Please, Junior, don't
"If you carry yourself you're a
d asked,
youths' paths intersected again. The
again, and Quentin fell to the ground,
leave me."
nobody, you're going to get treated
police said that according to Brian's
the police said. As Quentin lay there,
But when the ambulance pulled
like a nobody," he said. "I think he
friends
version, Quentin pointed him out to
Brian emptied the rest of his gun into
away, Ms. Ellis said, Quentin's fam-
felt he had to take a little kid's life to
but he
several friends as "the guy who
the boy's body.
ily noticed that the paramedics had
show how big he was.'
THIS IS THE
TODAY'S MAN
JY
OFFER YOU
CAN'T AFFORD
TO MISS.
SUITS
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE
60,000 suits including Halston,
H
Cricketeer, Amherst & Brock, Lamberti,
Fierté and other famous designers from
Italy, England, France and America. Select
from single and double breasted silhou-
ettes in pure wool and wool blends.
($225-$550 value)
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
8/7/95
Governor Jones of Kentucky wishes to speak to the President about
his Medicaid waiver. He feels he has gone as far as he can with
HHS. The waiver is an old one that was put on hold by the state
when the legislature there did not pass something needed. Now
Kentucky is asking for a modification of that original waiver to
put medicaid patients into a single managed care system. There
is no choice of plans although there is choice to some extent of
providers in most instances within the one plan.
We have consistently talked not only about choice but choice of
plans. We talked about its necessity during health care reform,
we have as an administration insisted in other waivers on a
choice of plans for Medicaid recipients.
The Governor argues that-a business person, factory worker, etc.
who currently gets their insurance through their employer only
gets one plan. However, as I have explained to him, this
administration has gone strongly on record about choice of PLANS.
HHS/HCFA has told him that allowing a fee for service plan as the
option fulfills the choice requirement but he insists that he has
his providers ready to go and that the agreement with them is the
one single plan.
It will be a very bad precedent for the administration to tell
him there is room for even one state to experiment with a single
plan; if we do it in one state there will be others.
Governor Jones feels very, very strongly about speaking to the
President.
I am in Nashville, Tennessee for the day on Thursday speaking to
Methodist bishops, back about 5 p.m. in the afternoon Thursday.
L)
Cleasio
suor call mu within
Be
when
What's the destribution on This ?- ? Su
Be
Aun (sw C getcopic -
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
8/7/95
Impact of Proposed
Republican Budget
Cuts on:
Older and Disabled
Americans
Students
Working Families
A State-By-State Analysis
August 3, 1995