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Lehman, Richard
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
bcc Jack Lew
THE WHITE HOUSE
July 18, 1994
Honorable Richard H. Lehman
U. S. House of Representatives
Washington, D. C. 20515
Dear Rick,
Thank you for your letter and kind
apology for not being able to attend our
meeting on the 29th. I appreciate your
need to be at the mining reform Conference
Committee, although no explanation was
necessary. I hope that we can count on
your support of universal coverage and
meaningful reform in the critical weeks
ahead, and I look forward to working with
you toward that end.
With kind regards, I remain
Sincerely yours,
Hillary Hillary Rodham Clinton
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20515
RICHARD H. LEHMAN
19TH DISTRICT
CALIFORNIA
June 29, 1994
PAM JUL 6 1994
Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton
The First Lady
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mrs. Clinton:
Please accept my deepest apologies for not being able to join
you today for the morning meeting on health care.
As you may know, I am a member of the House delegation to
the Conference Committee on the mining reform bill. Today was the
first meeting of the Committee, and it turned out to be more
contentious as well as more time consuming than initially anticipated.
Please know that I share your concern for addressing the urgent
need for comprehensive reform of our current health care system. I
certainly wish I was able to discuss in more detail with you today the
proposals currently before Congress. I hope the meeting was a
productive one.
Sincerely,
Rick
RICHARD H. LEHMAN
Member of Congress
THE WHITE HOUSE
May 28, 1993
Honorable Richard H. Lehman
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative Lehman:
Thank you for responding to our request
for your input on the development of the
President's health care reform proposal.
When the President sends his proposal to
Congress next month, you will see that it
responds to the issues you noted in your
memo. The proposal will be fair to both
urban and rural areas, and will provide
incentives to encourage medical students to
pursue primary care residencies and to carry
them out in rural areas. It will also reform
the malpractice system, and address the
concerns raised by citizens across the
country -- by controlling spiraling health
care costs, eliminating wasteful paperwork,
preserving the right of individuals to choose
their doctors, and providing the security of
universal coverage, regardless of one's
employer or state of health.
The submission of the President's plan
is, of course, just the first step toward the
implementation of a new health care system.
I hope that we will have your support as we
move ahead, and that you will stay involved
in this process.
Again, thank you for your helpful
memorandum.
Sincerely,
Hillary Hillary Rodham Clinton
THE WHITE HOUSE
September 1, 1993
Honorable Richard Lehman
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative Lehman:
Thank you for the letter concerning the
issue of medical liability reform.
I appreciate hearing from you regarding
the success California has had with MICRA
legislation. Malpractice reform is an
important component in providing affordable
health care. As a former governor, the
President is sensitive to states' interests
and will keep legislation like California's
in mind as the health reform legislation is
put into final form.
Again, thank you for writing. I look
forward to our continued work together to
ensure that all Americans enjoy the security
of quality, affordable health care.
Sincerely,
Hillary Hilland Rodham Clinton
LOS ANGELES TIMES / WASHINGTON EDITION
PHOTOCOPY
National Perspecti
PRESERVATION
LEGISLATION
Key Fresno Congressman
Gets Snubbed, Not Wooed
The vote of Rep. Lehman, a Democrat in a GOP district, could be
crucial for Clinton health care reform. But he's being ignored.
By KAREN TUMULTY
The question for some, however, is
TIMES STAFF WRITER
whether the White House understands
that. Aware of how badly he needs
WASHINGTON To put it mildly, the
Lehman, Dingell has privately urged
Clinton Administration has not been
officials to start paying more attention to
particularly solicitous of Rep. Richard H.
the lawmaker's concerns.
Lehman, the Fresno area Democrat who
Or at least to cease what appears to be
is struggling to hold his congressional
a none-too-subtle campaign of retribu-
seat in a largely Republican district.
tion against Lehman for his past votes
When he asked for a Job Corps center,
against the Clinton economic program.
for instance, the Labor Department
"Lehman's not obstructionist. He
instead gave the facility to the San
wants to help if he can, which is all the
Francisco Bay Area-which already had
more reason the White House ought to
'If they're going to need you
two others.
be smart about this," said one Democrat
Last week, Interior Secretary Bruce
who has been close to the negotiations.
down the line, they ought to
Babbitt came to the district for a tour of
Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles),
pay attention.'
Yosemite Park without even bothering
chairman of Energy and Commerce's
to contact the local congressman. That
health subcommittee. said: "They have-
REP. RICHARD H. LEHMAN
was his second snub: Last year, Babbitt
n't been as attentive to him as they
(D-North Fork)
invited Lehman-one of Congress' most
should be. I hope that changes. He is one
avid outdoorsmen-on a camping trip,
of the most highly regarded members of
only to withdraw the invitation at the
the delegation."
dow n health premiums as a model for
last minute.
Lehman insisted that past insults and
the nation, his plan would put it out of
injuries will have no bearing on his
S
imilarly, Agriculture Secretary Mike
busi ness. CALPERS officials say the
ultimate decision on how to vote, which
Espy last year canceled an appear-
Dinggell proposal is not much better,
he hopes to make this week. But he
ance in the Fresno Valley, which has
because it would put a $142-million tax
noted pointedly: "If they're going to
been in the grip of a drought off and on
on he system.
need you down the line, they ought to
for seven years. Espy has yet to make a
B oth plans, they say, would encourage
stop in the district, the heart of the
pay attention."
the shift of health costs from corporate
His main concern, he said, is whether
world's richest Farm Belt.
Am erica to state governments. To date,
the farms and small businesses that
Such slights might not hold any
CALPERS lobbyist David Vienna said,
make up about 90% of the employers in
particular significance, if it weren't for
Lehman has been the only lawmaker to
his district could afford Clinton's pro-
the fact that the North Fork lawmaker
tak e those concerns seriously.
posal that they pay for their workers'
holds enormous leverage on the issue
Lehman's situation is further compli-
health coverage. Dingell has a variation
that is the heart of President Clinton's
cat.ed by his district, which is newly
exempting the smallest businesses, but
agenda: health care reform.
reclrawn in a fashion inhospitable to any
that troubles Lehman as well.
He is one of three undecided Demo-
Democrat. In 1992, he won by only 1,030
crats who have become the focus of
W
ith the right incentives, he said,
votes, which was less than a half-per-
intense negotiations on the Energy and
employers might be able to ex-
cent of the total cast. Clinton ran well
Commerce Committee, which is consid-
pand coverage without being ordered to
behind former President George Bush,
ered the most crucial battleground in the
by Washington.
at, tracting only 38% of the vote.
House. And without all three of their
"I would be more comfortable giving
Lehman's office is being swamped
votes, Chairman John D. Dingell (D-
market forces a better opportunity to
with telephone calls from constituents
Mich.) probably cannot produce a
work to get broader coverage before we
and interest groups opposing the Clinton
sweeping health care bill.
resort to a mandate," he said. "If that
plan, but the forces in favor of it are
The position of Lehman and the other
doesn't work, we could phase it in."
turning up the heat as well. Last week,
two Democrats-Reps. Jim Slattery of
Lehman also is demanding that the
17 organizations, led by Consumers
Kansas and Rick Boucher of Virginia-
committee consider the effect that the
Union, began running newspaper ads in
also demonstrates how closely fought
Clinton plan and the Dingell alternative
his district declaring: "Congressman
the struggle over health care reform will
could have on the California Public
Lehman: We Just Want the Same
be. Against a public mood that is in-
Employees Retirement System, which
Health Care Coverage You Have."
creasingly suspicious of the Clinton plan
provides health coverage to 930,000
"They're wasting their money," Leh-
and its various alternatives, House lead-
government employees and retirees.
rnan said, with a note of annoyance. "I'm
ers have no choice but to build support
Although Clinton has hailed CAL-
going to make my decision on what's in
the hard way: vote by vote.
PERS' impressive efforts at holding
the bill, not what's in the paid media."
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
TUESDAY. APRIL 19. 1994
A7
Perspective
ENVIRONMENT
Activists Cheer U.S. Decision
to Annul Alaska Timber Deal
By JOHN BALZAR
berboard, all the while continuing to
TIMES STAFF WRITER
send trimmed logs from its sawmill to
Asia. The fiberboard plant was to have
SEATTLE- A last vestige of Ameri-
employed 140 people.
ca's campaign to rebuild and industrial-
Prompted by environmentalists, the
ize Japan after World War II has come
Forest Service ruled that the company
to an abrupt end-by order of the U.S.
was in breach of the contract and nulli-
Forest Service.
fied it. The Clinton Administration said
Environmentalists cheered the deci-
Alaska Pulp now would have to bid
sion as long overdue and just in time to
competitively for the timber.
preserve sound stewardship of the
Alaska Pulp said it was "profoundly
largest public forest in the U.S. inven-
disappointed" and blamed the U.S.
tory, the 17-million-acre Tongass Na-
government for incrementally, year af-
tional Forest in southeast Alaska.
ter year, changing the way the contract
The Tongass is the centerpiece of
was administered, driving up costs un-
what environmentalists call the last in-
til the pulp mill could not be sustained.
tact temperate rain forest in the world.
Last year, the firm sued, complaining
ing to need you
Last week, the Forest Service can-
of government infringement on its con-
e, they ought to
celed the remaining 17 years on a 55-
tract rights. The case is pending.
year, exclusive Tongass lumber con-
John Hough. a director of the compa-
ttention.'
tract that was one of the most unusual
ny, said its executives would meet this
in the nation.
week to decide their next step.
ARD H. LEHMAN
The contract was signed with Japa-
orth Fork)
nese investors 37 years ago, guarantee-
"I
t is the position of the company
ing their company, Alaska Pulp Corp.,
that its operations were on a 100-
wood from the Tongass forest through
year, sustainable harvest plan, and en-
niums as a model for
the year 2011. The idea stemmed from
vironmentalists who say differently are
Gen. Douglas MacArthur's program to
wrong," Hough said. Alaska environ-
in would put it out of
RS officials say the
help Japan after the war, and coincided
mentalists believe the forest has been
is not much better,
with a desire in the U.S. Congress to
cut at twice the rate that is sustainable.
out a $142-million tax
create a year-round economy in/the
And they said the contract cancellation
southern coastal region of Alaska.
means Tongass managers can better
balance the conflicting needs of wildlife
say, would encourage
A
S a condition of the contract, Alas-
and fish habitat and timber harvesters.
costs from corporate
ka Pulp promised to build and
"We're not saying you shouldn't cut
overnments. To date,
maintain a wood pulp mill in Alaska. In
trees on the Tongass. But you sure bet-
t David Vienna said,
return, it received up to 100 million
ter cut them at a rate that everything
the only lawmaker to
board feet of timber each year without
else can live with," said Allen E. Smith,
seriously.
competitive bidding. So far, the compa-
chairman of the Alaska Rainforest Co-
on is further compli-
ny has cut 2.16 billion board feet.
alition and regional director of the Wil-
rict, which is newly
Environmentalists long have com-
derness Society. He said the contract
n inhospitable to any
plained that an exclusive contract for
represented "the worst of the last cen-
he won by only 1,030
such vast amounts of timber, including
tury's approach to logging."
ess than a half-per-
rare and valued Sitka Spruce, no longer
Environmentalists now have their
ast. Clinton ran well
served America's interests. They said it
sights on the only remaining contract
sident George Bush,
led to vast over-cutting and shorted
of this kind 50-year deal signed in
of the vote.
U.S. taxpayers, who found themselves
1954 with the U.S. owned Ketchikan
is being swamped
subsidizing the logging-at least dur-
Pulp Corp., also in the Tongass Nation-
Is from constituents
ing some years.
al Forest.
opposing the Clinton
Then last September, Alaska Pulp
Eric Jorgensen, attorney for the Si-
S in favor of it are
shut its pulp mill and laid off many of
erra Club Legal Defense Fund, said the
as well. Last week,
the 400 employees, although it contin-
Administration should evoke "severe
led by Consumers
ued to use contract timber for its saw-
environmental damage" as grounds for
ng newspaper ads in
mill. The sawmill trims high-grade logs
canceling the remaining years on Ket-
ing: "Congressman
for shipment to Japan and the Far East.
chikan's contract.
I Want the Same
The company said that increasing
But Alaska's congressional delega-
ge You Have."
costs of pollution controls and a shrink-
tion and state government support the
their money," Leh-
ing market made its pulp mill unprofit
contracts. And even opponents agreed
e of annoyance. "I'm
able. Alaska Pulp said it wanted to re-
there was no clear-cut contract breach