Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) discussed a vote for overseas population
control funding scheduled for February 13-14. The critical issue,
he said, is whether the bill will require, in the legislation's
language, "foreign non-governmental organizations receiving
U.S. funds" to "agree not to violate the laws, or lobby
to change the laws, of other countries with respect to abortion,
or to perform abortions in those countries, except in cases of
rape, incest, or where the mother's life is in danger." (This
legislative language is known as the "Mexico City Policy.")
Smith, who is pro-life, said pro-abortion groups already have
a game plan written to go to over 100 countries with pro-life
laws and try to overturn those laws with a U.S.-funded political
effort. Smith and his allies are proposing that $713 million be
spent on overseas population controls in FY98 with Mexico City
safeguards. The Clinton Administration is strongly lobbying for
543.6 million in funding with no safeguards. The House vote is
expected to be close. Smith noted that very many countries strongly
resent the U.S. funding of political groups which are attempting
to change their internal laws. Other participants made the point
that U.S. taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize abortion,
which many believe is morally wrong. Contact Rep. Smith at 202/225-3765.
Peter Ferrara of Americans for Tax Reform distributed information
comparing, under various income scenarios, the amount of money
retired workers would receive under Social Security compared to
the amount of money they would receive if they invested their
Social Security taxes in private investments receiving a 6% real
return. In one such example a head of household making an average
wage, with a homemaker spouse, would accumulate $1,264,428 in
assets, receiving $75,865 annually in interest payments alone.
This interest alone would pay almost two times as much as Social
Security, Ferrara noted, while leaving almost $1.3 million for
the children. Contact Peter Ferrara at 202/785-0266 or [email protected]
(http://www.atr.org).
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) discussed the Balanced Budget Amendment
and the version he is introducing which would require a 2/3 Congressional
vote for tax increases. Barton discussed the uphill battle the
BBA is facing this year, saying that he would not promote the
tax-limitation BBA if it would hurt the BBA's overall chances.
He concluded "I don't see any way we are going to pass the
generic [BBA] this year," so "it seems to me this year's
the time [for the tax-limitation BBA]. Let's fight it on principle."
Barton is seeking letters of support. Contact Rep. Barton through
Andy Black at 202/225-2002, fax 202/225-3248 (http://www.House.gov/barton/welcome.html).
Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) made a case for Congress passing legislation
early this year to set forth the total amount of the FY98 federal
budget in order to get early agreement with the Administration
on how much money the federal government should spend in FY98.
He advised crafting a simple bill (without lots of divisive "Christmas
tree" add-ons) including a total budget number and several
of President Clinton's targeted tax breaks as an incentive for
the President to sign it. This would reduce the likelihood of
shutting down the federal government again this year, said Istook,
because the argument would be over what to spend money on, not
how much to spend. "It will," he said, "force us
to make the tough decisions." Contact Rep. Istook via Steve
Jones at 202/225-2132.
Rep. Mark Neumann (R-WI) discussed how balancing the federal budget
and the Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) would affect Social Security.
He noted that, under present projections, $104 billion is slated
to be taken out of the Social Security trust fund in 2002, the
year the federal government is slated to reach "balance."
But, Neumann said, if the Congress passes, and the President approves,
a federal budget for FY98 at the same level as FY97, the government
will not need to raid the Social Security Trust Fund in 2002.
A discussion followed about whether or not Republicans should
"call the Democrats' bluff" and exclude the Social Security
Trust Fund from the BBA. Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation
thought they should because doing so would cause the government
to tighten its belt further than it otherwise would need to to
comply with the BBA. Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) disagreed: "My
fear is that Dick Gephardt's goal in exempting Social Security
is to create a mechanism whereby we can continue to debt-fund
the government." Contact Rep. Neumann at 202/225-3031 or
[email protected],
Paul Weyrich at 202/546-3000 or [email protected]
(http://net.fcref.org), or
Rep. Shadegg at 202/225-3361.
Tom Jipping of the Free Congress Foundation discussed his organization's
effort to get every Republican Senator to sign "The Hatch
Pledge," a pledge Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin
Hatch made in a November 15, 1996 speech to the Federalist Society.
The pledge reads: "Those nominees who are or will be judicial
activists should not be nominated by the president or confirmed
by the Senate, and I personally will do my best to see to it that
they are not." Jipping urged participants to ask Senators
if they have signed the pledge. Contact Tom Jipping at 202/546-3000
(http://net.fcref.org).
Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) reminded participants that April 1993
documents from Hillary Clinton's Health Care Task Force, obtained
via lawsuit, explicitly stated the White House's backup plan should
Mrs. Clinton's health care plan fail to win Congressional approval.
That backup plan was, Istook said, "Kid Care" -- a plan
to advocate covering small children with government-run health
care and then slowly inch up the eligibility age level. It is
important that Americans remember this, said Istook, as the White
House is now pushing "Kid Care." Kris Ardizzone of Eagle
Forum noted that very few American children don't have access
to health care already, as other programs cover them. Contact
Rep. Istook via Steve Jones at 202/225-2132 and Kris Ardizzone
at 202/544-0353.
Peter Roff of GOPAC distributed audio tapes entitled "Redefining
America: Two Visions of Modern American Citizenship" featuring
Ward Connerly, President, California Civil Rights Initiative,
and Professor Ken Jowitt, University of California at Berkeley.
Copes of the tapes are available to the public. Contact GOPAC
at 202/484-2282. *
Scoop is published by The National Center for Public Policy
Research to provide information about the activities of the conservative
movement. Coverage of a meeting or statement in Scoop does not
imply endorsement by The National Center for Public Policy Research.
Copyright 1997 The National Center for Public Policy Research.
Reprints of articles in Scoop permitted provided source is credited.
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