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E-mail From Washington

From: Ann Curley/CNN
In: Washington
Posted 10-23-97

Subject: Gephardt Discusses Disputed House Election, Education, Trade

At his weekly briefing today, House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO) expressed dismay at Rep. Bill Thomas' proposal to involve the California secretary of state in the contested House seat of Loretta Sanchez and former GOP Rep. Bob Dornan.

Gephardt said he will take a privileged resolution to the House floor today to ask that the case be dismissed immediately, or that Thomas produce proof that Sanchez did not win the election.

The contested race has been under investigation for nearly a year now, and Gephardt said, "we intend to disrupt House proceedings" in an effort to pressure Republicans to resolve the matter.

Gephardt wouldn't divulge what kinds of tactics the Democrats have planned, but he warned reporters to catch up on their sleep, and vowed, "we'll try to be creative and make this interesting for everybody." He emphasized the Democrats would stop short of causing a government shutdown by delaying any of the remaining appropriations measures.

Gephardt took questions on a variety of other issues, predicting that the IRS reform bill will pass "by an overwhelming majority" in the House, and that the Senate will act upon the legislation before the end of this session, in time for April tax filers.

He called the Republican bill for education savings accounts "a bad bill," and said the vast majority of benefits from the legislation would go to wealthier Americans. He called it "a typical Republican bill... unfair," saying that it does nothing to improve public schools or improve educational opportunities for the middle class.

Gephardt also took the opportunity to point out that Democrats have dubbed October 27th as "National Save Our Schools Day," and will be having events in congressional districts across the country to emphasize the Democratic agenda for improving America's public schools. He accused Republicans of trying to "junk" public education.

Campaign-finance legislation will pushed forward, says the minority leader, beginning Friday, when Democrats will start circulating a "discharge petition" to allow campaign finance legislation to come to the House floor. The petition requires the approval of 218 members in order to be successful. He said that "Democrats are for campaign-finance reform," adding, "what's lacking is Republican support -- it's paltry, it's meager."

Fielding a question about U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson being dispatched to Capitol Hill to lobby for the Clinton fast-track trade proposal, Gephardt said "a vast majority" of Democrats would vote for "appropriate" fast-track legislation. He said that his definition of appropriate means that the measure will contain labor and environmental protection.

Referring to Richardson, a former member of Congress, Gephardt said, "maybe he can bring about a change in the Republicans' view and the administration's view. ... Democrats are for free trade -- what we want is fair trade."

On the issue of the Clinton Administration's global-warming proposals, Gephardt said, "we're going to ask the administration to send representatives to the [Democratic] caucus. Obviously we want to have a presentation, we want to look at the proposal. All of us are concerned about environmental issues." He also emphasized that all countries, not just the United States, need to be involved in fighting global warming.


In Other News:

Thursday Oct. 23, 1997

Sen. Kerrey Interviewed In Teamsters Probe
Angry Words At Senate Hearing
White House: Child Care Needs Unmet
Va. Gov. Race: Poll Gives GOP 7-Point Lead
GOP Steered Donations To Independent Groups
Fast Track Legislation Is In Jeopardy

E-Mail From Washington:
Justice Dept, Hyde Tangle Over Acquitted Defendants' Legal Fees
Gephardt Discusses Disputed House Election, Education, Trade





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