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Talks on Renaming Airport For Reagan Continue

By CQ Staff

Republicans saw the re-naming of Washington National Airport for President Ronald Reagan as a perfect gift for his 87th birthday Feb. 6.

But after failed negotiations on a possible compromise -- including a Democratic bid to name the Justice Department headquarters for former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy -- Democrats thwarted a Senate floor vote on the airport-naming bill (S1297) Jan. 29.

Sponsor Paul Coverdell, R-Ga., accused Democrats of trying to "exact a quid pro quo" for the Reagan tribute. "Today a cynical attack was launched against a great national leader," Coverdell said. "It's a surprising way to start this new session."

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., replied that Democrats would not agree to a GOP plan to permit only one amendment, which would revise the name to Ronald Reagan National Airport from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

"I don't think it would be in our best interests to proceed today," Daschle said. A Senate Democratic leadership aide said Democrats wanted to propose a commission to recommend building names.

Democrats also want to propose as an amendment a bill (HR2676) passed by the House last year to revamp the Internal Revenue Service.

Daschle said Reagan already had a namesake, a new Washington office complex. Democrats also argued that removal of "Washington" from the airport would be disrespectful to the nation's first president.

"There is some question as well whether the Reagan family even wants this done," Daschle said.

Michael Kamburowski, a spokesman for the Reagan Legacy Project of Americans for Tax Reform, a main proponent of the bill, replied that the bill reflects the public's high regard for Reagan. His group also wants to "Put Ron on the Rock" -- carve Reagan's visage on Mount Rushmore.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Jan. 27 voted 39-28 along party lines to approve a similar bill (HR2625), over Democrats who said it defied wishes of local officials and Rep. James P. Moran, D-Va., whose district includes the airport.

James L. Oberstar of Minnesota, the panel's ranking Democrat, argued to "keep National truly national" and suggested naming the Pentagon for Reagan.

The lone Democrat who voted for the bill, Gene Taylor of Mississippi, offered an amendment to require private interests to pay half the expense of the renaming. It was defeated 28-38. Another amendment by Peter A. DeFazio, D-Ore., to require the airport authority's approval of the change, failed 30-37.

A committee aide said the panel's chairman, Bud Shuster, R-Pa., had discussed naming other buildings for Kennedy with his eldest son, Rep Joseph P. Kennedy II, D-Mass., including the Education Department and Union Station, without agreement.

© 1998 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.
In CQ News This Week

Saturday Jan. 31, 1998

Clinton Budget Reaffirms Stand Against Broad GOP Tax Cuts
House Panel Gets Back to Business, Hoping To Put Rancor Aside
Congress Finds No Easy Answers To Internet Controversies
Long List of Its Own Trespasses Tempers Congress' Judgment
Cleland Warns Against Repeating Tonkin Gulf Mistake
If the Furor Subsides, Will There Be a Case?
Talks on Renaming Airport For Reagan Continue
Both Parties Focus on Speech Not Scandal, To Chagrin Of Some
Clinton Succeeds in Slowing Scandal's Momentum





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