Senate Approves Superfund Bill

The Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday for a $7.5-billion Superfund bill that would expand the toxic waste cleanup effort through a new tax on manufacturers, which is strongly opposed by the White House.

But the bill’s floor manager, Sen. Robert T. Stafford (R-Vt.), said the size of the 86-13 vote to renew Superfund through 1990 is a clear message that there is enough support to override a veto.

“The margin is large enough that I think it should impress the White House of the depth of support for the program that exists in the Senate,” Stafford said.

“When the President thinks about the needs of the country, the size of the Senate support and maybe his own niche in history, I think he’ll sign the bill,” he said.

The Senate bill, calling for a nearly fivefold expansion of a program begun in 1980 with a five-year budget of $1.6 billion, went to the House with only a few days remaining before the expiration of the current law’s taxing authority.

With the House not scheduled to debate its renewal bill until mid-October, Superfund money will dry up at midnight Monday with the death of a tax on petroleum and basic petrochemicals.

The Senate’s approach would impose a value-added tax on about 30,000 manufacturers doing more than $5 million worth of business each year. Opponents say the measure would open the door for similar value-added levies to curb growing budget deficits.