THE ISSUES IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE

The differences on issues between Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston and Republican nominee Ed Zschau are in two major areas: The role of government programs and the United States’ posture in foreign policy.

On the programs, Cranston said: “I will continue to resist mindless slashes in vital domestic programs. The government has a responsibility beyond just national defense. It has a responsibility to lead and invest in education, health care, housing and protecting the environment.”

Thus, in his 18 years in the Senate, Cranston has usually voted to increase funding for a range of programs benefitting the middle class and the poor. Although he acknowledges that the federal deficit is a problem, he notes that its dramatic rise happened during a military buildup, and he refuses to engage in symbolic votes against domestic appropriations bills.

On foreign policy, Cranston believes that the United States has a moral responsibility to champion human rights and to avoid intervention in other countries’ affairs. He is a longtime opponent of the nuclear arms race and has criticized the lack of major arms agreements under President Reagan.

Zschau, a two-term congressman from Los Altos, consistently supports lower funding levels for middle-class and poverty programs, and he has voted against final appropriations bills as a symbolic gesture.

“Under the old politics,” Zschau said, “a lawmaker demonstrates his commitment to something by showing how much of someone else’s money he is willing to spend on it.”

On foreign policy, Zschau supports military aid for the Nicaraguan rebels and disputes Cranston’s charge that it will lead to the involvement of U.S. troops. He has been much less outspoken than Cranston in his criticism of the South African government.

And Zschau, although he is more vocal on human rights issues than some conservative Republicans, is not as outspoken on the subject as Cranston. On arms control, Zschau has supported Reagan.

Of the two, Cranston is the more philosophically consistent. His beliefs in an active government at home and a moral United States abroad have not changed since he entered the Senate in 1969.

By his own admission, Zschau is not so consistent. He has changed his positions on key issues, including military aid for the Nicaraguan rebels and U.S. arms sales to Arab countries. He touts the pragmatism he gained as a businessman.

ISSUE: DOMESTIC SPENDING CRANSTON Opposed Gramm-Rudman automatic spending cuts because he said they were unconstitutional and would cause chaos. Opposes a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, fearing it could hamper operation of the government. Supported various emergency education appropriations bills in recent years. Supports major cuts in farm subsidies. ZSCHAU Voted for Gramm-Rudman automatic spending cuts, saying they will force Congress to come to grips with the deficit. Supports proposed balanced budget amendment for same reason. Has voted against some emergency education bills because he thought they were over budget. Supports major cuts in farm subsidies. ISSUE: DEFENSE SPENDING CRANSTON Supported recent decision by Congress to cut Pentagon budget by 3% for fiscal 1987. Has often challenged Pentagon appropriations bills. ZSCHAU Supported the recent 3% cut in Pentagon budget but would have preferred not to have seen the budget cut. In the past has been less critical of Pentagon appropriations than Cranston. ISSUE: TAX INCREASES CRANSTON Had reservations about the 1981 Reagan income tax cuts but voted for the final bill. Played a key role in reducing capital gains tax rates in 1978. Supported recent tax reform bill that lowers rates for individuals. But says Zschau’s pledge not to raise those rates in next six years is “irresponsible” because national crisis could require it. ZSCHAU Had doubts about 1981 Reagan tax cuts and once proposed a one-year surtax to reduce deficit. Recently apologized for those positions. As a private citizen in 1978, he was instrumental in getting capital gains tax rate lowered. Supported recent tax reform bill. Recently pledged that as a senator he would not raise income taxes under any circumstances in next six years.  ISSUE: DRUG ENFORCEMENT CRANSTON A member of Democratic Task Force on Narcotics, he has voted for a number of tough laws, including the comprehensive Drug Enforcement, Education and Control Act of 1986. Once introduced a bill that would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. Although he is generally opposed to capital punishment, he would not join attempts by death penalty opponents to hold up passage of 1986 drug bill because it at one point contained a capital punishment clause. ZSCHAU Co-sponsored a bill to make it harder for drug pushers to launder money and to apply to drug cases the stiffer penalties in the Career Criminal Act. Voted for the comprehensive Drug Enforcement, Education and Control Act of 1986. Supports death penalty for drug pushers who kill. ISSUE: TERRORISM CRANSTON Over the years he has backed tougher penalties for terrorists and better security at airports. Called in 1981 for an end of Libyan oil shipments to U.S. because Libya harbored terrorists. Reluctantly supported U.S. bombing of Libya in 1986. Opposes death penalty for terrorists, saying it makes them martyrs and cripples bargaining efforts to free hostages. ZSCHAU Co-sponsored bills to increase penalties for terrorists and to convene an international conference to combat terrorism. Strongly supported U.S. bombing of Libya in 1986. Supports death penalty for terrorists who kill. ISSUE: IMMIGRATION CRANSTON Would like to see U.S. control its border with Mexico but believes many illegal aliens put more into the economy than they take out. After originally opposing Simpson-Rodino immigration reform bill, he recently voted for the bill on final passage, saying he supports amnesty and the use of guest workers by California growers. But he warns that the reform bill’s penalties for employers who hire illegal aliens could be discriminatory. ZSCHAU Believes control of the border should be a top priority because of the negative effect he thinks illegals have on U.S. economy and services. Voted for Simpson-Rodino immigration reform bill. A stronger supporter than Cranston of providing guest workers for growers. ISSUE: JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS CRANSTON Opposed appointment of William H. Rehnquist as Chief Justice of the United States but voted to confirm nomination of Antonin Scalia. Led fight against the controversial appointment to federal appeals court of Indiana attorney Daniel A. Manion, saying he was not qualified. Objects to Reagan Administration’s asking some judicial nominees about their views on abortion and other social issues. Will not take a stand on the reconfirmation of California Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird, saying it is not a federal matter. ZSCHAU Supported appointments of Rehnquist and Scalia. Opposes asking judicial nominees their views on social issues. Says he would have opposed Manion appointment because he was not the best choice. Opposes reconfirmation of Bird. ISSUE: ARMS CONTROL CRANSTON Long a leader of efforts to reduce nuclear arms stockpiles. Made nuclear freeze the centerpiece of his 1984 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. Has consistently opposed the MX missile but supports the B-1 bomber. Supports research for Strategic Defense Initiative but at a lower level than desired by Reagan. Opposed deployment of Cruise and Pershing missiles in Europe in 1983. Believes U.S. and Soviets missed a chance for historic arms agreements at recent Iceland summit. ZSCHAU Supported nuclear freeze when he first ran for Congress in 1982 but later angered some freeze backers when he introduced an amendment stressing reductions before a freeze. Once opposed MX, then supported it, but now opposes it. Supported deployment of Cruise and Pershing missiles in Europe and says it forced the Soviets into serious arms negotiations. Supports research for SDI but at a lower level than sought by Reagan. Believes Reagan was wise to avoid “hasty agreement” with Soviets at Iceland summit. ISSUE: FOREIGN POLICY: NICARAGUA CRANSTON Highly critical of U. S. military and humanitarian aid for the Nicaraguan contras , warning that U.S. attempts to overthrow the Sandinista government could lead to another Vietnam. ZSCHAU Once strongly opposed U.S. military aid for the contras but switched during the GOP Senate primary, saying that without pressure from contras , the Sandinistas will not enact reforms. ISSUE: FOREIGN POLICY: SOUTH AFRICA CRANSTON One of Senate’s strongest critics of the South African government and its policy of apartheid. Wants divestiture and toughest possible sanctions. Voted to override recent Reagan veto of new sanctions. ZSCHAU Critical of apartheid but originally opposed strong sanctions against South Africa and did not endorse divestiture of University of California investments. Missed vote to override recent Reagan veto of new, tougher sanctions but says he favored the sanctions and would have voted to override. ISSUE: FOREIGN POLICY: MIDDLE EAST CRANSTON One of the staunchest supporters of Israel in the Senate. Has led fights to block U.S. arms sales to Arab countries, except for Egypt. ZSCHAU Once voted to cut supplemental aid to Israel. Supported Reagan proposal to sell arms to Saudi Arabia in May but after visit to Israel in early summer said he would “probably” oppose such sales in the future. ISSUE: ENVIRONMENT, CLEAN WATER TOXICS CRANSTON Early supporter of Proposition 65, the anti-toxics initiative on the November ballot. Outspoken supporter of federal Clean Water Act. Voted for Superfund appropriations and supported provisions designed to allow use of Superfund monies to pay victims’ medical and other expenses. ZSCHAU Opposes Proposition 65, saying it will create a “legal blizzard” and hurt California agriculture. Voted against Clean Water Act in 1985 because pork barrel programs doubled the funding level. Voted for Clean Water Act of 1986, saying much of the waste had been eliminated. Voted for Superfund appropriations but opposed use of money to pay victims’ medical and other expenses. ISSUE: WILDERNESS, NATIONAL PARKS BILLS CRANSTON A Senate leader over the years in creating wilderness areas and protecting wild rivers. Supports both maintenance of national parks and their expansion. ZSCHAU Supports creation of some wilderness areas and protection of wild rivers. Says maintenance of national parks should take precedence over expansion. ISSUE: OFF-SHORE OIL DRILLING CRANSTON Supports a moratorium until environmentally safe sites can be identified. ZSCHAU Supports a moratorium until environmentally safe sites can be identified.  ISSUE: TRADE CRANSTON Once supported protectionism when U.S. auto industry was ailing but now opposes it. Opposes quotas on textile imports. Introduced bill to crack down on “dumping” of foreign products in U.S. ZSCHAU Always opposed protectionism. Opposes quotas for textiles and other goods. Instrumental in writing legislation to speed up export licensing process and lower barriers. A leader in Congress in promoting high-tech exports. ISSUE: SOCIAL ISSUES CRANSTON Pro-choice on abortion and supports federal funding of abortions for all needy women. Opposes a constitutional amendment to mandate prayer in schools. Supports proposed equal rights amendment. ZSCHAU Pro-choice on abortion but opposes federal funding of abortions for needy women unless their lives are in danger. Opposes a constitutional amendment on prayer. Supports equal rights amendment.