The House : Taxes

By a vote of 175 for and 240 against, the House refused to add a ban on higher taxes to legislation setting internal House rules for the 100th Congress. The Republican proposal stood no chance of passage in the Democratic-led House and was seen as an attempt to make Democrats look bad on the taxation issue. It sought to block any increase in the lower corporate and individual rates set by the 1986 tax reform law.

Supporter Willis Gradison (R-Ohio) said some Democrats had suggested raising taxes to cut the deficit. “The American people . . . were promised tax reform, not higher taxes,” he said.

Opponent Martin Frost (D-Tex.) called it “the ultimate gimmick” for Republicans to try “to write substantive tax law into the rules of the House.”

Members voting yes wanted House rules to contain a ban on higher taxes.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Badham (R) x Rep. Dannemeyer (R) x Rep. Dornan (R) x Rep. Lungren (R) x Rep. Packard (R) x

Clean Water Bill

The House passed 406-8 and sent to the Senate a bill (HR 1) authorizing grants and loans to communities for construction of sewage treatment facilities. The bill would provide $18 billion over eight years for that purpose and fund a variety of other programs, including ones to stop toxic discharges into public waterways from factories and farms.

This was a rebuff to President Reagan, who late last year vetoed virtually the same legislation.

Members voting yes supported the bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Badham (R) x Rep. Dannemeyer (R) x Rep. Dornan (R) x Rep. Lungren (R) x Rep. Packard (R) x