The House

‘Dial-a-Porn’

The House adopted, 379 for and 22 against, an amendment making it illegal for telephone companies to allow use of their wires by firms selling taped, pornographic commentary to teen-agers and other long-distance callers. The amendment outlawing “dial-a-porn” was attached to a bill renewing federal education programs for five years, at a first-year cost of $7.5 billion. The bill (HR 5) was passed on a near-unanimous vote and was headed for expected approval by the Senate and President Reagan.

Supporters said “dial-a-porn” is so offensive it should be denied First Amendment protections, while opponents denounced the amendment as an attempt by politicians to build popularity in an election year at the expense of free speech.

Members voting yes wanted to ban “dial-a-porn” from telephone wires.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Plant Closings

By a vote of 167 for and 253 against, the House rejected an attempt to remove “plant closing” language from a trade bill conference report (HR 3) that was later was passed and sent to the Senate. This preserved the bill’s requirement that employers of 100 or more workers give at least 60 days’ notice of plant closings or massive layoffs. Labor supported the provision as a matter of fairness, while business groups and President Reagan opposed it as an anti-efficiency measure that would cost jobs.

The overall trade bill seeks to toughen America’s world trading position while cushioning the impact of foreign competition on workers and employers. Its 1,000 pages contain numerous federal programs and expenditures to benefit labor, business and agriculture.

Members voting yes did not want to require 60 days’ notice of plant closings and large layoffs.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x