27 Democrats in Delegation Hope to Work With Bush : Californians Set Congressional Agenda

Saying that they hope to work with--not against--the Bush Administration, the 27 Democratic members of California’s congressional delegation unveiled their 1989 agenda Wednesday, putting strong emphasis on clean air legislation, trade benefits for state industries, AIDS funding, deficit reduction and expanded education programs.

Much of the attention was focused on newly elected House Budget Committee Chairman Leon E. Panetta (D-Monterey), who said that he expects Bush to put a realistic deficit-cutting proposal on the table next year that does not make catastrophic cuts in social programs.

“Mr. Bush urged us to read his lips on taxes,” said Panetta, who appeared at a press event with other delegation members. “We urge him to read Congress for the last eight years. We have no intention of abandoning the weakest members of our society.”

If Bush does not present a workable proposal, Congress will have no choice but to set its own budget priorities, he added. Under the Congressional Budget Act, Panetta’s committee draws up a federal budget each year that sets spending and revenue goals for every government department. The committee action comes after the President submits his budget.

“Currently, we’re spending $166 billion a year just to pay the interest on our national debt,” said Panetta. “That’s $166 billion we’re not spending on housing, nutrition or defense . . . and we in Congress don’t want that to continue.”

Other members of the California delegation outlined plans to tackle pressing environmental problems during the 101st Congress, which convenes next month. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) said that the passage of a new Clean Air Act will be a top priority.

“It is inescapable that we complete this business, because the public is angry and anxious that we pass a tougher federal law,” said the Los Angeles lawmaker, who heads the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health and the environment.

Waxman, who has clashed with Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), the committee chairman, over tougher anti-pollution guidelines, said that the House will vote on a new clean air bill next year regardless of whether he and Dingell are able to work out a compromise.

Last year, Congress failed to pass new clean air legislation after competing interest groups from different regions of the country failed to agree on a program to limit acid rain emissions.

As for AIDS, Waxman said that he would reintroduce legislation this year to provide nationwide confidentiality for the results of AIDS tests as well as a bill protecting AIDS patients against discrimination. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said that legislation also would be introduced to expand the federal commitment to pay for the health care of AIDS patients.

On trade issues, Rep. Robert T. Matsui (D-Sacramento) expressed disappointment with Bush’s appointment of former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Carla Anderson Hills as the next U.S. Trade Representative. Matsui said that Hills “has no background in trade. . . . As a result the Congress may have to play a continuing leadership role in this area.”

Matsui said that the Democratic delegation would pay particular attention to measures boosting California’s export industries to Pacific Rim nations, as well as the needs of rice growers and other agricultural industries.

Meanwhile, Rep. Mel Levine (D-Santa Monica) said that he would spearhead a task force to give U.S. industries, including California electronics firms, a “competitive advantage” in the race with Japan to develop and market new “high definition” television technology.

Members also indicated that they would seek to expand federal funding for education.