The House

Earthquake Aid

By a vote of 303 to 107, the House sent to President Bush a catchall spending bill providing disaster aid to California as well as money to run the government in these early weeks of fiscal 1990.The “continuing resolution” (HR 423) is needed because Congress and Bush have failed to enact most of the 13 appropriations bills for the new fiscal year.

The bill provides $1.1 billion for housing grants and other direct aid to victims of the Oct. 17 California earthquake, $1 billion to help repair highways damaged by the quake and more than $1 billion in Small Business Administration loans to help businesses. Some of the emergency aid may also go to victims of Hurricane Hugo.

Members voting yes wanted to enact the continuing resolution including California disaster aid.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Gallegly (R) x Rep. Lagomarsino (R) x

Abortion

The House failed to override President Bush’s veto of a fiscal 1990 Department of Health and Human Services appropriations bill (HR 2990) that eased restrictions on Medicaid abortions. The231-191 vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to defeat the veto. Bush objected to language permitting Medicaid abortions when the pregnancy results from rape or incest. Added earlier by the House to HR 2990, the language would broaden existing law that permits Medicaid abortions only when the mother’s life is at stake.

The House’s failure to overcome Bush’s opposition made it unnecessary for the Senate to also take up the veto and thus the abortion issue. Nor did the Senate vote on the liberalized abortion language when it gave final approval of HR 2990 on Oct. 19.

Members voting yes supported the pro-abortion language and wanted to override the veto.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Gallegly (R) x Rep. Lagomarsino (R) x