THE HOUSE

Aid for Los Angeles and Chicago

By a vote of 244 to 162, the House passed a bill (HR 5132) appropriating $495 million in fiscal 1992 grants and loans to help Los Angeles rebuild from its recent riots and Chicago recover from recent downtown flooding. As emergency funding, the spending will not be offset by budget cuts or tax hikes, and thus will swell the federal deficit. President Bush backed the bill, but Republicans opposed it by more than 2-to-1. Democrats supported it 4-to-1.

Supporter Bob Traxler (D-Mich.) complained that as an appropriations subcommittee chairman, “I’ve got to carry the water for that guy in the White House against his own party.”

Opponent James F. Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) said there is “obvious need” in Los Angeles but that taxpayers should not be billed for the “gross negligence and bureaucratic bungling” behind the Chicago disaster.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Anderson (D) x Rep. Dornan (R) x Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Dymally (D) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x Rep. Waters (D) x

Funding for Legal Services Corp.

By a vote of 253 to 154, the House sent the Senate a bill (HR 2039) funding the Legal Services Corp. through fiscal 1996 at an average annual cost of $358 million. The 18-year-old program provides free legal help on civil cases to poor people at more than 300 offices nationwide. It has not had a regular budget since President Reagan’s first term, but has survived on appropriations from other accounts.

“All citizens of this great nation must have access to our system of justice,” supporter Jack Brooks (D-Tex.) said.

Opponent Charles W. Stenholm (D-Tex.) said many Legal Services Corp. offices are overly concerned with lobbying and political organizing.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Anderson (D) x Rep. Dornan (R) x Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Dymally (D) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x Rep. Waters (D) x

Post Office Investigation

By a vote of 324 to 3, the House approved a GOP resolution (H Res 456) urging the Democratic leadership to be more open with information about the ongoing investigation of the House Post Office, as required by House rules.

The vote occurred after members learned that Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.) had belatedly informed them of subpoenas served on three House members, all Democrats, in connection with irregularities at the Post Office.

A yes vote supported the Republican resolution.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Anderson (D) x Rep. Dornan (R) x Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Dymally (D) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x Rep. Waters (D) x

Help for U.S. Shipbuilders

The House passed, 339 to 78, a bill (HR 2056) barring foreign ships built with government subsidies from docking in U.S. ports. Sponsors said the measure is aimed at unfair competition against American shipbuilders, who receive no direct government subsidy. The bill also accelerates the removal of federal user fees on recreational boat owners.

Supporter John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) said that with American shipyards closing, “it is time we do something . . . to protect that essential industry.”

Opponent Philip M. Crane (R-Ill.) called the bill “an unworkable, dangerous response which will hurt U.S. interests more than it will help.”

A yes vote supported the bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Anderson (D) x Rep. Dornan (R) x Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Dymally (D) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x Rep. Waters (D) x

Source: Roll Call Report Syndicate