Unfinished Business

With the 106th Congress soon to head toward the exits, radical changes in campaign financing laws--one of the hottest issues during the presidential primaries--and major gun control legislation regrettably are unlikely to make it this year. But, aside from the must-pass government funding measures, Congress has a handful of bills it should enact before adjourning, probably in mid-October.

The Republican-controlled Congress has wasted a lot of time on large tax cuts aimed at narrow constituencies, but it has also produced some notable results. It enacted a landmark reform of the banking and financial services industry and amended the tax code to require tax-exempt political organizations to disclose spending on political campaigns. It also removed many restrictions on trade with African and Caribbean countries.

With time running out, picking priorities will be important. Among the measures that should be adopted are the following:

* Forest road ban. The administration’s proposal would make it more difficult to build new taxpayer-subsidized roads in 43 million acres of roadless national forests; it would also step up efforts to abolish unnecessary or environmentally destructive roads. Some Western lawmakers are livid about the proposal. In recent hearings on this season’s horrific forest fires, they argued that the road ban would increase the fire danger on federal land in coming years and threatened to delay or defeat it through the appropriations process. We urge Congress to hold firm; the road ban makes environmental and fiscal sense.

* H1B high-tech visa program. Increasing the number of temporary visas for skilled foreign workers would provide relief for many high-tech companies in California and elsewhere. A bipartisan measure introduced by Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) would also boost funding for education programs aimed at assuring an adequate domestic supply of skilled workers. The underlying problem--creating opportunities for minorities overlooked by the high-tech industry--remains.

* Permanent normal trading relations with China. The measure passed the House and last week survived attempts in the Senate to scuttle it. It is based on a landmark trade agreement opening China’s markets to U.S. exports and should be enacted.

* Minimum-wage increase. There is broad bipartisan agreement on raising the $5.15 hourly minimum wage by $1 over two years. However, many Republicans don’t see eye to eye on this measure, and even those in the GOP who support it want to hold it as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Democrats. Low-wage workers deserve better.

* Drunk driving limits. Setting a national .08% limit on blood alcohol for drivers--adopted in 18 states, including California--would save hundreds of lives each year. The measure was unanimously approved in the Senate and has bipartisan support in the House. Opposition comes mainly from the alcoholic beverage industry, which falsely argues that everyone would exceed such a limit with one or two drinks. Congressional leaders and President Clinton must push to get the .08 limit enacted.

With elections closing in, legislators will find jockeying for political advantage easier than reaching across party lines and striking deals. However, they will ultimately be judged by the policies they enact.