Summary

PRESIDENT BUSH LOBBIES FOR A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. INTEREST GROUPS LOBBY AGAINST IT. THE HOUSE IS PLANNING THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF VOTES ON THE ISSUE TOMORROW.

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 96170
Story Slug BALANCED BUDGET
Location WASHINGTON, DC
Format PKG
Date 6/8/1992
Archive Time 31:50
TRT 1:43
Supers THE WHITE HOUSE RON POLLACK, FAMILIES USA STATE REP. JOHN OVERINGTON, R-WEST VIRGINIA MIKE MCKEE (STANDUP)
Video Description CAPITOL HILL, WHITE HOUSE MEETING, BUSH SOT, PEOPLE WALKING OUTSIDE, FILE OF SICK ELDERLY PEOPLE, FAMILIES USA NEWSER, SOT, HOUSE FLOOR, MCKEE STANDUP.
Description PRESIDENT BUSH LOBBIES FOR A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. INTEREST GROUPS LOBBY AGAINST IT. THE HOUSE IS PLANNING THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF VOTES ON THE ISSUE TOMORROW.
Script LEAD: POLITICIANS, LIKE MOST PEOPLE, LOVE TO FIND THE EASY ANSWER TO A PROBLEM. THAT'S ONE REASON THE IDEA OF A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT HAS GONE SO FAR. BUT AS THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH AN AMENDMENT BECOME MORE CLEAR, SUPPORT SEEMS TO BE STALLING. MIKE MCKEE REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON: SCRIPT: AUDIO TRACK A WITH THE HOUSE POISED TO BEGIN CONSIDERATION TOMORROW, BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT SUPPORTERS SEEM STALLED JUST SHORT OF THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF VOTES. LOOKING FOR LOBBYING HELP, PRESIDENT BUSH CALLED IN LEGISLATORS FROM STATES WHICH HAVE BALANCED BUDGET REQUIREMENTS: GEORGE BUSH/ROOSEVELT ROOM/ "IT IS PRIORITY. I THINK THE COUNTRY IS SICK AND TIRED OF DEFICITS. THIS WILL HELP DISCIPLINE THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND WE'VE GOT TO GET IT DONE." AUDIO TRACK B BUT CONCERN APPEARS TO BE GROWING ON CAPITOL HILL THAT THE ROAD TO HELL MAY BE PAVED WITH THOSE KIND OF GOOD INTENTIONS. ANTI-AMENDMENT ACTIVISTS ARE SCORING POINTS ARGUING THAT ENFORCING A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT WOULD MEAN RAISING TAXES, OR SEVERELY CUTTING SOCIAL PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY: RON POLLACK/NEWS CONFERENCE/11:08:36/RUNS :07 "PRESIDENT BUSH'S AMENDMENT IS A DAGGER AIMED AT THE HEART OF THE MEDICARE PROGRAM." AUDIO TRACK C IN AN ELECTION YEAR, HOWEVER, ITS HARD FOR POLICIANS TO AVOID THE PRESSURE TO DO SOMETHING, EVEN IF ITS THE WRONG THING: JOHN OVERINGTON/STAKEOUT/12:27:51/RUNS :08 "I DID A POLL IN MY DISTRICT IN WEST VIRGINIA. 94% OF THE PEOPLE RESPONDED FAVORED A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT." AUDIO TRACK D SO OPPONENTS WILL TRY TO FINESSE THAT BY TRYING A PARLIAMENTARY AND POLITICAL END RUN. OFFERING LEGISLATION TUESDAY IN THE HOUSE THAT WOULD MAKE A BALANCED BUDGET A LEGAL REQUIREMENT. A LAW THAT LIKE GRAMM-RUDMAN, WOULD BE EASIER TO IGNORE THAN AN AMENDMENT. STANDUPPER THAT WOULD GIVE WAVERING LAWMAKERS A WAY OUT. ENABLING THEM TO SAY THEY VOTED FOR A BALANCED BUDGET WHILE VOTING AGAINST THE POLITICALLY PAINFUL CHOICES AN AMENDMENT WOULD MEAN. IF TH MANEUVER FAILS, THE HOUSE WILL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT WEDNESDAY. MIKE MCKEE, AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
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