CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE - NOVEMBER 16, 1995
Prepared for the American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA)
and our friends and colleagues
by Loretta Neumann, CEHP Incorporated
*Interior Appropriations sent back to Conference
*Continuing Resolution heads for another veto
*Debt extension likely to get attached to budget reconciliation bill tomorrow
Istook & McIntosh amendments likely today on lobby disclosure bill
*House and Senate in session over the weekend
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS: Last night, the House of Representatives voted
230-199 to send the Fiscal 1996 Interior Appropriations bill back to the
House-Senate Conference Committee to settle differences over mining patents
on the public lands and excessive logging of the Tongass National Forest in
Alaska. This is the second time the House has voted to recommit the bill to
the committee over these issues. The first time, the conference committee
merely made minor changes in the mining provisions and no changes in the
Tongass. What they will do this time, and when, is unclear. Furthermore, when
the bill goes back to them, the conferees are not limited in what they can
do, and other changes could be made in the bill. The President has pledged
to veto it not only because of the mining patents and Tongass provisions, but
also because of other anti-environmental provisions and because of extreme
cuts that were made in American Indian programs. [Note: the bill contains
funding for many key cultural resources programs in the Department of the
Interior, USDA Forest Service, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and
National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities].
CONTINUING RESOLUTION: The House passed another version of the bill
yesterday, which goes back to the Senate and then to the President, who has
promised to veto this version too. Meanwhile, the only programs exempted from
the government shutdown are those that are contained in appropriations bills
that have already been enacted--which, thus far, only include military
construction, agriculture and transportation. The President is expected to
sign the treasury/postal service bill today.
DEBT EXTENSION: The bill was vetoed by the President, and the House voted on
Monday not to vote on it until December l (the Republican leadership does not
have sufficient votes for an override.) No new bill has been introduced as a
substitute. It is likely to be added to the budget reconciliation
legislation, which is expected to come to a vote tomorrow (Friday.) The
President has vowed to veto this bill as well, since it includes numerous
"riders," that are unacceptable to the Administration.
ISTOOK & MCINTOSH AMENDMENTS TO LOBBY DISCLOSURE BILL: Two Orwellian
amendments may be offered today to H.R.2564, the Lobbyists Disclosure Reform
Bill by Reps. Istook (R-Oklahoma) and McIntosh (R-Indiana). Votes on the
bill are expected later this afternoon. Following are the highlights of
each:
ISTOOK: The amendment would restrict any organization from receiving a
federal grant if it got more than $125,000 a year in grants and spent more
than a permissible amount of its own funds for lobbying activities. (The
amendment contains a complicated formula, the upper limits of which would be
readily met, since so many forms of activities are included that heretofore
have never been considered lobbying.) It covers nonprofit organizations,
state and local governments, private businesses, and state colleges and
universities. They would be restricted in what they can spend on "lobbying
activities" with state and local governments as well as the federal
government. The regulated activities include written and oral communications
(including preparation and planning activities, research and other background
work) and participation in local, state and national elections. Although
the effective date is January 4, 1996, the provisions are retroactive to
expenditures made in the previous fiscal year.
MCINTOSH: This amendment applies to all nonprofit organizations that receive
"government funds" and requires them to file detailed reports with the
federal government listing political endorsements and coalitions, all
political advocacy expenditures, names of and payments to employees who
engage in regulated contacts with any local, state or federal government
employees and agencies. They must list all in-kind or other contributions to
any ballot initiative, legislation or candidate for office. And they must
provide their yearly financial statements.
The organizations must include in public statements (even those that paid for
with their own funds): "This was prepared and paid for by the organization
that accepts taxpayer dollars."
The term "Government funds" includes indirect or in-kind support, cooperative
agreements, gifts, grants, even money received under "a legal settlement or
consent decree in a Federal court." Failure to comply makes organizations
liable for a $10,000 penalty; a second failure would make them ineligible to
receive anything from the federal government for two years.
WHAT'S NEXT? Both the House and the Senate will be in session over the
weekend. If you have cable television, you can watch the action on C-Span.
To check on what is happening or what is scheduled to happen, you can call
the following:
House:
(202) 225-7400 (Democratic tape, floor info)
(202) 225-1600 (Democratic tape, legislative program)
(202) 225-7430 (Republican tape, floor info)
(202) 225-2020 (Republican tape, legislative program)
Senate:
(202) 224-8541 (Democratic tape, floor)
(202) 224-8601 (Republican tape, floor info)
------------------------
For more information on ACRA contact: American Cultural Resources
Association, c/o Tom Wheaton, New South Associates, Inc., 6150 East Ponce de
Leon Ave., Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083 phone: (404)498-4155.
email: [log in to unmask]
For congressional information e-mail: [log in to unmask] Com
ACTION: You can call your Representatives at their local offices or, in
Washington, D.C., through the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121. To
communicate your views with the White House, call (202) 456-1111.
|
