The House : Capitol Elevators

Congress is spending $650,000 in public funds on the salaries of about 50 employees who occupy and “operate” automatic elevators in Capitol Hill buildings. These are patronage employees hand picked by senior members, and their elevators, located throughout the Capitol complex except in the three Senate office buildings, often are exclusively for the use of lawmakers.

Tourists and other visitors to Capitol Hill usually have to punch their own elevator buttons.

The House voted 191 for and 221 against an amendment offered July 18 by Rep. Hank Brown (R-Colo.) to cut 1986 spending for House elevator operators by $106,000.

A yes vote was in favor of cutting the elevator outlay.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Dixon (D) x Rep. Levine (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Franking Privilege

By a vote of 204 for and 217 against on July 18, the House rejected an amendment by Rep. Clarence Miller (R-Ohio) to cut $10 million from the 1986 appropriation for members’ franking, or free-mailing, privileges. Miller said he hoped the cut would reduce from six to four the maximum number of newsletters that members could send each year to all mailboxes in their district.

A yes vote was in favor of cutting mailing costs.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Dixon (D) x Rep. Levine (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

The State Senate Prison for L.A.

The Senate on Aug. 22 debated a bill, SB904 by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside), appropriating $31 million to buy a site for a medium security prison in central Los Angeles near Boyle Heights.

Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) offered an amendment forbidding construction of a prison anywhere within 15 miles of the proposed site. The amendment was defeated, 16-17.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Sen. Hart (D) x Sen. Roberti (D) x Sen. Rosenthal (D) x Sen. Watson (D) x