The House

Civil Rights Bill

By a vote of 292 to 133, the House joined the Senate in overriding President Reagan’s veto of the Civil Rights Restoration Act (S557). This enacted the bill to extend the reach of federal anti-discrimination laws to all parts of an institution that receive federal aid.

The bill negates a 1984 Supreme Court ruling, in a case involving Grove City College in Pennsylvania, that the federal ban on sex discrimination applies only to the specific campus program receiving federal aid, not to the entire school.

Override supporter Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) said the issue was whether Congress should “sacrifice basic American protections against discrimination to allay the fears of President Reagan and the Moral Majority.”

In his veto message, Reagan said the bill “would vastly and unjustifiably expand the power of the federal government (into) private organizations such as churches and synagogues, farms, businesses and state and local governments.”

Members voting yes favored the bill.

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

1989 Budget

By a vote of 319 to 102, the House adopted a fiscal 1989 budget that envisions about $1.1 trillion in spending, an annual deficit of $134 billion, no major tax increases and slight increases in defense and non-military spending.

The fiscal blueprint (H Con Res 268) guides appropriations bills that Congress will try to pass later in the year. Its highest outlays are $294 billion for defense, $233 billion for Social Security, $152 billion for interest on the national debt and $138 billion for income security.

While most lawmakers praised the plan as a rare example of bipartisan cooperation, critics termed it an election-year document that defers tough fiscal decisions until the next year.

Supporter William Gray (D-Pa.) said the budget “protects . . . the neediest in our society and provides for other important priorities.”

Opponent Don Pease (D-Ohio) said lawmakers are “only kidding (themselves) and the American public that this budget represents substantial progress” against the deficit.

Members voting yes supported the budget resolution.

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

Budget Freeze

The House rejected, 64 to 354, a frugal alternative to the fiscal 1989 budget that later was approved (above). The alternative sought to freeze discretionary spending at the previous year’s level, eliminate cost-of-living increases for entitlement programs and eliminate scheduled 3% pay raises for federal civilian and military employees. In contrast to the approved budget, it was based on conservative projections of economic growth.

Co-sponsor Bill Frenzel (R-Minn.) said “our budget is tough medicine to take.”

Opponent Martin Frost (D-Tex.) complained it would freeze Social Security benefits.

Members voting yes favored the frugal alternative budget.

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