 [4] AEN_NEWS (1:375/48)  AEN_NEWS 
 Msg  : #1880 [75]                                                              
 From : Al Thompson                         1:231/110       Sat 13 Aug 94 00:50 
 To   : All                                                                     
 Subj : More crime bill news                                                    

AP 08/13

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton is offering stern assurances
that Congress will reverse course and produce a crime bill, but he's
leaving it up to his Capitol Hill allies to figure out how to
deliver.

   Democratic congressional leaders are assessing what it would take
to revive the $33 billion crime-fighting package next week in the
wake of a surprising House vote that blocked consideration of the
measure.

   House Speaker Thomas Foley, D-Wash., predicted Friday that the
Democratic majority would "put this bill over the top" after 6 years
in which Congress has not produced a crime bill. Republicans said
they were open to compromise.

   Clinton, bruised by the legislative defeat, sought to increase
public pressure for action by making an emotion-filled speech before
the National Association of Police Organizations in Minneapolis.

   He accused legislators of being cowed by special interests in
refusing to let the crime package come up for a final House vote.

   "It's the same old Washington game -- just stick it to ordinary
Americans because special interests can keep you in Congress
forever," Clinton said. "The time has come ... to say that the only
way for Congress to make their seats safe is to make the rest of
America safer."

   Speaking with deliberation, he promised the crowd of uniformed
officers: "We are going to get you a crime bill. ... Washington
cannot walk away from you."

   In another effort to turn up the pressure, the Democratic
National Committee began a district-by-district attack on
Republicans who supported the crime bill in April but opposed
bringing it up Thursday.

   Clinton's chief of staff, Leon Panetta, said the White House
wants a strong crime bill, but he added, "It's up to both the House
as well as the Senate now to figure out what pieces they have to put
together."

   Republicans insisted they were willing to compromise on some sort
of package and complained that Clinton was too harsh in his
criticisms.

   Clinton "ought to get off the attack policy," said House
Republican Whip Newt Gingrich of Georgia.

   At issue is legislation that would put 100,000 more police on the
street, ban assault-style weapons, build more prisons and put more
money into crime prevention programs.

   House action on the bill was blocked by a diverse group of
legislators that included foes of the gun-control provision,
Republicans who said it contained wasteful spending, and liberals
and blacks who opposed provisions expanding use of the death
penalty.

   A key question was whether the assault weapons ban would have to
be altered or eliminated to save the bill.

   House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., said he thought
the provision might have to be reworked, but Clinton seemed
determined to preserve it.

   Panetta said the administration needs to "bring home those who
have basically flip-flopped on this issue" -- those who voted for
the assault weapons ban initially but helped keep the final crime
package from coming up for a vote.

   Another focus of those trying to salvage the bill is on
crime-prevention provisions that some Republicans labeled wasteful
social spending.

   Clinton, his voice strained from overuse, said it made his "blood
boil" to hear prevention programs labeled wasteful.

   "Who are we trying to kid with all this rhetoric?" he demanded.
"I dare you to find one person who knows anything about this who's
not for tougher punishment and more prevention."

   He got support from big-city mayors of both parties who
accompanied him to Minnesota.

   "To call these pork either is disingenuous or totally
misinformed," said Philadelphia's Democratic mayor, Ed Rendell.

   Republican Mayor Rudolph Giuliani of New York said programs such
as midnight basketball leagues help steer people clear of crime.

   "I don't think we should be talking about concessions," he said.
"We should be talking about getting everyone back to the original
purpose of this bill."

--- GEcho 1.00
 * Origin: Gun Control=Criminals & Gestapo vs. the Unarmed. (1:231/110)

