LAWMAKERS - 09/29/82
LAWMAKERS - 09/30/82 - Clean Air Act Reform
U.S. Senator Robert Stafford (R-VT), says he expects he expects a reformed Clean Air Act to proceed without rush or delay through the Senate. POV from behind Sen. Stafford's shoulder as he addressed a room full of adult Caucasian men. Sen. Stafford sitting in a meeting with another elderly government official; Stafford flipping through a book. Zoom out from Sen. Stafford's nameplate to a Senate Committee hearing in session. VS of Senate Committee hearing in session. Cokie Roberts, in voiceover, states that Sen. Stafford made it clear that he wouldn't be rushed into any reforms on the Clean Air Act, and after a year and a half, Sen. Stafford's committee reported a Clean Air Act that was more stringent than the old one. VS of House Committee hearing chaired by U.S. House Representative John Dingell (D-MI); Roberts, in voiceover, says Dingell's committee and the auto industry are trying to "water down" Sen. Stafford's bill.
LAWMAKERS - 09/30/82 - Clean Air Act Reform
U.S. House Representative John Dingell (R-MI) seated in office, says there are a lot of conflicting industrial interests, and that environmentalists are not concerned with jobs. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) speaking in House Committee meeting; adult Caucasian men and women listening in hearing room. Cokie Roberts, in voiceover, notes that a powerful constituency comes from Los Angeles where smog caused by car pollution is a problem. Rep. Waxman has proposed a bill that is stronger than Rep. Dingell's proposal.
LAWMAKERS - 09/30/82 - Clean Air Act Reform
U.S. House Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) in office, says that the Clean Air Act needs to be fine-tuned, but not gutted, so an alternative bill was presented. However, since the coalition around this bill was "shaky" he delayed consideration of the new reforms. Rep. Waxman leaning in with another adult Caucasian Congressman for a private conversation. Panning view of adult Caucasian men and women, standing, sitting, in a hearing room; Cokie Roberts, in voiceover, says that by delaying action, Rep. Waxman hoped that the bill could be put forth in an election year would make it hard for Congress to vote in favor of pollution and give environmental lobbyists time to mount a campaign, but this failed, overwhelmed by Rep. John Dingell's coalition.
LAWMAKERS - 09/30/82 - Clean Air Act Reform
U.S. House Representative Phil Gramm (D-TX), in office, discussing the Rep. John Dingell's (D-MI) coalition breakdown. Panning view of members of a Committee meeting; Cokie Roberts, in voiceover, states Rep. Dingell's plan fell apart over provisions to loosen pollution restrictions in areas that have clean air. Rep. Tim Wirth (D-CO), in office.
LAWMAKERS - 09/30/82 - Clean Air Act Reform
U.S. House Representative Tim Wirth (D-CO), in office. says that the gutting interests made their bill too broad, and ultimately the proponents of a tough Clean Air Act were able to frame the issue as a vote for or against clean air. Zoom in on a "The Harris Survey" news release by environmental lobbying group. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), in office, says he can get a poll that will tell you anything by framing the question a certain way. He asked a pollster whether there was a question related to job creation, but that question wasn't asked.
LAWMAKERS - 09/30/82 - Clean Air Act Reform
Close-up of report from National Clean Air Coalition. VS of adult Caucasian male and female workers environmental lobbying office; woman answering telephone, young adult male going through mail, smiling, woman folding paper. U.S. House Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), in office, says the National Clean Air Coalition tries to get the voters to contact their representative and make sure the Congressmen will answer to the voters.
LAWMAKERS - 09/30/82 - Clean Air Act Reform
U.S. House Representative John Dingell (D-MI) sitting down at a committee meetings; Cokie Roberts, in voiceover, notes that after Rep. Dingell lost his National Parks amendment, he also lost another vote on hazardous airborne pollutants, which prompted him to drop the legislation. Rep. Dingell, in office, says it's no victory for environmentalism, but a loss for everyone.