Press release, probably December 1984

ChlCHeChl Press Release _ Nevada CHAT WITH CHIC COLUMN By U.S. Senator Chic Hecht The 98th Congress now is history and the agenda for the 99th Cong-ress is filled with unfinished business of this year's session ? one that probably will be remembered more for inaction than action. MX missile production, aid to Central America, immigration, tax reform and civil rights. Those are some of the issues next year's Congress must address simply because they were shunted aside during this year's session with its overriding political overtones. In two of 1984's most controversial foreign policy items, production of 21 MX missiles and covert aid to Nicaraguan rebels, the Democrat-con-trolled House block the Administration's request for more funds. President Reagan had sought funds for 40 new MX missiles and the Republican controlled Senate approved 21. But the House rejected unconditional approval for add-itional ones. And aid for Nicaragua met a similar fate in the House. Although none v of the Administration's $28 million request for this year was approved, the Nicaraguan problem undoubtedly will get immediate "front burner" atten-tion in the next Congress in view of current Soviet ventures into the area. The 98th Congress was tough on so-called "pork barrel" legislation. There was fierce opposition from the Office of Management and Budget and, as a result, a last minute effort to authorize dozens of new dams, flood control and other related projects failed. And, to me, this wasn't all bad. Perhaps the time has finally come when these projects should all be done, not through federal handouts, but by lo-cal involvement. Such is the case in the Battle Mountain area where Lander county residents have voted overwhelmingly to build a dam on nearby Rock creek "on their own", without help from Uncle Sam. And for this, they are to be congratulated. And there are many of us who believe that tax simplification will be among the administration's top legislative priorities in 1985 as well as other Reagan proposals which died in the last Congress ? issues like tuit-ion tax credit for private school students, constitutional amendments for school prayer, a balanced budget and a line item veto. ; (more) Page 2 There's no doubt that far too little was accomplished during the 98th Congress. And much of the blame lies with our system of government, partic-ularly the "political" aspect of it. During an election year,, and partic-ularly a presidential one, not too much, unfortunately, gets done. People are too busy getting reelected. This is the way it has been and this is the way it probably will be. But the 99th Congress just around the corner offers us an opportunity to do better than we did this year. We must roll up our sleeves and tackle the problems not solved during this session. We owe that much to our count-ry and the people we represent. v.