AFA's Legislative Hotline Message
Week of September 11, 2000
This week, the House will attempt a veto override on the
"marriage penalty" tax cut bill as well as consider the
fiscal 2001 District of Columbia spending bill and other
spending bills. The House will also consider a new version
of the Treasury-Postal appropriations measure, the repeal of
the phone tax, and the conference report to the NASA
authorization bill. The Senate plans to begin a debate on
amendments that would liberalize trade with China and will
consider a spending bill that covers appropriations for the
legislative branch and Treasury-Postal. The Senate will
also consider a repeal of the phone tax and the
Commerce-Justice-State spending bill.
If you have any questions concerning AFA's Government
Affairs Department's activities or Congressional activities,
please feel free to call the Government Affairs Department
at 1-800- 424-2401. Thank you being involved in the
legislative process.
Political Update
As you know, the 2000 elections are fast approaching. The most effective way
to become directly involved in the political process is through voting. To make
voting easier, the Government Affairs Department is organizing a voter
registration drive. Legislative/PAC representatives will soon be receiving a
voter registration kit, which includes a comprehensive election information
book, federal forms for voter registration, postcards to request an absentee
ballot, and a listing of helpful Internet sites. Please help make AFA a powerful
force in the 2000 elections by participating in the voter registration drive. If
you would like to volunteer in this drive, contact your local Legislative/PAC
representative.
Politics surrounding the up-coming November election have recently paused in
order to pay respects to Sen. Paul Coverdell (R-GA), who died on July 18th.
Coverdell served as GOP Conference secretary, which made him the 4th ranking
Republican Senate leader. Georgia's Gov. Roy Barnes (D) has appointed former
Democratic governor Zell Miller to fill Coverdell's seat on an interim basis
until a special election is held on November 7th. Miller has announced that he
will run for the seat to finish out the 4 years left in Coverdell's term.
Preparations for the Democratic and Republican conventions are currently
being finalized. The Republican National Convention is being held July 31-August
3 in Philadelphia and the Democratic National Convention is being held August
14-17 in Los Angeles. Republicans are planning to feature Laura Bush, retired
Gen. Colin Powell, Sen. John McCain, and GOP presidential candidate Elizabeth
Dole. The speakers and line-up for the Democratic Convention have not been
finalized, but President Clinton will speak on the first night of the
convention.
On the Republican side, George W. Bush has announced former defense secretary
Richard B. Cheney as his vice presidential running mate. Cheney served as White
House chief of staff under President Gerald Ford and as a Representative in
Congress from Wyoming. Names mentioned for Vice President Gore's running mate
include House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, Senators John Kerry (MA), Bob
Grahm (FL), Tom Harkin (IA), Evan Bayh (IN) and Dick Durbin (IL).
Many of the House and Senate races have become highly competitive, showing no
clear leader in the polls. These races are important as Democrats try to gain
the majority in the House. The Senate will most likely remain in Republican
control, but Democrats will be fighting to gain seats. The Democratic
appointment of Zell Miller in Georgia will give the Democrats a chance to pick
up an extra seat and put them in a position to regain control of the Senate.
Currently, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has a 2-1 cash
advantage over the Republicans to assist candidates and the Democratic
Senatorial Campaign Committee has a solid lead over the Republican committee in
financial resources.
AFA Legislative Hotline:
1-800-AFA-UPD8
