Marianne Lombardi and Ethan Gutmann of NET-Political News Talk Network discussed their breaking story alleging that a Massachusetts-based company using laser procedures to correct problems with eyesight "bought," with the assistance of Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy (D), Food and Drug Administration approval of their procedure for a lump sum of one and a half million dollars. NET's American Investigative Report broke the story on September 5. For the whole story contact Marianne Lombardi or Ethan Gutmann at NET at 202/546-3000 or 202/544 3200.
Frank Gaffney of the Center for Security Policy discussed the Chemical Weapons Treaty, which is scheduled for debate in the Senate September 12. Contact Frank Gaffney at 202/466-0515.
The National Right to Life Committee discussed President Clinton's veto of the Partial Birth Abortion Act, saying the President's veto, which essentially supports continuation of third trimester abortions, separates him from mainstream America. National Right to Life urged participants to contact members in support of overriding the President's veto. NTRL also discussed the women who appeared with President Clinton at a press conference in which the President explained why he was vetoing the bill. The President claimed on that occasion that the women present had had abortions that the Partial Birth Abortion Act would have banned to the detriment of their health, but in fact the women present had either not received a partial birth abortion, or had not been advised by a that the procedure was necessary.
Peter Roff of GOPAC announced that GOPAC is holding a national town meeting to get the word out on the Dole Tax Plan. GOPAC wants to introduce to America that the tax cut is achievable and will happen if Senator Dole is elected President. The Town Meeting will bring together communities across America by satellite. Senator Dole's tax advisors will be running the meeting to explain the tax cuts, and financial experts will be available at the local meeting to answer questions after the national broadcast. Contact Peter Roff at (202) 484-2282.
Thomas L. Jipping, Director of the Free Congress Foundation Judicial Selection Monitoring Project, announced that he has created and made available to the public profiles of potential presidential nominees for the Supreme Court. He also reviewed President Clinton's success in getting judicial nominees approved by Congress: President Clinton has had 202 judges approved. By comparison, President Bush had 189 and President Reagan had 164 in his first term. Contact Thomas L. Jipping at (202) 546-3000.
Senator Paul Coverdell (R-GA) analyzed the upcoming elections, saying that the 24 Senate seats in play is an "unprecedentedly high number." He added: "Our Members [of the House and Senate] are our best weapon... Get them in the District where they can deal with all the national misrepresentation [on issues]." Contact Senator Coverdell via Carl Parks at 202/224-3643.
Myron Ebell of Frontiers of Freedom discussed the fact that Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott is unwilling to schedule a vote on the Property Rights Bill unless he can be guaranteed that 51 Senators will vote for it. Ebell is urging the Senator to schedule the vote before the fall election because, he said:
Contact Myron Ebell at 703/527-8282.
Marlo Lewis of the Competitive Enterprise Institute followed up on Myron Ebell's report on the property rights bill by reviewing the results of a recent CEI poll to determine national attitudes on environmental policy. The poll backs up contentions made by property rights advocates that the public prefers a nogulatory approach to environmental issues, Lewis said. CEI has published the poll's results in a 25-page paper and copies are available. Contact Marlo Lewis at 202/331-1010.
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