Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232607
TITLE=CONGRESS / CLINTON / CHINA (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE CONTROVERSY OVER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S HANDLING OF 
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO CHINA IS DOMINATING DEBATE IN THE U-S 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.  V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS 
REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE ATTACK AT NEWS CONFERENCES AND IN THE 
HOUSE CHAMBER.
TEXT:  REPUBLICANS SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NATIONAL  
SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES.  BUT DEMOCRATS ARGUE THE FOCUS ON 
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS IS LARGELY DRIVEN BY POLITICS -- AND A 
VENDETTA BY THE MAJORITY PARTY IN CONGRESS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.
ALMOST EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, PENDING BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE HAS 
BEEN PUSHED ASIDE TO PROVIDE TIME FOR DISCUSSION OF THE 
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CONTROVERSY.  THE DEBATE HAS BEEN SHARPLY 
PARTISAN AT TIMES -- WITH SOME REPUBLICANS GOING SO FAR AS TO 
ACCUSE THE PRESIDENT OF TREASON, AND DEMOCRATS RETURNING THE 
RHETORICAL FIRE.
REPUBLICANS SAY THEY WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN THE 
PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO WAIVE RESTRICTIONS ON SATELLITE EXPORTS 
AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.  
150 MEMBERS OF THE MAJORITY PARTY SIGNED A LETTER URGING THE 
PRESIDENT TO CANCEL HIS UPCOMING SUMMIT IN CHINA -- SAYING HE 
SHOULD  NOT  TRAVEL TO BEIJING UNTIL THE MATTER IS RESOLVED.  
CONGRESSMAN J-D HAYWORTH OF ARIZONA SAYS HE PLANS TO BACK UP THE 
LETTER WITH A RESOLUTION IN THE FULL HOUSE URGING MR. CLINTON TO 
STAY HOME.
                      ////HAYWORTH ACT////
         MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS OUR COMMANDER 
         IN CHIEF TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS COMPLETELY AND 
         THOROUGHLY.
                        ////END ACT/////
MR. HAYWORTH'S RESOLUTION WILL BE THE FOURTH MEASURE BROUGHT TO 
THE HOUSE FLOOR IN AN EFFORT BY REPUBLICANS TO PUT PRESSURE ON 
THE WHITE HOUSE TO COOPERATE WITH ON-GOING INVESTIGATIONS.
HOUSE MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASKED TO VOTE ON BILLS URGING THE
PRESIDENT TO TURN OVER SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS, AND CONVINCE 
UNWILLING WITNESSES TO APPEAR BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.
DURING DEBATE, DEMOCRATS SAID THEY TOO WANT THE TRUTH TO COME 
OUT.  BUT TEXAS CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE WENT ON TO 
CRITICIZE THE TACTICS EMPLOYED BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS.  SHE SAID 
THEY ARE PROMOTING FEAR WITH THEIR ATTACKS ON THE PATRIOTISM OF 
THE PRESIDENT.
                    //////JACKSON-LEE ACT/// 
         I TAKE GREAT AVERSION TO ANYONE BEING CHALLENGED WHO HAS
         TAKEN AN OATH OF OFFICE, THAT THEY ARE UN-AMERICAN -- 
         THAT THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING TO ENDANGER THE LIVES OF SO
         MANY MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. 
                         ///END ACT////
THE HOUSE IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN A 10-DAY RECESS AT THE CLOSE OF 
BUSINESS FRIDAY.  WHEN MEMBERS RETURN, THE FIRST ITEM ON THE 
AGENDA IS LIKELY TO BE THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO 
PROBE THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CONTROVERSY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/JO
21-May-98 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.