Lawmakers Take Pilot's Side

Members of Congress pressured the Air Force Wednesday to grant the first woman B-52 bomber pilot an honorable discharge rather than court-martialing her on charges including adultery. "Allow her to leave the military with dignity," said Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, echoing similar comments made Tuesday by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. The Air Force is weighing Lt. Kelly Flinn's request that she resign with an honorable discharge. Air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall had no comment on the Flinn case after testifying before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, which was discussing next year's Air Force budget. The Air Force delayed Flinn's court-martial Tuesday while Widnall considers her resignation.

Clinton Blasts Fashion Industry

President Clinton is leveling harsh criticism at the U.S. fashion industry. Speaking at the White House to a U.S. Conference of Mayors forum on drug abuse, Clinton accused the industry of promoting heroin use by young people and said fashion designers should not try to "glamorize addiction to sell clothes." The president was attacking the so-called heroin chic approach that has been used in some fashion photography, in which models pose dazed as if under the influence of drugs. The trend has been popular in recent years in fashion magazines and various advertising campaigns, featuring gaunt models who appear to be in stupors. Clinton said heroin has become the drug of choice among young people.

Senate Opposes Cigarette Tax

The Senate Wednesday rejected a plan to finance children's health insurance through a 43-cents-per-pack cigarette tax and its supporters blamed White House interference for its failure. The White House and key Republicans argued its adoption as part of a five-year balanced budget plan would unravel the carefully crafted deal and open the gates to numerous amendments seeking to add funds for pet projects. The tax hike defeat allowed the Senate to continue debate in an effort to hold a final vote Thursday. The House approved its version in the wee hours Wednesday.

FBI's Top Lawyer Quits

FBI General Counsel Howard Shapiro, criticized for poor judgment in his dealings with the White House over the FBI background files controversy, announced his resignation Wednesday. A Justice Department internal investigation released in March found that the former prosecutor and law professor made "a very serious mistake and exhibited very poor judgment" in the files case. The investigation began after last year's disclosure that Shapiro alerted the White House about politically damaging information in an FBI background file on former White House personnel security chief Craig Livingstone. The decision by Shapiro to join a private law firm means he will avoid any Justice Department discipline.

Kennedy Donors to Plead Guilty

A Democratic fund-raising couple has agreed to plead guilty to making about $50,000 in illegal campaign contributions to Sen. Edward Kennedy and an Oklahoma congressional candidate, the Justice Department said Wednesday. It said Nora Lum, 54, an Asian-American Democratic donor and her husband Gene, 57, agreed as part of a plea deal to admit their guilt to conspiring to make the contributions through third-party conduit or "straw" donors. The contributions went to the 1994 re-election campaign for Kennedy and to W. Stuart Price, the unsuccessful 1994 Democratic candidate for a House seat.

China MFN Status Protested

A coalition of unlikely allies including Christian, labor, human rights and some business groups Wednesday attacked President Clinton's decision to renew China's privileged trading status. Although the critics conceded it would be hard to rally enough support in Congress to overturn Clinton's decision, they signaled a major battle in the coming weeks. Clinton said Monday he would accord China most favored nation status for the coming year despite disagreements over human rights and other issues as he pursued a policy of engagement with Beijing.

House OKs Tuna Embargo Repeal

The House Wednesday voted to lift the U.S. embargo on tuna caught in nets that also may trap and kill dolphins, as long as dolphin deaths were kept to minimum. The House voted 262-166 for legislation the White House pushed as a way to put into law improvements Mexico and other countries that fish the Eastern Tropical Pacific agreed to make in their tuna fishing methods. However, the bill faces tougher sledding in the Senate where Democrats Barbara Boxer of California and Joseph Biden of Delaware have said they would move to block it. They stopped the bill in the Senate last year after the House approved it.

Banking Law Overhaul Backed

The Clinton administration Wednesday proposed a plan to overhaul Depression-era laws governing the U.S. financial sector. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin said the administration favors allowing banks to enter the securities and insurance fields. The new proposal does not take a firm position on the controversial question of allowing banks to combine with non-financial, commercial firms. The highly anticipated administration proposal, originally expected in March, takes its place with several bills already introduced in Congress. Rubin says increased competition in financial services should benefit consumers.

US Criticizes Arafat Comment

The United States Wednesday sharply criticized Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, saying it was "dismayed" that he had backed a law imposing the death penalty for land sales to Jews. Arafat said in an interview published Wednesday that he backed a recent decision to enforce an old Jordanian law in the West Bank punishing land sales to Jews by death. Jordan ruled the West Bank until Israel occupied the area in 1967. "Frankly his comments this morning are comments that we cannot support, are comments that leave us quite puzzled as to why he would say those things," State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said.

Lawmaker Targets Junk E-Mail

A congressman Wednesday proposed a ban on unsolicited junk electronic mail that he said is clogging up the online baskets of internet users across the country. New Jersey Republican Chris Smith said his "Netizens Protection Act of 1997" would ban unsolicited commercial e-mail including get-rich-quick schemes, unproven medical remedies and similar solicitations that can cost recipients money by incurring online charges. He said that anyone who chose to get the e-mail could still do so under his bill. The measure would not affect e-mail sent by friends and existing business associates.

< Back > < Contents >  < Home >