Show THE VOICE OF BUSINESS The wisdom of Big Brother By Richard L Lesher Pres Pree Chamber of Commerce of the United States Speaker Tip ONeill O'Neill and company had hada a political field day recently when they won House passage of a billion dollar program they say will create temporary government jobs Unlike most legislation which takes months if not years of deliberate con con- consideration consideration in appropriate committees this bill seemed to appear out of nowhere just In time for a vote before the fall elec- elec election election tion campaign swings into high gear Meanwhile another piece of legislation languishes In a House Senate one Conference that according to Chase Econometrics could create to jobs in thin private sec sec- sector sector tor without costing the taxpayers a dime The measure would promote the forma forma- formation tion of export trading companies which would greatly Increase Americas America's com com- competitiveness competitiveness overseas It has been debated studied and scrutinized for some four years It has passed over over- overwhelmingly In the Sena Senate te twice and was endorsed by the House recently in a voice vote If Tip and his cronies want to do the American worker and taxpayer a real favor they would throw the full weight of their offices behind the effort to win final passage of this bill By expanding our trade and through it our output we can create permanent jobs in the private sector for to Tips Tip's ghostly jobs that would dry up in six months con con- conveniently conveniently after this Novembers November's votes are counted Former Welfare Secretaries Speak Out For More Spending This year the Department of Health and Human Services will spend more billion than double the gross na- na national national produce of rich oil Saudi Arabia Perhaps it Is easier to understand how this agency's budget soared to such stupendous levels when you consider a recent proposal issued by a bipartisan group of eight former department secretaries that would vastly expand the federal governments government's scope in welfare As one news account described It Former cabinet Secretary Wilbur Cohen said the group had not estimated the cost of the plan which It recommend recommend- recommended ed should start in fiscal 1985 He added that he could provide no estimate on the number of recipients who would be add add- added added ed to the rolls This spend questions at- at attitude attitude may explain how expenditures for forthe forthe the departments department's programs rose from billion when the first of these former officials served under President Eisenhower in 1958 to billion today today-an increase of 2391 percent in 24 years I EPA Proves To Be a Pest Peet on Pesticides Its It's bad enough that a company must spend 35 million and eight years on tests and reports before the Environmental Protection Agency will approve a new pesticide But imagine if the EPA then handed to your competitors the formula to one of your most popular products I That nightmare became a reality for Monsanto recently when according to the Washington Post an EPA official turned over documents to a potential rival that contained information on its product EPA admits It made a mistake but the error is one more Indication of the need for reform in the Freedom of Information Information mation Act the law that required the release of the documents in the first place The Case of the Missing Buses Washington the district that aspires to statehood has had some trouble ascertaining the whereabouts of 17 of its city buses according to an internal audit revealed recently by the Washington Times When first asked about the loca- loca location location tion of the foot 40 long vehicles a district official said I wouldn't say weve we've lost them i we just dont don't know where they are Then after some further investigation investigation tion transportation officials decided that the buses had been sold Sold to whom Who knows because the records documenting the sale are missing |