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Show The Salt Lake Tribune OPINION Saturday, May 4, 1996 Congress Members Bleed and Hurt Like Everyone Else COKIE ROBERTS STEVEN ROBERTS Kent Conrad of North Dakota described a former receptionist, “g beautiful and vibrant young woman [who] just went off the deep end with a mental illness that none of us knew that she had.” Alan Simpson of Wyoming eulogized a niece who committed suicide and added:“There is not a soul in this chamber that has not been grievously affected in some way by these things.” UNITED FEATURES WASHINGTON — It’s a com- mon assumption outside of Washington that members of Congress are isolated from the problems of ordinary Americans. A recent debate on the Senate floor demonstrates how unfair that notion really is. The subject was an amendment requiring insurance companies to treat mental illness like other physical disorders. And four senators -— two Democrats, two Republicans — vividly described how this disease had touched their lives. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota dedicated his remarks “to my brother, who has struggled with mental illness almost his whole life.” Pete Domenici of New Mexico, whose daughterhas been disabled for 15 years, lamented how these disorders can “destroy fam- ilies.” The amendment passed and Do- menici, its chief sponsor, says that his daughter's illness has been, in a way, a godsend. “What I've learned, because of my daughter, makes me a vigorous advocate,” heteld us. “What I've found out greatly transcends my personal situation. It's a huge American problem.” Members of Congress enjoy manyprivileges. They make higher salaries than most Americans (although most of them covld earn even more in the private sector). They have large staffs cater- ing to their needs and hordes of around their kitchen tables, dealing with the same conflicts and confusions that face all families. “We're not insulated. We're like everybody else,” says Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota. “We grieve when our neighbors lose someone andwe suffer losses ourselves. Sometimes, we learn an indelible lesson about what's wrong with our country.”” After Dorgan lost his mother and a nephewin drunk driving accidents, he became an ardent crusader against open beverage containers in moving automobiles. Since his daughter died from a heart ailment, he has promoted money for medical research and 3] red an amendment that would inciude information on organ donations in every tax refund. Former Congressman Tony Coelho, who talks openly about his own epilepsy, was a prime sponsor of legislation guaranteeing equal rights for the disabled. So was Sen. Bob Dole, whose arm was shattered in combat during supplicants clamoring to do them World War I. favors. But as we know from direct ex- Carolina, recipient of a double- perience, thatis not the whole sto- lung transplant, backsfetaltissue ry. Cokie’s father and mother both served in Congress, and that gives us an unusual perspective for a pair of political reporters. Weunderstandthat when the TV lights go out, and the cheers die away, politicians have to sit Rep. Floyd Spence of South research that could teach scientists more aboutregenerating diseased organs. After Sen. Mike DeWine’s daughter died in an automobile accident, he donated her eyes to an organ bank and became an active booster of organ donor programs. Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, who lost two uncles to assassination, passionately protects the assault weapons ban. Lawmakers who speak publicly about their own problems often become magnets, for both constituents and other CAL THOMAS bills. And nobody — nothis staff, him on the floor, often in a whisper, to express support. “They'd tell me why — they had a mother, a daughter, a son, a brother,” says Coelho. “It was absolutely amazing how they unloaded on me abouttheir personal experiences with disabilities, and how hurt they were because their loved ones had been hurt.” It takes particular courage to talk about a condition that society still considers shameful. “I thank God for epilepsy,” says Coelho, who was driven out of the priesthood becauseof his illness. “It forced me to find out who I really am, and because of that I can relate to others.” Even now, Domenici told the Senate, “stigmas are rampant” about mentalillness. But thanks to peoplelike him, attitudes are changing, and public policy is starting to reflect the “indelible lessons” lawmakers have learned at such a painfulprice. legistative priorities, Senate Mi- logue” or employs the modifiers AUSTIN — How do they do it? Those clever congressional Republicans just keep coming up with the kickiest ideas. Open the nationalwildlife refuges to hunting and fishing — now there’s a plan. How come no oneelse thought of that? Actually, according to the public information office of the Fish and Wildlife Service, of the 508 refuges currently established, hunting is permitted on 274 and fishing in 264. But the purpose of wildlife refuges (you're not gonna be- lievethis) is wildlife conservation, period, nothing else. If hunting and fishing don't harm the local wildlife populations, well and good. The Republican bill makes hunting,fishing, boating,birdwatching and environmental education equally important public purposes. “Of course, those are important activities and should be consideredpriority public uses,” said the government spokesperson, “but if you make them the trol the quality of our lives.” He “arch” or “ultra” as they do with conservatives who won't budge on purpose of refuges, then you ing environmentallegislation. On March 12, 1974, Kennedy their principles. Kennedy is portrayed as noble for not wavering. preservation andrecreational said, “The death penalty is wrong in principie,anditis applied in an Whentheydo the same, conservatives are called “rigid” and “un- of 100-0." This is not what Newt Gingrich arbitrary and unfair manner.” compromising.” Still, even a con- Thatis about as straightforward sistent conservative can overcome as you can get. No wiggle room or ambiguities. It's a position not the name-calling. consistency. He doesn't appear to be something heisn't. He is proud ofthe“liberal” label. With the exception of abortion (he once made statements that seemed to lean toward pro-life), Kennedy’s views have remained remarkably har- monious on capital punishment, the environment, a federalrole in health care, immigration, gun control and programs to fight poverty. For example, on Sept. 24, 1970, Kennedysaid, “The present environmental movementis neither a fad nor a diversion. Rather,it is crafted by a focus group but by conviction. In 1996, he says much the samething. Kennedy's greatest strength is his steadfast passion. He wears down the opposition. If he doesn't win today, he comes back tomorrow. But he doesn’t compromise his principles, even if he must make short-term accommodations in order to movea step closer to his ultimate goal. His 100-0 victory on making health insurance portable came 25 years after he introduced his first universal health-care bill. Kennedy has one major advantage over conservatives. The Many Americans appreciated Ronald Reaganforhis firm stance on importantissues. For a similar reason Kennedy is making a comeback — even while a member of the minority party in the Senate -~ and he just keeps plugging away. In seasonor out of sea- son, he doesn't change. As Republicans lick their wounds (manyself-inflicted), they should swallow hard and consider this favorite target of political and religious fund-raisers. Ted Kennedy could teach them a thing or two about letting principle drive an agenda,instead of pragmatism,polling and focus groups. get a conflict between wildlife her 265 souls and over | $490 million in: tae Spanish Yredstive.,. ers renbers ea {ihe recovery team’ and Nexporenée exciting ¢ See this multi-million dollar exhibit and sale of authentic treasure, artifacts and museum- authorized jewelry re-creations. + This is your, one chance to ‘own a piece aff history,” fh hundreds of genuine aca items and re-creation jewelry ‘at affordable eer some as low as Sy: ae \ pipe Me Be s FRE GALLERY #Gr Those Republicans just have the most amazing variety of expertise. Not only do they know more than professional wildlife managers and biolo- gists about how to run a refuge, but a few weeks ago, they. were telling doctors what to do when late-term pregnancy threatens a woman'slife. Members of Congress have also been busy challenging the wisdom of the founding fathers, having submitted a total of 139 constitutional amendments (not all of them from Republicans). I like the one that includes term limits for lobbyists and the one that requires government employees to moveout of Washington for four out of every 16 years the government employs them. Of course, this could run up government movingbills and unbalance the budgetagain. As someonerecently pointed out, one reason that Washington is so different from the hunting is permitted but duck hunting is not. The refuge is surrounded by hunting areas, cial and media capitals. By leased outat high prices bylocal landowners who don't want the competition of an inexpensive federal refuge. The commercial leasers also want a place where waterfowl are protected to keep \. their own economic interest in having a plentiful supply of birds for hunting. Another problem with the of government, like Brasilia. Other countries have their capitals in leadingcities, like London and Paris, that are also the intellectual, commerthat logic, we should have kept our government in New York City; or if we wantit somewhere more central, we should moveit to St. Louis. Only a onetime movingcost. Istill think the Republicans’ all-timebesteffort (so far) was the knacky notion of shutting down the government entirely. Except they proved thatit costs just as much to not run bill is that it does away with the government as it does to run it. There must have been a the refuge manager's right to better way. Sunday, May 19 in Nuestra Sefiora de \Altocha. sank ina } hurricane taking with ed to extinction. rest of the country is because it exists only for the purpose “TheSat Lake Tribune ¢ In 1622:the mation, but taking away a manager's rightto use his own common-sense judgment about the public interest takes away needed flexibility. It's not in the public interest to have anything fished or hunt- use. There’s a fundamental difference." No kidding, Sherlock. For example, on the Chesapeake Bay, famous for duckhunting,there is a magnificent waterfowl refuge where deer favre Babclcl section . the world’s oy seek luring suinken treasure exhibit of genuine «\Atocha artifacts from personal collection 4 Mel Fisher—the world’s greatest treasure hunter! allowing bird-watchers and hikers into an area can disrupt best available scientific infor- CREATORS SYNDICATE says the same today when debat- Love him and his priorities or not, Kennedy's greatvirtueis his * nority Leader Tom Daschle an- press never dubs him an “ideo- consider “what is otherwise in the public interest." Merely nesting activities and cause mortalities. Refuges have to be managedbya strict set of guidelines, including using the Coelho recalls that when hefirst introduced the disabilities act, other members would approach net even Strom Thurmond — can remember a Kennedy bill that passed, as the health insurance bill he wrote with Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaumdid, by a vote not the gallery regulars. probably had in mind for the second year of his “revolution.” WASHINGTON — Thesenior senator from Massachusetts and thorn in conservative flesh, Edward M. Kennedy. is on a roll. The Boston Globe’s David Shribman wrote last week that Kennedy, “smack in the Age of Conservatism, right in the redoubtof Republicanism, [is] the man who seems to be in control.” The word on everybody's lips, writes Shribman,is that “Kennedyis ‘energized.’ Heis the talk of the town... . Eight of the nine part of a long struggle to control the forces of technology, to con- MOLLYIVINS congressmen. Conservatives Could Learn From Kennedy’s Passion nounced this week are Kennedy Republicans Just Keep Producing Crazy Ideas |