sncrom@cdp.uucp (10/08/89)
/* Written 5:18 am Oct 7, 1989 by sncrom in cdp:fcnl.updates */
/* ---------- "Hotline for October 6, 1989" ---------- */
FCNL TELEPHONE TAPE - 10/6/89
This is the Friends Committee on National Legislation, with updated
legislative information. To speak directly with a staff member, call
(202) 547-6000.
This message was prepared at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 6. It contains
information and action suggestions on the following subjects: U.S.
INTERFERENCE IN THE NICARAGUAN ELECTIONS and THE HOUSING NOW! MARCH.
U.S. INTERFERENCE IN THE NICARAGUAN ELECTIONS: In a move opponents call
an attempt to buy the Nicaraguan elections, the House voted Wednesday to
send an additional $9 million to the political opposition in Nicaragua.
The aid will be channeled through the National Endowment for Democracy
(NED) to help with election monitoring, voter registration, get-out-the-
vote efforts, and communications support. Labor unions, business
groups, and media outlets sympathetic to the opposition candidate,
Violeta Chamorro, are also eligible to receive aid. This increases the
total amount of Nicaraguan election aid sent through the NED to $12.5
million, which almost matches that organization's $15 million annual
budget for the entire world. Moreover, Newsweek magazine reports that
the U.S. has already sent at least $5 million in covert assistance as
well. If true, this would bring total U.S. election aid to the
opposition to $17.5 million in a country with fewer than 2 million
voters. This is equivalent to about $9 per voter, which is a huge sum
in a country where the per capita income is less than one dollar per
day. (By comparison, Bush and Dukakis each spent $46 million in their
presidential campaigns to reach the 180 million eligible voters in the
United States. This comes to about 25 cents per voter!) Democratic
leaders in the House gave their support to this OVERT aid package in
return for the Bush administration's pledge that it will refrain from
further COVERT interference in the elections. Although there is no
prohibition on covert activities, Rep. Beilenson CA, chair of the House
Intelligence Committee, has stated that there are no funds in the FY90
intelligence authorization bill for such activities. Any request by the
administration for covert funding would have to be approved by the four
congressional committees with jurisdiction over intelligence matters.
ACTION: Call your representative and express outrage over the continuing
U.S. interference, overt and covert, in the Nicaraguan elections. As
this message is being prepared, it is unclear whether the SENATE will
have time to vote on this aid before going into recess the week of
October 9. Calls to the local offices of your senators should be made,
expressing outrage if the aid package passes the Senate, or urging
opposition if a vote is postponed.
HOUSING NOW! Several hundred thousand people from all across the
country are gathering in Washington on October 7 to speak to the
critical need for housing for low income people. Housing Now! lobbyists
and marchers are stressing three main points: We need more money in the
budget for low-income housing, we want an end to the crisis of
homelessness, and we want public policies that support safe, decent and
affordable housing for all. There are many more people in all parts of
the country who share this concern, even though they were not able to be
present in Washington.
ACTION: Call your representative and senators to express support for
the Housing Now! message. Ask them what they can do to create more
housing that is accessible to low-income people.
This concludes our message. For more information, please write to the
Friends Committee on National Legislation, 245 Second St., NE,
Washington, DC 20002.
---
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