Copyright 2000 The Washington Post
The Washington
Post
May 20, 2000, Saturday, Final Edition
SECTION: A SECTION; Pg. A10
LENGTH: 596 words
HEADLINE:
WASHINGTON IN BRIEF
BODY:
House Backs
Freeze on Fuel Economy Standards
The House voted 395 to 13
yesterday to continue a freeze on vehicle fuel economy standards, dealing a blow
to environmental groups that charge the guidelines are too lenient.
The
vote was on a transportation spending bill with a provision preventing the
Department of Transportation from even studying any increase in the
Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)
standards introduced in 1975.
Groups such as the Sierra
Club had hoped to challenge the freeze, which has been included in spending
measures every year since 1995, after 100 lawmakers signed a letter to President
Clinton urging an increase in the mileage standards.
But in the end, an
amendment was not offered on the floor. Dan Becker of the Sierra Club blamed
pressure from the Republican leadership and a failure by senior Democrats to
fight back.
The White House said it strongly opposed the freeze, calling
it "a misguided prohibition" that would contribute to more energy consumption.
But the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers said advanced technologies,
such as those used in hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles, could do more for fuel
economy than incremental increases in fuel economy standards.
Lawmakers Reject Closure of Army School
Lawmakers are giving a new life to a controversial Army school
that trains Latin Americans in combat techniques, renaming the facility rather
than closing it.
On a 214 to 204 vote, the House on Thursday rejected a
measure to close the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga., for at least
10 months while alleged human rights violations are investigated. A board of
academics and lawmakers would monitor the conduct of the school, which would be
renamed the Defense Institute for Hemispheric Security Cooperation.
Late Disclosure of Justice Memos Angers Specter
Frustrated by the belated disclosure of key memos in the
Democratic fundraising scandal, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said he may seek
sanctions against Attorney General Janet Reno and FBI Director Louis J. Freeh if
more surprises surface.
Specter, often an ally of Freeh, reacted angrily
to the FBI's belated disclosure this week of Freeh's late 1996 memo suggesting a
prosecutor was under pressure to drop the fundraising case to save Reno's job.
Reno has said she never bowed to political pressure.
"I'm very
dissatisfied with the attorney general's performance and said so many times, and
I think the director has an explanation to make as to why he did not inform the
public of the contents of his memo," Specter said.
Specter's
subcommittee is investigating the department's handling of several sensitive
cases, including those involving fundraising and Chinese espionage. He plans
hearings for next week to review Freeh's memo.
For the Record
* The White House canceled President Clinton's televised address
Sunday night on China trade relations after congressional Democrats said the
speech would not help either side and would make it more difficult for undecided
members. "Democrats felt that chances for passage were better if we didn't do an
address than if we did," said White House spokesman Jim Kennedy. "That's what
we're interested in, so we've agreed with their recommendation."
* The State Department complained Thursday to Cuban diplomats
that Cuba was using Elian Gonzalez for political purposes by posting pictures on
the Internet showing the boy wearing a blue scarf, part of the standard uniform
used by a Communist youth group, an administration official said.
LOAD-DATE: May 20, 2000
