Newsline for September 1, 2000

I'M BOB ELLISON. WE HAVE TWO REPORTS FOR THE LONG, HOLIDAY WEEKEND. OUR FIRST REPORT RUNS 1:10.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED LEAD: ESTATE TAX OPPONENTS ARE PUSHING CONGRESS TO OVERRIDE PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VETO OF A BILL THAT WOULD PHASE OUT ESTATE TAXES. BOB ELLISON HAS MORE.

ACTUALITIES COME FROM AMERICAN FARM BUREAU GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST CHRIS GARZA AND WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART.

THERE ARE TWO EXTRA ACTUALITIES FOLLOWING THE STORY. IN THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY, GARZA SAYS FARM FAMILIES FACE THE LOSS OF THEIR LIVELIHOOD BECAUSE OF ESTATE TAXES. IN THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY, LOCKHART REFERENCED A TRACTOR-RIDING FARMER DELIVERING THE ESTATE TAX BILL TO THE WHITE HOUSE WHEN HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT BELIEVE ESTATE TAX PHASE OUT WILL HELP FARMERS.

STAND BY, THE STORY COMES FIRST IN 3...2...1...

(ELLISON) ESTATE TAX OPPONENTS ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CHANCES OF OVERRIDING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VETO. THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU'S CHRIS GARZA SAYS THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH LAWMAKERS WHO KNOW THAT KILLING THE DEATH TAX IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

(GARZA) THERE ARE A FEW MEMBERS OUT THERE THAT DID NOT VOTE AND WE BELIEVE WE CAN PULL SOME OF THOSE MEMBERS OVER AND HAVE THE NECESSARY VOTES IN ORDER TO GET THE OVERRIDE PASSED.

(ELLISON) THE WHITE HOUSE, MEANWHILE, BELIEVES PHASING OUT THE DEATH TAX IS A GIFT FOR RICH PEOPLE. ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART REFERENCED A TRACTOR-DRIVING FARMER WHO DELIVERED THE ESTATE TAX BILL TO THE WHITE HOUSE WHEN HE SAID DEATH TAX REPEAL WOULD NOT HELP FAMILY FARMERS.

(LOCKHART) THEY CAN DRIVE TRACTORS AROUND THE CAPITOL AND STAND AND DO A DANCE ON THEM IF THEY THINK THAT'S A WINNER. THEY SHOULD DO THAT. WE DON'T THINK SO. WE THINK IT'S BAD POLICY. WE THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

(ELLISON) BUT GARZA SAYS THE DEATH TAX CAN FORCE FARM FAMILIES TO SELL OFF PARTS OF THE FARM TO PAY THE TAX AND THAT EXPENSIVE ESTATE PLANNING DRAINS MONEY THAT SHOULD BE GOING INTO THE OPERATION. GARZA SAYS DEMOCRATS NEED TO RESIST PRESSURE TO SWITCH THEIR VOTES.

(GARZA) WHY COULD YOU SUPPORT THE BILL WHEN IT FIRST PASSED THE HOUSE, BUT NOW THAT IT'S TIME TO OVERRIDE THE PRESIDENT'S VETO YOUR SUPPORT IS WAVERING?

(ELLISON) HOUSE LEADERSHIP WANTS TO VOTE ON A VETO OVERRIDE EARLY THIS MONTH.

BOB ELLISON, WASHINGTON.

STAND BY FOR THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS :17 SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(GARZA) THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSIVE ESTATE PLANNING. THEY WILL HAVE THE THREAT OF THEIR RANCHES OR FARMS BEING SPLIT UP OR SOLD OFF IN ORDER TO COVER THE ESTATE TAX RATE.

(ELLISON) STAND BY FOR THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS :09 SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(LOCKHART) THERE'S ALL SORTS OF STATISTICS OUT THERE. YOU CAN PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON TRACTORS AND DRIVE THEM AROUND CAPITOL HILL, BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE NUMBERS BECAUSE FACTS ARE QUITE STUBBORN.

(ELLISON) PLEASE STAND BY FOR OUR SECOND REPORT, WHICH ALSO RUNS 1:10.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED LEAD: A BILL IN CONGRESS WOULD MAKE THE GOVERNMENT USE SOUND SCIENCE WHEN DEVISING PESTICIDE REGULATION. BOB ELLISON HAS MORE.

ACTUALITIES COME FROM AMERICAN FARM BUREAU GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST ADAM SHARP. SHARP IS SPELLED S-H-A-R-P.

THERE ARE TWO EXTRA ACTUALITIES FOLLOWING THE STORY. IN THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY, SHARP SAYS THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE THE E-P-A TO USE SOUND SCIENCE IN IMPLEMENTING F-Q-P-A. IN THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY, SHARP SAYS PESTICIDES ARE PART OF A COMPLEX SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING PESTS.

STAND BY, THE STORY COMES FIRST IN 3...2...1...

(ELLISON) THE BILL FROM CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD POMBO WOULD HELP MAKE SURE THAT PESTICIDES ARE EVALUATED FAIRLY. THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU'S ADAM SHARP SAYS THE MEASURE WOULD ENSURE SOUND SCIENCE IS USED WHEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RE-EVALUATES PESTICIDES UNDER THE FOOD QUALITY PROTECTION ACT.

(SHARP) THEY HAVE MADE DECISIONS BASED ON POLITICS RATHER THAN DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE USING VALID DATA ON PESTICIDE SAFETY.

(ELLISON) SHARP SAYS THE CRITERIA THE E-P-A NOW USES FOR EVALUATING PESTICIDE SAFETY IS UNREALISTIC.

(SHARP) THE RECORD SHOWS THAT THESE PESTICIDES ARE SAFE. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN REGISTERED AND USED FOR YEARS UPON YEARS, SOMETIMES UP TO FORTY YEARS OR MORE. THEY HAVE A PROVEN SAFETY RECORD. WE JUST SIMPLY WANT THEM TO HAVE A FAIR RE-REVIEW.

(ELLISON) SHARP SAYS PESTICIDES ARE ONE OF MANY TOOLS FARMERS USE TO MAKE A CROP. HE SAYS FARMERS, AND ESPECIALLY PRODUCE GROWERS, NEED SAFE, CHEAP AND EFFECTIVE PESTICIDES TO MAKE A LIVING.

(SHARP) FARMERS NEED A FAIR PROCESS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SIMPLY TAKE AWAY A PESTICIDE FROM A FARMER AND EXPECT HIM TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT OVERNIGHT TO SOMETHING NEW OR ADOPT SOME NEW PRACTICE.

(ELLISON) THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE UP POMBO'S BILL ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH.

BOB ELLISON, WASHINGTON.

STAND BY FOR THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS :14 SECONDS IN 3...2...1...

(SHARP) IT ESTABLISHES A CLEAR PROCESS OF HOW TO DO THAT. THE SECOND THING IT DOES IS THAT IT REQUIRES THEM TO USE SOUND DATA, REAL INFORMATION VERSUS ASSUMPTIONS WHEN THEY'RE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS ON KEY CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS THAT FARMERS USE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

(ELLISON) STAND BY FOR THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS :14 SECONDS IN 3...2...1...

(SHARP) IT'S A COMPLEX SYSTEM OF CONTROLLING PESTS THAT PESTICIDES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF, THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY PART BUT THEY'RE AN INTEGRAL PART OF AND NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND USE SOUND JUDGEMENT AS A LAW LIKE THIS ONE IS BEING IMPLEMENTED.

(ELLISON) THE FARM BUREAU RADIO NEWSLINE WILL BE UPDATED WEDNESDAY AT 5 P.M. EASTERN TIME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.