University Daily Kansan, March 29, 1984
NATION AND WORLD
Page 12
Congress redebates prayer
Bill would allow religious groups to meet at school
By United Press International
WASHINGTON — Congress renewed debate about prayer in public schools yesterday at a house hearing on a measure that would require school officials to allow religious meetings on school property.
The bill, described by its backers as "equal access" legislation, has been assailed by critics as a "back door" approach. However, the bill has far broader support than President Reagan's proposed school prayer constitutional amendment that failed to win the vote in 2014 and vote in the Senate earlier this month.
The proposal by Rep. Don Bonker, D-Wash., and Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-Ore., says junior and senior high schools must allow extracurricular religious activities to take place on campus.
The bill says federal funds will be cut off to the entire school district for abuses, such as refusing access to a teacher or religious group or endorsing another.
Rep. Carl Perkins, D-Ky., who declared himself a supporter of the measure, said he hoped the Education and Labor Committee that he heads would vote on the bill in the next two days.
The bill would not include political groups, civil rights groups, environmental groups, vegetarians groups or any other group that wanted to exercise some kind of control. So it would allow only religious groups in school property, Edward said.
At a hearing of an education sub-
committee, Rep Don Edwards,
D-Calif, said he would support the bill
if it permit the commission to make an
improved corporate deal does not do.
Edwards, who was accused by school prayer supporters of keeping that legislation bottled up in his judiciary subcommittee said, "Having lost the prayer amendment in the Senate, its proponents are attempting to come in touch with the governor, using the soothing and apparently neutral language of equal access."
Hattfield, one of 18 Senate Republicans who voted against the prayer amendment, said, "I think the funda- question here is one of free speech.
VOLCANO, Hawaii — A river of lava slides down the slopes of Mauna Loa. The volcano, which is on the island of Hawaii, erupted Sunday.
Reagan praises Meese's 'economic sacrifices'
By United Press International
WASHINGTON — President Reagan praised Edwin Meine for his "great economic sacrifices" in joining the administration, but tax returns show that Meine and his wife have reaped the benefits of the program to Washington, sources said yesterday.
Ursula Meese, wife of the attorney general-ninome, produced most of the financial boon by landing a $40,000-a-year job as head of the William Moss Institute, a non-profit center founded by a wealthy Republician oilman desiring more research into America's future.
Based on their joint federal income tax return, Meese and his wife earned pre-tax income of $115,762 in 1982. The amount she earned from Meese's finances said Meese's.
salary as presidential counselor that year was $60 653.
THE MEESES HAD an average income of $70,731 in the six years before he came to Washington in late 1980 to oversee Reagan's transition to the Oval Office, the sources said. During those years, their highest income was in 1980, when they reported $91,431, including what Meese routinely lopped together on his tax return as law practice, legal services and consulting work.
Meese listed on his 1981 financial disclosure statement at least $15,000 in 1980 income from activities related to Michigan's campaign and transition to office.
Mrs. Meese, who did not work full time before moving to Washington, has said in newspaper interviews that her husband's salary as a lawyer and University of San Diego instructor was halved when he joined the administration
Meese's confirmation as attorney general has been stalled by a flurry of questions about his finances, including acceptance of several loans to tide him over during financial hardships stemming from his purchase of a $300,000 home in suburban Washington before selling his California home.
IN THE LATEST developments, the Senate Judiciary Committee has learned that Meese missed three more months of house payments on his Virginia home — beyond a previously disclosed four-month stretch in which the judge was fined.
Several people who aided Meese financial later got jobs in the
The new disclosure means that Meese made only 10 months of payments on his Virginia home.
that Meese was the only one of at least six administration officials who failed to return gifts of $75 gold and jade cuffs from Korea in 1833 as required by law.
ATTORNEY GENERAL William French Smith asked a federal court panel Tuesday to name a special prosecutor to investigate all allegations against Meese. One aide to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has postponed hearings pending the criminal inquiry, predicted that turning the matter over to an independent investigator would posepionee Meese's confirmation.
In a news report yesterday, CBS said
Meese has three attorneys assisting him, including longtime friend E. Robert Wallach, along with Leonard Garment, who represented Richard B. Snyder and Max Kampelman, a Democrat who headed a U.S. diplomatic delegation.
Democrats liken Reagan with Nixon
By United Press International
WASHINGTON — The Democrats launched a broadside attack yesterday on the Reagan administration saying in a recently released television commercial that the administration "worships greed," and includes "more scandal-tainted officials than we've seen since Richard Nixon and Watergate."
While White House spokesman Larry Speakes declared to repeat his challenge that reporters compare Reagan's administration with those of predecessors, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee showed an ad with a picture of a Reagan followed by "mug shots" of eight top officials.
In the commercial a voice recited: "Sweetheart loans. Hidden financial deals. Abuse of privilege. Secret gifts. Insider stock trading. Mineral rights giveaways. Blacklists. Perjury. More scandal-tainted officials than we've seen since Richard Nixon and Watergate. This is moral leadership."
Rep. Tony Coelho, D-Calif., committee chairman, said the cases of questionable conduct by Reagan aides have the potential of doing significant damage to the president's re-election efforts.
French president honors Koch, urges investments
By United Press International
NEW YORK — French President Frances Mitterrand yesterday decorated Mayor Edward Koch with the Legion of Honor, his country's highest award, and urged Americans to invest in France.
Mitterrand, who spoke through an interpreter at ceremonies in City Hall, said he liked Koch's "quick mind and strong personality.
Koch, who presented the French president with the Key to the City, said he was deeply touched by the award and added that when he wore it, "I will always be aware that I wear it in the company of heroes."
Mitterrand devoted most of his U.S. visit to looking at American technology and agriculture, but he spent one day in New York lobbying for American investments before returning to France.
Mitterrand said to 600 guests at a luncheon that France had a lot of room for development and that financial alliances would be permitted.
COOL IT DOWN WITH COORS