University Daily Kansan, March 24, 1983
Page 7
Senate passes rescue measure Social Security bill approved
By United Press International
WASHINGTON — The Senate passed a $165 billion Social Security bill yesterday night with tax hikes, a six-month benefits freeze and an older retirement age imposed to save the system from financial collapse.
But a fight loomed with the House over a provision in the Senate bill delaying coverage of newly hired federal workers.
The lopsided vote was 88-9 on the rescue bill designed to patch the national retirement system's immediate financial woes and keep it in the black for the next 75 years. Passage came after more than 41 hours of debate, on the sixth day the Senate considered the bill.
THE MEASURE HEAPED for a House-Senate conference committee that will try today to iron out three differences and a score of minor ones.
"I don't like the bill," Senate Democratic leader Robert Byrd of West Virginia told his colleagues, referring to the provisions nobody individually, but most endorsed as a package. "I didn't want to vote for it."
"But when confronted with the alternatives — the destruction of the Social Security system, bankruptcy of
the Social Security system — I was left with no choice."
In a break with the House, the Senate voted to delay mandatory coverage of new federal workers until Congress enacts a supplemental pension plan to bring their benefits up to the level enjoyed by current employees.
MANDATORY COVERAGE, which begins Jan. 1, 1984, under the House bill, would mean $9.3 billion in new revenue by 1990 and wipe out one-seventh of Social Security's longterm deficit.
Critics, warning the delay would amount to dropping the requirement, said it could provoke a presidential veto.
Byrd, in a pointed floor speech, urged Senate members of the conference committee to "stand firmly on that which we oppose in conversations with the House, which opposes it.
There are two other big differences between the Senate bill and the House bill, approved March 9:
- The Senate bill raises the retirement age to 66 by the year 2015, first affecting Americans born in 1938, and cuts the basic benefit 5 percent for newborns. Of those house bills liken to the retirement age of 67 by 2027, but leaves benefits intact.
- The Senate bill, but not the House
measure, requires officials to reduce the annual cost of lifelong increase when Social Security's trust funds dwindle, and allow lawmakers to find alternate funding.
Both bills include a six-month delay in this year's cost-of-living increase for 36 million recipients, payroll taxikes this decade for 116 million workers, and a first-ever benefits tax on upper-income pensioners.
THE BILLS ALSO carry a rider extending through Sept. 30 the federal unemployment benefits due to run out March 31, and provide additional weeks of checks — up to eight in the Senate and four for those who exhaust their benefits.
The bills also make cost-saving changes in the way Medicare pays hospitals.
Before accepting Long's delaying amendment on a voice vote, the Senate rejected, 50-45, a compromise urged by Senate leaders that would have exempted new workers from the bill as the supplemental plan is in place. It was proposed by Senate Assistant Republican leader Ted Stevens, R-Alaska.
Long said, "I favor bringing civil service employees under the Social Services Department."
But, he said, "I do think it unfair to ask these people to buy a pig in a poke."
Local businessman opposes latest downtown redevelopment scheme
By NED STAFFORD Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
A downtown property owner said yesterday that unless significant changes were made in a design for downtown redevelopment approved by the Lawrence City Commission, the public would not accept it.
Lance Burr, a local attorney and owner of the Dynamo Ballroom, 737 New Hampshire St. , said that the design was unacceptable.
HE SAID THAT one of his main objections to the design was the demolition of buildings that he said were historically significant. Also, some businesses might be forced to move but their owners might not be assured space in the shopping center, and the center would detract from Massachusets Street businesses, he said.
"They won't get Scheme 4 unless they change it." Burr said.
The design, called Scheme 4, was approved unanimously by the commission Tuesday, but the commission attached several reservations and recommendations that called for the city's developer of record, Sizeer Realty Co. Inc., Kenner, La., to make changes in the design.
"If you have an enclosed mall
people are going to come down and shop and go home." Burr said. "We want to get the commission to think of a classy downtown redevelopment.
The redevelopment would take place in an area bounded by Massachusetts and Rhode Island streets and Seventh and Ninth streets.
It would include a department store on the northeast corner of Ninth and Massachusetts streets and pedestrian walkways around what is now New Hampshire Street. The present New Hampshire Street would be rerouted to within 40 feet of Rhode Island Street.
CITY COMMISSIONERS said at Tuesday night's meeting that if Lawrence did not acquire a major downtown department store a suburban or "cornfield" mall would most likely be built.
"It is possible if we don't do something downtown we might have a cornfield mail." Burr said. "But not likely as they would like us to believe."
City Commissioner Tom Gleason said of Burz's arguments, "On the face of it it's hard to argue with. I think they have the same desires as we do, but it's a question of approach."
But Gleason, who is also an attorney, said he thought that if
Lawrence did not build a department store downtown, a cornfield mall was almost inevitable.
Gleason said that he thought no major retailer would build a free-standing department store downtown, which made it imperative for the city
HE SAID THAT IF Lawrence did nothing downtown and a developer wanted to build in a suburban area, the courts could rule in the developer's favor because the city might appear to be protecting downtown.
to prove with evidence what pilots
Gleason did say that he had
reservations about the cost and size of
Scheme 4.
City Commissioner Don Binns said of opposition to Scheme Four, "I kind of get tired of so much rhetoric. I don't think you're going to please everyone."
BINNS SAID THAT if Sizerel did not go along with the recommendations of the commission the commission should seek another developer.
City Commissioner Nancy Shontz said ofcheme 4, "I think it has a lot of possibilities. But it is in no way finished."
Shortz also said that if nothing were downtown a suburban mall was like.
What A Meal
ONLY $2.25
Double cheeseburger, fries, medium soft drink and a small sundae for only $2.25
offer good March 23-26
WARNER'S Buy 2,Get1Free...
When you want to leave little, very little, to the imagination. Warner's knows
UNDERCOVER
21 W.9th Open Thursday Nights till 8:00
"Ye are all the fruits of one tree and leaves of one branch. Glory is not his who loves his own country, but glory is his who loves his kind."
THE BAHA'I FAITH COMMUNITY OF LAWRENCE INVITES THE PUBLIC TO A VIDEO FILM PRESENTATION OF
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON
BAHA'I PERSECUTIONS IN IRAN
Lippincott Hall, Room 3 The University of Kansas
March 24 — 7:30 p.m.
March 25 — 7:30 p.m.
March 26 — 2:30 p.m.
No contributions please
Free admission
"
wear bluejeans if you're gay day this friday!
GAY LESBIAN SERVICES OF KANSAS
- ALL SALES FINAL
ANNUAL TRANSFER SALE
WE HAVE TAKEN SELECTED MERCHANDISE FROM OUR COLUMBIA AND JEFFERSON CITY LOCATIONS AND BROUGHT IT TO LAWRENCE FOR OUR ANNUAL TRANSFER SALE!
ALL REMAINING
ALL REMAINING
FALL & WINTER MERCHANDISE
MARKED DOWN
2/3 to 3/4 OFF
Mon.-Fri. 9:30-5:30; Thurs. 9:30-8:30; Sat. 9:30-5:30
The brand new edition!
Take a GUINNESS break!
GUINNESS BOOK OF
WORLD RECORDS
The brand new edition!
Bantam BANTAM BOOKS, INC. 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10103
SNA FILMS
LAST NIGHT TONIGHT
"TAKI ZUM KLO will be heralded as the most honest film about gay men ever made." —Richard Goldstein, Village Voice
"THE FIRST MASTERPIECE
ABOUT THE MANSTREAM OF MALE
GAYLIFE!"    Stuart Byron. Village Voice
"The best and brightest film made in Germany in the last few years!" — Elliott Stein, Film Comment
7:30 p.m.
No one under 18 admitted
$2.00
Woodruff Aud.
NO ONE UNDER 18 ADMITTED
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
3:30, 7:00 p.m.
A movie about giving everything you've got.
MARIEL HEMINGWAY
PERSONAL BEST
9:30 p.m.
MONTY PYTHON — PHIL COLLINS
PETE TOWNSHEND — STING
THE COMEDY SMASH OF THE YEAR!
"CERTIFIED LUNACY!" — Vincent Gaddy, New York Times
THE SECRET POLLEMAN'S RALLY
Barrington
JOHN CLERNEY • PETTER COOK • MOCAAL PEARL • GRAHAM CHAPMAN
TRUSTY JOHN • PAMELA STEPHENSON • TERRITO FISHER • PETER LONGWARD
PULL CATERPILLAR • JEFF KELLY • ALEX BLAKE
12:00 Midnight Woodruff Aud.
$2.00
1