OK..I wrote to Senator Clinton and got this response. Call me an idiot but I find it confusing
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Thank you for writing to me about the Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 Omnibus
Appropriations Bill. The bill includes funding for 11 of the 15 cabinet
departments and numerous government agencies. As such, it contains many
provisions which are essential to the operation of important government
programs, as well as funding for priorities that are vitally important
to New York State. However, I share your concerns about many of the
measures included in this bill, which I do not think reflect priorities
that are important to New York or the nation. Following are a few
examples of what I consider to be misguided measures in the bill:
Overtime Regulations. The conference report accompanying the bill does
not include a provision that was included in the Senate-passed
Labor-Department of Health and Human Services appropriations bill to block
proposed Administration rules limiting overtime pay - a priority of
corporate special interest groups.
Country-of-Origin Labeling. The conference report blocks for two years
enforcement of a law requiring the labeling of the country from which
meat and vegetables are imported. The delay prevents consumers from
knowing where the food they purchase is grown and overturns a law that is
important to America's farmers. Meat packers sought this delay.
Media Ownership. Both the House-passed and Senate Committee-reported
versions of the Commerce, Justice, and State appropriations bill included
language to limit the number of media stations under shared ownership
to a capacity of 35 percent of the nationwide television audience.
Conferees initially agreed to retain these provisions, which would have
blocked implementation of a rule to raise the limit to 45 percent. The
conference committee overrode the House and Senate decisions and the
conference report instead permanently raises the cap to 39 percent of the
audience.
Gun Purchase Records. The conference report includes new language that
requires the government to destroy records of background checks for gun
purchasers within 24 hours rather than the current 90 days. This
proposal was not considered by either the House or the Senate before being
added by conferees with no public scrutiny.
While these measures favoring special interests are included in the
bill, the legislation fails to address critical priorities of many
Americans who will not be helped by this bill. If the current bill is passed,
24,000 fewer children will be served by Title I education programs;
5,500 fewer children will be able to take part in Head Start programs;
26,500 fewer veterans will receive the medical care they need; and $170
million will be cut from needed highway construction projects. These are
just a few examples of the cuts that will be made simply because the
bill avoids setting priorities and making tough choices even as it
contains numerous special interest provisions.
The Senate is scheduled to consider the FY 2004 Omnibus Appropriations
Bill when we reconvene on January 20, 2004. Please be assured that I
will continue to work with my colleagues to see that this bill more
accurately reflects the needs of New York State and the nation. Again, I
thank you for sharing your concerns with me. Please check my website at
http://clinton.senate.gov, for updates on this and other important
issues being discussed before the United States Senate.
Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton
