ustxtxb_obs_1986_11_21_50_00010-00000_000.pdf

Page 12

by

be a tragic mistake,” he asked, “if we were to allow ourselves to be put in the embarrassing position of appearing in the eyes of the world to be the ones who obstruct the search for peace? Surely, that is exactly what would happen if, in the face of the announced willingness on the part of the Soviet Union something we have awaited for over four decades to cease the exploding and testing of nuclear weapons, we were to demur and demonstrate an unwillingness to join them in a verifiable and mutual reduction.” Gorbachev’s moratorium on nuclear tests has continued since August 6, 1985, Wright said, and “he now asserts his willingness to let us place official United States monitors at the Russian test sites. . . . The way to determine whether it is a propaganda ploy or a sincere, genuine gesture toward peace is to call their hand.” Eleven of the 27 Texans sided with the test ban, the rest opposing it. Five of Wright’s fellow Democrats left Wright on the issue Wilson, de la Garza, Stenholm, Ortiz, and Ralph Hall as inspection of the associated table will show. 0 N STAR WARS, or the Strategic some prefer to call it, Reagan had asked for $5.4 billion for the current budget. The question, should the program be stopped, or should it be continued but with reduced funding, was embodied in two test votes \(numbers 3 D-Ca., said his amendment, allowing only $1 billion for the program, would stop the President’s program, while maintaining enough research to continue surveillance of the Soviet program. That lost 302-114, with only four ayes from Texas. On reducing the spending to $2.85 billion, which carried in the House, the Texans divided more evenly. Rep. Joe Barton of Texas upheld full Star Wars funding at Reagan’s requested level. Republican Barton reasoned simply that if we can have a defense against nuclear weapons, we should build it. Rep. Albert Bustamante of San Antonio supported $2.85 billion on grounds that this sum would provide “a vigorous SDI research program in a fiscally responsible manner.” Arguing for stopping Star Wars entirely, Dellums said the program will require “violation of our ABM treaty,” negotiated with the Soviets by President Nixon in 1972, and “is going to generate an incredible arms race. No Texan spoke, but 21 voted no and six voted yes as the House agreed, 222 to 197, to prohibit tests Of anti-satellite The Texas Delegation In The House Votes On The Arms Control Issues The Observer’s selection of the eight leading arms control issues and the votes of the Texas delegation in the House on them. Each issue is stated as an affirmative proposition and each member’s vote on it is then scored as “yes” or “no.” All these votes were cast between Aug. 8 and Aug. 13, 1986. The votes are given as described and recorded in SANE’s interim voting record for 1986. I. Nuclear warhead testing halt. Sept. 30, 1987, of nuclear weapons with explosive power greater than one kiloton, provided the Soviet Union conducts no nuclear tests and that the U.S. and the Soviet Union agree to permit verification equipment on their territory. Adopted, 234-155. 2.SALT II. the limits contained in the SALT II treaty, provided the Soviet Union continues to observe those limits. Adopted, 225-186. 3.Star Wars. Wars. Rejected 114-302. 4.Star Wars. Star Wars. Adopted, 239-176. 5.ASAT Moratorium. 6.MX. conventional forces. Rejected, 179-217. 7.Trident II. cure Trident I missiles. Rejected, 94-306. 8.Chemical Weapons. Oct. 1, 1987. Passed, 210-209. Yes No 1.Sam B. Hall Jr., D, Marshall Y YN Y N N N N 3-5 2.Charles Wilson, D, Lufkin N N N N. N. N N N 0-8 3.Steve Bartlett, R, Dallas N N N N N N N N 0-8 4.Ralph M. Hall, D, Rockwall N N N N N N N N 0-8 5.John Bryant, D. Dallas Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y 7-1 6.Joe Barton. R, Ennis NNNNNNNNO-8 7.Bill Archer, R, Houston N N N N N N N N 0-8 8.Jack Fields, R, Humble N N N. N N N N N 0-8 9.Jack Brooks, D, Beaumont Y Y Y Y Y NN Y 6-2 10.J. J. “Jake” Pickle, D, Austin Y N N N Y N N Y 3-5 11.Marvin Leath, D, Waco Y Y N Y N N N N 3-5 12.Jim Wright, D, Fort Worth Y Y N Y N N N Y 4-4 13.Beau Boulter, R, Amarillo N N N N N N N N 0-8 14.Mac Sweeney, R, Victoria N N N N N N N N 0-8 15.E, “Kika” de la Garza, D, Mission N YN Y N N ?* N .2-5 16.Ronald Coleman, D, El Paso Y Y N N N N N N 2-6 17.Charles W. Stenholm, D, Stamford N N N Y. N N N N 1-7 18.Mickey Leland, D, Houston Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 8-0 19.Larry Combest, R, Lubbock N N N N N N N N 0-8 20.Henry B. Gonzalez, D, San Antonio Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 8-0 21.Tom. Loeffler, R, Hunt NNNNNNNNO-8 22.Tom DeLay, R, Sugarland N N N N N N N N 0-8 23.Albert Bustamente, D, San Antonio N Y N Y. Y N N N 3-5 24.Marvin Frost, D, Dallas Y YN Y N N N N 3-5 25.Mike Andrews, D, Houston Y Y N N N N N N 2-6 26.Dick Armey, R, Denton N N N N N N N N 0-8 .27. Solomon P. Ortiz, D, Corpus Christi N Y N Y N N N N 2-6 Yes-No Division, Texas Delegation 11-16 13-14 4-23 12-15 6-21 3-24 2-24 6-21 57-158 *Absent on this vote. Sources: Congressional Record; “1986 Senate and House Interim Voting Records,” SANE; The Texas Observer. 10 NOVEMBER 21, 1986