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June 8, 1999 Vol.1, No. 9 This Week in Washington…
Gun Control and the Juvenile Justice Bill: The House Judiciary begins marking up its version of the Juvenile Justice Bill. Details are still sketchy but it is likely to contain many of the provisions passed in the Senate last month. Proponents are using the bill and the accompanying momentum to debate and adopt long sought gun control provisions (see Action Alert, June 4, 1999). In the mix: a charitable choice provision; efforts to make it easier to try juveniles as adults; eliminating means of assessing disproportionate incarceration of minority youth; and everyone's favorite add-in - a school prayer initiative. House Appropriations = Tsuris for Leadership: Returning from its Memorial Day recess today, the House grapples with the same Appropriations problems it left on the floor 10 days ago. At issue: current budget caps will force appropriations subcommittees to demand politically unpopular cuts. Caught in the fray are three Appropriations bills previously expected to squeak through including the agriculture spending bill (as currently constituted, with inadequate WIC monies). House Leadership is expected to hold a "closed-door" meeting to discuss how to proceed, faced with a difficult and choiceless choice: if they lift budget caps, they will be accused of raiding the social security surplus. If they cannot pass appropriations bills and an omnibus bill is needed at the end of the fiscal year, the Leadership will be accused of not being able to do their job. Mental Health Care Parity: At a White House conference on Mental Health Issues today chaired by Tipper Gore, the Administration will announce plans to incorporate mental health parity provisions into government employees health care programs. Such "parity" would mean that health plans cannot impose annual dollar or lifetime limits on mental health benefits different from those which apply to benefits for physical health. Significant loopholes that remain after legislation was enacted in 1996 have undermined attempts by the psychological community to receive equal treatment in health insurance. Representative Marge Roukema (NJ) introduced the "Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity Amendments of 1999" (HR1515) in April which would close many such loopholes. The Senate proposal, "Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 1999" (S796), introduced by Senator Pete Domenici (NM) does not go as far as advocates would have hoped. Both initiatives seek co-sponsors and are certain to receive more attention in the wake of today's conference. Around the Hill: Martin Indyk, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs is scheduled to testify at a House International Relations Hearing on the situation in the Middle East. The Senate will once again debate the Administration's policies in the Balkans as it considers the FY2000 defense appropriations bill scheduled for today. The Senate will consider a version of the "lockbox" concept passed by the House last month which would cordon off Social Security Surplus from budget spending. Two Senate filibusters have further delayed resolution of this issue. This Week in New York…
GO WEST, JCPA: JCPA Task Forces and Board of Directors will meet next week in San Francisco on Sunday, June 13 and Monday, June 14th to consider: Equal Opportunity and Social Justice - Race and Communal Justice, Charter Schools and Social Security; Jewish Security and the Bill of Rights - responses to the Littleton shooting an update on Holocaust assets restitution and litigation, and legislative updates; Israel and Other International Concerns - Implications for the field of Israeli Election results, the crisis in Kosovo, situation in the former Soviet Union, Quara Jews and the Falash Mura, and the Fourth Geneva Convention; Committee on the Environment and Jewish Life - Breast Cancer and the Environment. For more information on these meetings, contact nava@thejcpa.org THERE WILL BE NO JCPA INSIDER PUBLISHED ON MONDAY, JUNE 14TH
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