Congress, that august body of legislators entrusted with the serious business of lawmaking at the national level, is known to let its hair down occasionally and indulge in good-natured fun, ribbing, or pointed “politicking.”
This might include barbed volleys across the political party aisle. It can also include such antics as an impromptu sham debate on “which came first, the chicken or the egg.” (This actually happened awhile back during consideration of a federal poultry regulation.)
Once, Democratic Sen. William Proxmire of Wisconsin was bragging about honors his state had won in the Winter Olympics when Sen. John Tower, Republican colleague from the lone Star State, arose and said: “If Texas had as lousy a weather as Wisconsin, we’d produce great skiers too.”
On another occasion, a GOP congressman quoted Cicero to score a point on as issue before the House. and a Democratic foe countered with this: ”I commend the gentleman for his honesty in admitting that Republican Party policies are as outdated as the Cicero period.”
Well, it’s all right there in the Congressional Record, the daily transcript of Congress’ proceedings which brings me, in a more serious vein, to the real subject of this piece.
Awhile back I had a column on seven of my Herald-published articles which Sen. Orrin G. Hatch introduced in the “C. R.” to support his campaign for a Constitutional Amendment requiring a balanced budget. I closed with the comment that the Herald had been recognized with reprints in the Congressional Record many times through the years.
Afterward, an inquisitive reader, apparently either genuinely interested in the subject or doubting the credibility of my statement, inquired what other Herald articles the Record had reprinted. Clippings of the following are in my file; (Perhaps other staffers have had items reprinted in the “C. R.” also.)
– A column on Rex Lee and his book on the Equal Rights Amendment, which Senator Hatch introduced into the Record about Aug. 1, 1981 when Lee was confirmed as the new solicitor general of the United States.
Also the following during the period I was Herald editor:
– An editorial in July 1970 on the need to protect the West’s steel market by keeping foreign imports within responsible limits, read into the record by Rep. Laurence J. Burton.
– Feature article on the late Jacob Coleman who had just completed his second book at age 90 – also introduced by Burton.
– An editorial Sept. 29, 1983 on President John F. Kennedy’s address at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, read into the Record by Sen Frank E. Moss.
– Another editorial Aug. 5, 1966 on the Timpanogos National Monument which had its millionth visitor, also placed in the Congressional Record by Moss.
– Finally, an editorial entered by Sent Wallace F. Bennett March 7, 1966 in which the Herald stressed that the Central Utah Project is not being built by government handout but is a responsible project under which the bulk of the money appropriated for construction will be paid back with interest.
So there you have them, and here’s a postscript: A new letter from Senator Hatch says:
“You might be interested to learn that several of my colleagues have responded favorably to your articles that appeared in the Congressional Record.
“As far as the balanced budget amendment is concerned, I have re-introduced it in the Senate; and, although we’re a long way from passage, I have 36 cosponsors as of now. By this summer I hope we can secure the needed 67 yea votes. Once again, it will be passage in the House that will be the hardest.”