Iowa Public Television

NARRATOR: FUNDING FOR "IOWA PRESS" WAS PROVIDED BY FRIENDS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION; AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS.

THIS IS THE SUNDAY, JULY 22 EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." HERE IS DEAN BORG.

Borg: THE CONGRESSIONAL RECEPTION FOR PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WAS ALTERED CONSIDERABLY JUST OVER A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHEN THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE U.S. SENATE SHIFTED FROM REPUBLICAN TO DEMOCRAT. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WHERE REPUBLICANS MAINTAIN CONTROL, THE MAJORITY LEADERS HAVE, IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, SET THEIR OWN AGENDA, INDEPENDENT OF BOTH THE SENATE AND THE WHITE HOUSE. SIMPLY STATED, THERE ARE NO SURE THINGS IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL THESE DAYS, AND THAT INCLUDES RESOLUTION OF ISSUES RANGING FROM CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM TO FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES TO AUTHORIZING FEDERAL FUNDS FOR RESEARCH USING STEM CELLS FROM HUMAN EMBRYOS. WE'VE INVITED IOWA'S FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN JIM LEACH, WHO IS NOW IN HIS 13TH TERM, TO PROVIDE PERSPECTIVE, AND HE'LL BE SPEAKING WITH US FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. VIA SATELLITE. CONGRESSMAN LEACH, WELCOME BACK TO "IOWA PRESS."

Leach: WELL, I'M GLAD TO BE WITH YOU, DEAN.

Borg: AND HERE AT THE "IOWA PRESS" TABLE ARE POLITICAL REPORTERS KAY HENDERSON OF "RADIO IOWA" AND MIKE GLOVER OF "THE ASSOCIATED PRESS."

Glover: CONGRESSMAN, IN THE OPEN, DEAN MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE A CONGRESSMAN FROM THE FIRST DISTRICT, BUT THAT'S A RATHER TEMPORARY SITUATION. YOU'VE ANNOUNCED YOU'RE MOVING TO IOWA CITY TO RUN IN THE NEW SECOND DISTRICT. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CONSTITUENTS BOTH NEW AND OLD WHO SAY YOU'RE ABANDONING YOUR ANCESTRAL HOME SIMPLY TO KEEP A SEAT IN CONGRESS?

Leach: WELL, QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS IN MY LIFE AND ONE OF THE LEAST HAPPY. I'M NOT VERY SYMPATHETIC WITH WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS CRAFTED. THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT I WILL BE LIVING IN IS ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF MY CURRENT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, SO IT'S THE MAJORITY OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. BUT IT IS REALLY HARD TO LEAVE MY HOMETOWN OF DAVENPORT. I'VE BEEN IN DAVENPORT ALL MY LIFE, WAS BORN AND RAISED THERE. "ANCESTRAL HOME" IS A VERY DEEP THOUGHT, AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FAMILY DECISION.

Glover: ARE YOU MOVING BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T WIN A PRIMARY THERE?

Leach: WELL, WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID, THEY PUT OUT TWO PLANS. IN THE FIRST PLAN, I WAS PUT WITH JIM NUSSLE, WHO -- IN THAT PLAN, I WOULD HAVE REPRESENTED ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION AND JIM ABOUT 30, AND I'M REASONABLY CONFIDENT HE WOULD HAVE MOVED. UNDER THE SECOND PLAN, HE REPRESENTS ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE AND I ABOUT 30. IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE, YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT CHOICE OF WHETHER TO ENTER A PRIMARY, WHICH I DON'T THINK WOULD BE VERY HAPPY FOR THE PUBLIC OR FOR THE CANDIDATES. AND I THOUGHT CIVILITY MADE IT SEEM MORE REASONABLE TO MOVE TO THE LARGER PART OF THE DISTRICT THAT I CURRENTLY REPRESENT, ALTHOUGH I DON'T CURRENTLY LIVE IN. IN ANY REGARD, THESE ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS. AND PART OF IT RELATES TO THE UNIQUENESS OF IOWA LAW AND HOW WE DEVELOP REDISTRICTING MODELS.

Henderson: CONGRESSMAN, YOU'LL BE SEEKING YOUR FOURTEENTH TERM IN OFFICE. DID YOU SERIOUSLY CONSIDER RESIGNATION, AND WHAT IS YOUR FUTURE? HOW MANY TERMS MIGHT YOU SEEK?

Leach: OH, I DON'T HAVE THE FOGGIEST IDEA IN TERMS OF THE FUTURE. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS INAPPROPRIATE TO PLAN VERY FAR IN ADVANCE IN TERMS OF ISSUES THAT INVOLVE PERSONAL KINDS OF AMBITION CIRCUMSTANCES. RESIGNATION ISN'T QUITE THE TERM; IT WOULD BE WHETHER TO SEEK REELECTION OR NOT.

Henderson: I'M SORRY, I MEANT RETIREMENT.

Leach: IN THAT REGARD, YES, I DID GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO THAT. AND IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION AND ONE THAT HAS BEEN MADE IN THE SENSE THAT I HAVE NOW COMMITTED TO A NEW RESIDENCE IN IOWA CITY.

Borg: I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, CONGRESSMAN, ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE'S POLITICAL FUTURE AND MAYBE SOME ADVICE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR HIM. DAN GABLE IS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. I KNOW THAT YOU AND COACH GABLE HAVE BEEN CLOSE IN PAST YEARS. YOU'RE BOTH FORMER WRESTLERS AND HE HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT ACTIVE IN SOME OF YOUR CAMPAIGNS. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO HIM?

Leach: WELL, FIRST, I CONSIDER DAN A VERY CLOSE FRIEND. IN TERMS OF WRESTLING, THERE'S NOT EXACTLY A COMPARISON. I WAS A WRESTLER. HE IS AN ICON. HE IS AN INDIVIDUAL FOR WHOM I HOLD THE VERY HIGHEST REGARD. WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE IS THE STATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WENT TO DAN AND CAUGHT HIM AND, FRANKLY, ME A LITTLE BIT BY SURPRISE. BUT THE THOUGHT OF DAN GABLE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, I'M CONVINCED HE'D BE A VERY CREDIBLE CANDIDATE AND A VERY INTERESTING AND UNUSUAL ONE. I'M KIND OF DOUBTFUL HE'LL DO IT, BUT THIS IS A DECISION FOR DAN TO MAKE. I SUSPECT IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE, HE'LL MAKE SOME SORT OF ANNOUNCEMENT INDICATING WHICH DIRECTION HE'LL GO. ALL I CAN SAY IS IF HE WERE DETERMINED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, I THINK HE WOULD BE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, BRINGING A KIND OF CANDIDACY THAT IS NOT OF A "POLITICAL" NATURE, BUT IS ONE OF A VERY COMPETITIVE, "COMMITTED TO THE STATE OF IOWA" NATURE.

Glover: HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO HIM ABOUT IT?

Leach: YES, IN FACT, I'VE SPOKEN TO HIM A GREAT BIT THIS WEEK. I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT HE'S CONVINCED IT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR HIM TO DO.

Glover: DID YOU OFFER SUGGESTIONS? DID YOU URGE HIM TO RUN?

Leach: MY VIEW IS VERY SIMPLE AND THAT IS THAT IF DAN DETERMINES TO RUN, I WILL BACK HIM TO THE HILT. BUT THIS IS A DECISION FOR DAN TO MAKE.

Henderson: ON WHAT DO YOU BASE YOUR DOUBTS?

Leach: WELL, DAN IS WRESTLING WITH DECISIONS AND HE'S NOT CONVINCED THAT HIS COMMITMENT IS TO IOWA. HE'S NOT ONE, HOWEVER, THAT HAS A DRIVING POLITICAL AMBITION AND HE'S NOT SURE THAT ROUND PEGS FIT SQUARE HOLES IN ALL TYPES OF JOBS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. SO WHAT HE IS LOOKING AT IS WHAT IS BEST FOR THE STATE, AND HE WILL MAKE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME. AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE VERY FAR OFF, AND WE'LL WAIT AND AND SEE.

Glover: IF WE COULD SWITCH TO SOMEONE WHO DOES HAVE DEMONSTRATIVE POLITICAL AMBITIONS... PRESIDENT BUSH. HE'S BEEN IN OFFICE FOR SIX MONTHS NOW. GIVE US A GRADE. HOW HAS HE DONE IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS? HE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A BIG EUROPEAN TRIP WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF CRITICISM FLOATING AROUND. WHAT'S YOUR VIEW OF THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION?

Leach: WELL, YOU KNOW, FIRST, I THINK ONE ALWAYS MAKES A MISTAKE TO JUDGE ADMINISTRATIONS BEFORE THEY FULLY UNFOLD. THERE'S A PREMATURENESS TO JUDGMENTS THAT COME ABOUT. BUT LET ME JUST TAKE THE BIG PICTURE FOR A SECOND. IN THE WAKE OF THIS ELECTION, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE CLOSEST IN AMERICAN HISTORY, IF NOT "THE" CLOSEST, BOTH FOR CONGRESS, THE SENATE, AS WELL AS THE WHITE HOUSE, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGITIMACY OF THE ELECTION. AND SO WHAT HAS REALLY OCCURRED THAT MATTERS IN THE BIG PICTURE IS THAT PRESIDENT BUSH HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A LEGITIMATE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, AND HE'S MADE IT VERY CLEAR BY HIS ACTIONS TO DATE THAT HE IS PRESIDENTIAL. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SPECIFICS OF WHERE HE'S TAKEN A STAND ON ANY ISSUE, BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NOW FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA THAT GEORGE W. BUSH IS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND HE IS NOW OUR PRESIDENT, WHETHER ALL OF US VOTED FOR HIM OR NOT. HE IS THE PRESIDENT AND HE IS PROCEEDING IN A VERY FORTHRIGHT DIRECTION. BECAUSE THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF OVERALL ISSUES, I WOULD GIVE HIM VERY HIGH MARKS. NOW, HE'S ALREADY PUT IN PLACE HIS PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN PLEDGE WHICH, AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE OF THE TWO AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES, WAS TO REDUCE THE RATE OF TAXATION IN THE COUNTRY. THAT IS, IN EFFECT, TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT. AND THAT IS PRECISELY WHERE HE HAS PROCEEDED, AND HE'S DONE IT IN A FORTHRIGHT WAY AND, IN SOME WAYS, IN A LITTLE BIT MORE MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE WAY THAN MIGHT BE SUSPECTED. IF YOU RECALL, UNDER PRESIDENT REAGAN, THE TOP TAX RATES IN AMERICA WERE 28 PERCENT. UNDER GEORGE BUSH I, THEY WERE RAISED TO 34, AND THEN UNDER PRESIDENT CLINTON, TO APPROXIMATELY 40 PERCENT. UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH, THEY'VE NOW BEEN REDUCED TO THE LEVEL APPROXIMATELY WHERE HIS FATHER HAD THE TOP TAX RATE; THAT IS, THEY'RE DOWN TO 35. AND THE REASON I STRESS THIS IS THAT THIS WASN'T A RADICAL TAX PROPOSAL. IT WAS A PROPOSAL TO REDUCE THE TOP RATES, AND THEN, AT THE LOWER RATES, TO TAKE AN AWFUL LOT OF AMERICANS OFF INCOME TAX ROLLS ENTIRELY. THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF PROGRESSIVITY IN THIS TAX CUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED, IN MY VIEW, VERY EXTENSIVELY IN THE AMERICAN PRESS. IN ANY REGARD, THE TAX CUT IS HIS PRINCIPAL ACHIEVEMENT. NOW, BEYOND THAT, WE'RE MOVING IN DIRECTIONS LED IN PART BY THE CONGRESSMAN FROM DES MOINES, GREG GANSKE, FOR A PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS. I HOPE THAT IS ACHIEVED IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. IN THE HOUSE, WE'VE PASSED A FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE, ONE THAT I DON'T THINK, FROM THE HOUSE'S PERSPECTIVE, WAS AS WELL CRAFTED AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'S A STEP TOWARDS THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL AGENDA.

Henderson: CONGRESSMAN, SENATE DEMOCRAT LEADER TOM DASCHLE THIS WEEK OFFERED AN INDICTMENT OF THE BUSH FOREIGN POLICY. DO YOU SEE FLAWS IN BUSH'S FOREIGN POLICY?

Leach: WELL, THERE WILL BE VIEWS FOR AND AGAINST ALL ASPECTS OF THE FOREIGN POLICY, BUT THE BIG PICTURE -- AND I WANT TO STRESS THE BIG PICTURE -- IS THAT WE HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT IS PERCEIVED TO BE PRESIDENTIAL. AND I STRESS THIS BECAUSE RESPECT FOR THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY IS OF VERY SINGLE NATURAL IMPORTANCE. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ISSUES THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS NOT TAKEN TOTAL SUPPORT OF. THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD IS MORE INCLINED FOR. LET ME MENTION IN A VERY PROGRESSIVE DIRECTION... JUST THIS WEEK THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ANNOUNCED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A NEW TACK TAKEN TO THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF HOW IT IS THAT FOREIGN AID BE GIVEN THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS, WITH A LITTLE MORE ASSISTANCE THAT'S OF A DIRECT NATURE AND LESS OF A LENDING NATURE. THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE'S GOING TO REBUILD THE AMERICAN MILITARY CAPACITY. THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT, WITH REGARD TO CHINA, THAT HE WANTS A FREER TRADE APPROACH.

Glover: BUT, CONGRESSMAN, ON THIS EUROPEAN TRIP, THE CRITICISM WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY IS THAT HE'S MOVING IN AN ISOLATIONIST DIRECTION. DO YOU FEAR THAT WE'RE MOVING TOWARD SOME ISOLATIONISM?

Leach: I DON'T. IN AMERICA, WE HAVE SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT OF AMBIVALENCE BETWEEN ISOLATIONISM AND INTERNATIONALISM, BUT THIS PRESIDENT IS A VERY ENGAGED PRESIDENT IN TERMS OF LOOKING TOWARDS FREE TRADE. AND WE'RE ENTERING A WORLD, BY THE WAY, IN WHICH POLITICS IS LESS SIGNIFICANT THAN COMMERCE. AND THIS IS A VERY STRONG AMERICAN PRESIDENT IN TERMS OF LOOKING TOWARDS OPENING UP THE WORLD FOR COMMERCIAL TRADE. IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES OF THE TIME, THERE ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENCES IN JUDGMENT BETWEEN VIRTUALLY ALL COUNTRIES, BUT I DON'T LOOK AT THIS AS AN ISOLATIONIST PRESIDENCY AT ALL.

Borg: I'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU BACK TO WASHINGTON JUST FOR A MOMENT; AND ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, CONGRESSMAN GARY CONDIT, HAS BEEN MUCH IN THE NEWS RECENTLY. WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THAT ENTIRE SITUATION, CONGRESSMAN?

Leach: WELL, FIRST, I THINK NOTHING IS LESS APPROPRIATE THAN FOR A MEMBER OF CONGRESS TO OPINE ABOUT ANOTHER MEMBER OF SOME DIFFICULTY. I THINK THERE ARE VERY FEW ISSUES THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS BETTER THAN THIS KIND OF ONE. THIS IS SAD FOR THE INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED. IT'S PROBABLY PARTICULARLY SAD FOR THE YOUNG LADY, THE YOUNG INTERN INVOLVED. AND IT DOES RAISE THE QUESTION OF WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS OF WASHINGTON AND DO PEOPLE LIVE IN KIND OF A LIFESTYLE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE COMMUNITIES FROM WHICH THEY ARE FROM. AND THIS IS A GREAT LESSON FOR EVERYBODY. IT'S ALSO BEEN AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE CONGRESS ITSELF. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL AND AN INTERN. THIS IS A REALLY SAD REFLECTION OF A SITUATION THAT HOPEFULLY WE'LL KNOW MORE ABOUT AS TIME ALLOWS.

Borg: WELL, I HEAR YOU SAYING THAT YOU WOULDN'T JOIN ONE OF YOUR OTHER COLLEAGUES IN SAYING HE OUGHT TO RESIGN AT THIS POINT.

Leach: WELL, I THINK THOSE ARE INDIVIDUAL ISSUES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL. ALL I CAN SAY IS I CAN'T CONCEIVE OF A CIRCUMSTANCE AFFECTING SOME TYPES OF PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULDN'T, BUT I DON'T MAKE THAT JUDGMENT FOR ANYBODY ELSE.

Henderson: CONGRESSMAN, A FEW MOMENTS AGO YOU MENTIONED THE PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS. WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS FOR THAT LEGISLATION, AND DO YOU SUPPORT THE ALL-OUT RIGHT TO SUE AN HMO?

Leach: WELL, I THINK WE WILL PASS A BILL. THE QUESTION IS WHAT THE BILL WILL BE. WE HAVE TWO ALTERNATIVES BEFORE THE CONGRESS. ONE IS ONE THAT'S CRAFTED BY THE MAJORITY REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP AND ONE BY BASICALLY THE MINORITY REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP OF GREG GANSKE OF DES MOINES. I HAPPEN TO IDENTIFY WITH -- MORE WITH GREG'S APPROACH THAN I DO THE OTHER. I THINK WE HAVE TWO DECENT APPROACHES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CONGRESS IN AN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE BOTH SIDES AND BOTH APPROACHES ARE GOING TO BE POSITIVE. AND I HAPPEN TO THINK THAT CONGRESSMAN GANSKE'S APPROACH IS MORE POSITIVE. WE DO NEED TO PROTECT THE PATIENT. THAT'S THE UNDERLYING THING. WE'VE SET UP A SYSTEM THAT IS VERY WRONG. THAT IS, THERE'S ONE PART OF AMERICAN SOCIETY CALLED A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION, AN HMO, THAT IS THE ONLY PART OF AMERICAN SOCIETY THAT'S ABOVE THE LAW, THAT CANNOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE IN A LEGAL WAY FOR ITS ACTIONS. AND I THINK THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WORKS THAT WAY. IF YOU GO AT A SYSTEM AND YOU PUT THE PATIENT FIRST, THAT THEN ENDS UP PROTECTING THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY PROFESSIONAL.

Glover: ANOTHER HEALTH ISSUE, CONGRESSMAN, THAT'S COMING UP IN CONGRESS, IS THE NOTION OF PROVIDING A PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT. THERE'S A PROPOSAL OUT THERE TO GIVE A DISCOUNT CARD FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. A LOT OF PHARMACY GROUPS COMPLAIN THAT WILL DRIVE THEM OUT OF BUSINESS. WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THIS PRESCRIPTION DRUG ISSUE?

Leach: I CAN'T TELL YOU THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE IT, BUT I CAN SAY FOR SURE THAT THIS IS A DIRECTION CONGRESS IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE. IF YOU WERE TO ASK AT A TOWN MEETING, AS I HAVE MANY TIMES TO MY CONSTITUENTS, IF THERE'S ONE NEW AREA WHERE THERE OUGHT TO BE FEDERAL CONCERN AND NEW INITIATIVES, WHAT WOULD IT BE; AND I WOULD SAY THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE IS IN THE AREA OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. FOR MANY OLDER AMERICANS, BUT NOT JUST OLDER AMERICANS, DRUG COSTS ARE WHAT ARE DEPRIVING PEOPLE OF ANY DEGREE OF CAPACITY TO CONTROL THEIR OWN ECONOMIC FATE. AND I THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY A MUCH MORE PROGRESSIVE ROLE. HOW THAT'S DONE... THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES, AND I THINK THAT'S A LESS IMPORTANT ISSUE THAN THAT WE DO IT. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THIS IS A CREDIBLE APPROACH. THERE CAN BE BETTER APPROACHES, AND I'M VERY OPEN TO LOOKING AT ALL THE ALTERNATIVES.

Henderson: CONGRESSMAN, FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE STRUGGLING WITH WHETHER HUMAN EMBRYOS SHOULD BE USED FOR STEM-CELL RESEARCH. WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THAT ISSUE?

Leach: WELL, THIS IS ONE OF THE PROFOUNDEST ISSUES IN AMERICAN SOCIETY BECAUSE IT GOES TO THE QUESTION OF ALL THE THINGS THAT TIE INTO THE ISSUE OF LIFE. IF ONE IS REALLY EXAMINING THE ISSUE DEEPLY, YOU HAVE A CONTRAST BETWEEN THOSE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER LIFE IS BEING MANIPULATED IN SOME WAY VERSUS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER ONE CAN EXTEND LIFE AND DO IT IN A MUCH MORE ENNOBLING WAY BY USING THIS RESEARCH. I COME DOWN ON THE SIDE VERY DEFINITIVELY THAT WE OUGHT TO GO FORWARD WITH STEM-CELL RESEARCH. NOW, THERE HAVE TO BE CERTAIN GUIDELINES AND GREAT CARE THAT IS EXHIBITED. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE -- IN THESE STEM CELLS, THERE ARE ABOUT 30 TO 34 KINDS OF STEM CELLS, I'M TOLD BY RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, THAT, WHEN YOU BRING THEM TOGETHER, CANNOT, EVEN IF THERE'S A WOMB, FORM A HUMAN LIFE. SO IF THAT IS THE CASE, IT STRIKES ME THAT WE OUGHT TO BE VERY, VERY SYMPATHETIC TO ALLOWING THIS RESEARCH. IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN GET AT -- OR THE MOST -- MAYBE NOT THE ONLY BUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT NEW WAY WITH THE GREATEST PROMISE THAT WE CAN GET AT SOLVING PROBLEMS OF PARKINSON'S, SOLVING PROBLEMS OF ALZHEIMER'S, AND A WHOLE SPECTRUM OF OTHER THINGS. WE'RE SEEING NOW THAT THESE STEM CELLS, AS THEY MULTIPLY, CAN FORM EXTRAORDINARY COMBINATIONS THAT MIGHT BE INSERTED IN PEOPLE WITH WEAK HEARTS, WEAK OTHER ORGANS, AND REALLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. AND SO TO TURN OUR BACK ON STEM-CELL RESEARCH I THINK WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTELY FLAWED, PROFOUND MISTAKE.

Glover: CONGRESSMAN, ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE HEARING RAISED DURING THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO EUROPE IS THIS WHOLE DYNAMIC OF TRADE. THERE'S THE BIG BATTLE GOING ON OF WHETHER WE OUGHT TO MOVE TOWARDS FREE TRADE, HOW WE HANDLE COUNTRIES TO HAVE THEM MODIFY THEIR BEHAVIOR. BEYOND THE MERITS OF THAT DEBATE, THIS SEEMS TO BE SUCH AN EMOTIONAL FIGHT, HOW DO WE FIND A MIDDLE GROUND TO END THE DEBATE AND TO MOVE FORWARD?

Leach: WELL, THE GOAL IN TRADE IS TO HAVE A RULE-BASED SYSTEM. WHAT IT IS, IT'S EXPANSION OF LAW ON AN INTERNATIONAL BASIS IN TERMS THAT PEOPLE FOLLOW RULES. I MEAN, THERE'S A NATURAL INSTINCT THAT EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY WANTS TO PROTECT ITS OWN BUT WANTS TO HAVE ANOTHER MARKET OPENED UP FOR ITS GOODS. SO WHAT YOU WANT TO HAVE IS A RULE-BASED SYSTEM WHERE COUNTRIES OPEN UP TO OUR GOODS IF WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW THEIR GOODS IN OUR COUNTRY. FRANKLY, AMERICA IS LARGELY AN OPEN MARKET. MANY OTHER COUNTRIES ARE LARGELY CLOSED. SO ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO TRY TO HAVE A RULE-BASED SYSTEM THAT CAUSES EVERYBODY TO OPEN UP. I HAPPEN TO THINK THAT IS A VERY WISE WAY TO GO. AND IF WE JUST THINK ABOUT THE REVERSE, ABOUT CLOSING MARKETS AND WE THINK ABOUT THE '30S, WHERE WE HAD A LAW CALLED SMOOT-HAWLEY, OTHER COUNTRIES HAD OTHER LAWS OF COMPARABLE PROPORTIONS, EVERYBODY RAISED TARIFFS, WE HAD THE EFFECT OF LOWERING INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND THEN INCREASING JOBLESSNESS AND DECREASING THE SIZE OF THE ECONOMY. SO THE EXACT REVERSE POLICY, IN MY VIEW, IS THE BEST WAY FOR THE WORLD TO GO. NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, THIS GREAT MEETING IN GENOA THIS WEEK IS CENTERED ABOUT PROTESTS OF PEOPLE THAT JUST ARE VERY CONCERNED -- AND IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE -- ABOUT LOSING CONTROL ON THEIR OWN DESTINY. THE BIGGER AND MORE COMPLICATED WORLD SOCIETY BECOMES, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS FOR THE AVERAGE HUMAN BEING TO FIGURE OUT HOW HE OR SHE IS CONTROLLING THEIR OWN DESTINY. AND ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT'S A DILEMMA. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU DENY THESE GREAT TRADE KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS, YOU WILL MAKE PEOPLE HAVE MUCH LOWER STANDARDS OF LIVING AND, TO AN EVEN GREATER DEGREE, BE UNABLE TO FULFILL THEIR OWN DREAMS. AND SO --

Henderson: CONGRESSMAN, LET'S SWITCH TO OUR ECONOMY AND SPECIFICS. HOW IS FED CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN HANDLING THE U.S. ECONOMY?

Leach: WELL, I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, ONE HAS TO DIVORCE ALAN GREENSPAN FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM. I THINK THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM DOES A FINE JOB. I THINK CHAIRMAN GREENSPAN WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE GREAT CHAIRMEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM. THE ECONOMY, LAST YEAR, WEAKENED. IN RETROSPECT, IT APPEARS MAYBE WE DID, AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE LEVEL, RAISED INTEREST RATES TOO HIGH. NOW THEY CLEARLY HAVE BACKED OFF. IN FACT, THERE IS A RECORD DECREASE IN INTEREST RATE MOVEMENTS OVER THE LAST SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS. THIS IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY AND, COUPLED WITH SOME LOWER ENERGY PRICES, AT LEAST AT THE GASOLINE PUMP, HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE A RECOVERY BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE LATER THIS YEAR INTO NEXT YEAR.

Glover: CONGRESSMAN, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT CHAIRMAN GREENSPAN HAS STRAYED BEYOND THE ROLE OF FED CHAIRMAN IN DEALING WITH MONETARY POLICY AND INTEREST RATES. HE'S TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE OPPOSING THE MINIMUM WAGE, ALL KINDS OF OTHER CONSERVATIVE ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHIES. IS HE EXPANDING HIS ROLE TOO FAR?

Leach: WELL, HIS PROBLEM IS HE'S ASKED DIRECT QUESTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY, AND SO HE IS EXPRESSING HIS PERSONAL OPINION ON ISSUES THAT AREN'T EXACTLY THE REALM OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE, BUT THEY'RE THE REALM OF AMERICAN ECONOMICS. ON THE MINIMUM WAGE, I WOULD, FRANKLY, DISAGREE WITH HIM. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S DOING A VERY GOOD JOB AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT -- I THINK HE CAN HARDLY BACK OFF NOT RESPONDING TO CERTAIN QUESTIONS OF THAT NATURE. I MEAN, I RESPECT HIS INTEGRITY.

Henderson: IS THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY HEADED TOWARD A POINT WHERE MONOPOLIES ARE REALLY GOING TO TAKE OVER, AND DOES THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT NEED TO READDRESS THE ANTITRUST LAWS OR DOES CONGRESS NEED TO REWRITE THOSE IN SOME FASHION?

Leach: WELL, YOU RAISE AN EXCEEDINGLY INTERESTING ISSUE IN THE ECONOMY. AND THAT RELATES TO ARE WE GETTING BIGGER ORGANIZATION AND, IN AN ECONOMIC SENSE, IS THIS GOOD FOR US ALL. AND INTERESTINGLY, IF YOU TAKE THE LAST THIRTY OR FORTY YEARS, THE MAIN GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY HASN'T BEEN FROM BIG ENTERPRISE, IT'S BEEN FROM SMALLER. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MANY PARTS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, THE BIG ARE GETTING BIGGER THROUGH CONGLOMERATION, THAT IS, BY JOINING FORCES. BUT REAL GROWTH IS IN THE MORE VIGOROUS, SMALLER KINDS OF AMERICAN COMPANIES. ANTITRUST LAWS, WE HAVE TWO VERY POWERFUL ACTS THAT RELATE TO THE EARLIER PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY: ONE CALLED THE SHERMAN ACT, ONE CALLED THE CLAYTON ACT. THEY HAVE A GREAT HISTORY. THEY'RE VERY STRONG. EUROPE HAS, LIKEWISE, SOMETHING IN WHAT THEY CALL THE TREATY OF ROME, ARTICLES 85 THROUGH 90, THAT DEAL WITH ANTITRUST. BOTH SETS OF LAW ARE QUITE POWERFUL. THE QUESTION IN ANY MOMENT IN TIME IS WHETHER YOU HAVE AGGRESSIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW, AND THAT COMES BASICALLY FROM EXECUTIVE PRESSURES.

Borg: CONGRESSMAN, YOU SOUND LIKE YOU MIGHT BE CONCERNED WITH A TREND TOWARD CONGLOMERATES IN THIS COUNTRY.

Leach: WELL, I AM. BUT THE PROBLEM IS LESS OF LAW THAN IT IS IMPLEMENTATION. THE QUESTION WAS SHOULD THE LAW BE CHANGED. IT SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT BE WEAKENED. AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED FORCEFULLY AND CAREFULLY AND THAT, WHEN YOU SEE BIG MERGERS, THEY SHOULD BE CAREFULLY REVIEWED. AND IF THEY DON'T MAKE SOCIETAL SENSE, THEY SHOULD BE STOPPED.

Glover: CONGRESSMAN, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING BEFORE THE CONGRESS BEFORE MUCH LONGER IS A NEW FARM BILL. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SEE IN A NEW FARM BILL TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT?

Leach: WELL, YOU HAVE TO SEE BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE AMERICAN FARM SITUATION, AND YOU HAVE TO SEE AN ABILITY TO RESPOND ON KIND OF A YEARLY OR HALF-YEARLY BASIS. THE REASON I SAY THIS IS THAT ONE CAN HAVE MACRO, MEANING LARGE PICTURE VIEWS, BUT THEY MAY NOT FIT A PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE IN A PARTICULAR STATE AT A GIVEN TIME. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FARM BILL THAT IS VERY FLEXIBLE. I WOULD HOPE IT WOULD BE ONE THAT WOULD EMPHASIZE CONSERVATION, IT WOULD BE ONE THAT WOULD RECOGNIZE THE HUGE COST IMPLICATIONS OF PLANTING A CROP, AND THAT THERE WOULD BE GREATER CROP INSURANCE PROTECTIONS. BUT BASICALLY SPEAKING, YOU CAN HAVE A PHILOSOPHICAL DIRECTION THAT MAKES SENSE, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST REALISTICALLY AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME.

Henderson: YOUR ANCESTRAL HOME SITS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. SHOULD FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RUSH IN NEXT TIME THERE'S A FLOOD? SHOULD DAVENPORT ITSELF TAKE MORE FLOOD CONTROL MEASURES?

Leach: WELL, I WOULD HOPE DAVENPORT WOULD TAKE MORE FLOOD CONTROL MEASURES. I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL TURNED BACK AN APPROACH IN 1993. BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THE CITY OF DAVENPORT IS GOING TO HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH IN A DECISION MAKING WAY, BUT I DO SUPPORT NEW FLOOD PROTECTION FOR DAVENPORT.

Borg: WELL, CONGRESSMAN, YOU'RE GOING TO BE BACK IN IOWA. ARE YOU GOING TO BE OVER CAMPAIGNING IN YOUR NEW DISTRICT?

Leach: WELL, OF COURSE, BUT I REPRESENT A CURRENT DISTRICT. AND THE MAIN PRINCIPLE THAT I WILL BE ABIDING BY FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF IS REPRESENTATION OF THE CURRENT DISTRICT, BUT I WILL, OBVIOUSLY, ALSO BE LOOKING AND TRAVELING IN THE NEW DISTRICT.

Borg: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO BE WITH US TODAY.

Leach: THANK YOU, SIR.

Borg: ON OUR NEXT EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS," THE FOCUS IS ON POLITICS IN THE STATE OF IOWA, SPECIFICALLY ON GOVERNOR VILSACK'S PROPOSAL TO BOOST IOWA'S POPULATION. THE NEW IOWANS MODEL CITY PROJECT IS PROVIDING DEMONSTRATION GRANT MONEY TO ASSIST IN THE ASSIMILATION OF IMMIGRANTS IN IOWA, BUT THE PROJECT IS INTENSELY OPPOSED BY AN ANTI-IMMIGRATION GROUP CALLED "PROJECT USA." WELL, JOINING US NEXT WEEK, WILL BE "PROJECT USA'S" NATIONAL DIRECTOR CRAIG NELSEN OF ASTORIA, NEW YORK, AND STATE LEGISLATOR JACK HATCH OF DES MOINES. WE'LL HEAR VIEWS ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT IMMIGRATION ISSUE. AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." I HOPE YOU'LL WATCH NEXT WEEK AT THIS SAME TIME. UNTIL THEN, I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

Narrator: FUNDING FOR "IOWA PRESS" WAS PROVIDED BY FRIENDS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION; AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS.