THE LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD

With an overwhelming Democratic majority in both houses, with Republicans confining their criticism more to methods than to goals, with a marked absence of the legislature's traditional hostility to the White House, the 89th Congress--under Lyndon Johnson's prodding--has compiled a truly astonishing record of accomplishment:

Passed by Senate & House

MEDICARE. Provides hospitalization and other medical services starting next July for all persons 65 and over. The basic benefit is 60 days of free hospital care, after the patient pays the first $40. Another benefit is a maximum of 100 days in a nursing home. The bill also raises social security benefits an average of 7%, retroactive to last Jan. 1. Cost for the first full year: an estimated $6.5 billion. Signed into law last week.

EDUCATION. The first general federal assistance to elementary and secondary schools amounts to $1.3 billion. Most of the money goes for grants to school districts that have large numbers of children from low-income families. Signed.

TAX CUT. A $4.6 billion reduction in excise taxes, which will be phased over four years. Among the items relieved of some or all of the old wartime imposts: automobiles, luggage, jewelry, furs, electrical appliances, sporting goods, telephone service and tickets to theaters and athletic arenas. Signed.

HOUSING. An omnibus bill that continues a multiplicity of programs such as public housing and urban renewal. It also starts some new programs, including a rent subsidy plan for families whose incomes are low enough to qualify them for low-income public housing. Awaiting signature.

VOTING RIGHTS. Provides for auto matic federal intervention in areas where less than 50% of the voting-age population is registered. In these cases, literacy tests would be suspended and federal registrars employed. A joint conference has agreed on a compromise of differing House and Senate versions, and final passage is imminent.

DRUGS. Expands federal control over the manufacture and distribution of depressants and stimulants, covering both inter-and intrastate trafficking in goofballs and pep pills, and sets up stiff penalties for violations. Signed.

PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION. This Constitutional amendment would clear up doubts about what happens if a President becomes incapable of performing his duties. Also, if the vice-presidency became vacant, the President would fill the vacancy subject to congressional approval. Now up for states' ratification.

APPALACHIA. This bill is aimed at fostering economic development in depressed segments of eleven states, by road construction and other means, at a cost of $1.1 billion. Signed.

GOLD RESERVES. Eliminates the requirement that Federal Reserve banks must back with gold certificates 25% of the commercial bank deposits they hold. The move frees nearly $5 billion in gold to meet international claims on the dollar and stimulates expansion of the money supply. Signed.

FOREIGN AID. Johnson's request was to continue the program essentially along present lines with a one-year appropriation of $3.3 billion. The House and Senate both voted authorization for substantially what was asked, but the Senate framed its bill on a two-year basis and made other changes. Differing versions are now in conference committee.

Passed by Senate

MEDICAL CENTERS. Provides grants of $6.5 million over four years for regional medical complexes to combat heart disease, cancer, stroke and other serious diseases with clinical services and research.

TRANSPORTATION. Authorizes $90 million to develop and test highspeed intercity rail service. The idea is to lure travelers back to trains with fast, frequent runs in modern cars.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Gives Washingtonians local self-government, including the right to elect a mayor, city council and board of education, replacing the present system in which presidential appointees run the city.

Passed by House

POVERTY PROGRAM. Increases the funds for the Office of Economic Opportunity by more than 100%, to $1.9 billion, and allows the OEO director to overrule Governors' vetoes of federal decisions to locate certain anti-poverty activities in their states.

LABOR. Repeals the Taft-Hartley Act provision that allows states to ban union shops. Thus, the so-called right-to-work laws now on the books in 19 states would be invalid.

URBAN AFFAIRS. Creates a Cabinetlevel Department of Housing and Urban Development which would succeed the present Housing and Home Finance Agency.

Still Pending

HIGHER EDUCATION. Provides $600 million in aid to colleges and universities. The funds would go for scholarships, construction, library equipment and teacher training.

IMMIGRATION. Abolishes the 41year-old system that based quotas on the number of persons from a particular country already here. Instead, national quotas would be uniform and individual priorities based on such criteria as professional skills.

AGRICULTURE. Continues in substantially present form the wheat, feed-grain and wool subsidy programs and establishes a new rice subsidy and a long-term land-retirement plan.

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