Carter vs. Congress

Up to last week's final inning, Jimmy Carter had a better record against Congress than people had expected of him at the beginning of the year. He had several solid hits, a few home runs and not all that many strikeouts. How the batting went on some of the major issues:

Civil Service Reform. To improve the performance of the lumbering federal bureaucracy, with its 2.8 million employees, Carter asked for salary incentives and streamlined hiring and firing procedures. Congress gave him substantially what he wanted, refusing only to abolish preference in hiring given to veterans.

Equal Rights Amendment. Carter supported extending the deadline for ratifying the ERA by 39 months and opposed allowing states to rescind previous votes to ratify the amendment. After intense lobbying by women on both sides of the issue, Congress agreed.

Budget. Carter asked for a $500.2 billion budget in fiscal 1979 and, to help stay within that total, vetoed a congressional proposal for a $2 billion nuclear carrier and a $1.8 billion public works appropriation. Congress was unable to override the vetoes. In the end, the budget was set at $487.5 billion.

Panama Canal. The Administration negotiated two treaties that will give sovereignty over the canal and Canal

Zone to Panama by the year 2000. After intense nationwide debate, the Senate narrowly approved the treaties.

Middle East Arms. Carter wanted to sell modern fighter aircraft to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel, arguing that the package deal would enhance Egypt's chances of negotiating with Israel and would minimize Saudi objections to such a move. Despite strong opposition, particularly from the powerful Israeli lobby, the Senate voted to approve the arrangement.

Turkish Arms Embargo. To bolster NATO, the Administration wanted an end to the arms embargo imposed by Congress on Turkey because of its invasion of Cyprus in 1974. Over the objections of the small but strong Greek lobby, Congress agreed.

Labor Law Reform. The Administration supported the union-backed bill to tighten rules covering unfair labor practices by management and to speed up legal proceedings when complaints are brought against employers before the National Labor Relations Board. The House passed the bill, but conservatives managed to kill it with a filibuster in the Senate.

Department of Education. Fulfilling a campaign promise, Carter proposed a Cabinet-level Department of Education, arguing that schools would then get more attention than they do from the huge bureaucracy of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Opposed by both liberals and conservatives, the bill died in committee.

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