ANTI-CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY BILL HAVING TROUBLE ON HILL

September 13, 2002

Return To Archives

Social conservative activists appear to have bested another Republican core group — business lobbyists — in a battle that has derailed House action on bankruptcy overhaul (HR 333) for the time being.

House Majority Leader Dick Armey, Texas, and other GOP leaders have sided with social conservatives, insisting the conference report must be revised to narrow language sponsored by Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., that would prevent abortion protesters from filing for bankruptcy in order escape fines for violence and civil disobedience.

To the anger and dismay of business lobbyists, efforts to force a floor vote Thursday on the unrevised conference report collapsed. Business groups argued without success that a bipartisan coalition of supporters would overwhelm opposition from social conservatives.

“They have told us that they cannot go against the extreme pro-lifers who are part of their base. They have decided they don’t want to roll this part of the constituency of the GOP,’’ said one industry lobbyist. “What about us? Aren’t we part of the base too?”

Armey said Thursday he would insist on revisions in the conference report similar to those sought earlier by Christopher H. Smith, R-N.J., and Joe Pitts, R-Pa.

A recent lobbying blitz by prominent social conservatives, such as James Dobson, head of Focus on the Family, bolstered efforts to block consideration of the unrevised conference report. Smith and Pitts have been urging lawmakers to oppose the legislation unless the conference report is revised to exempt peaceful abortion protesters from restrictions on bankruptcy filings.

An e-mail sent to anti-abortion activists Sept. 10 urged them to contact GOP leaders to insist that the “Schumer amendment is either removed or is replaced with the legislation being offered by Rep. Joe Pitts.” Opponents argued the Schumer language discriminates against anti-abortion protesters because it did not apply similar bankruptcy filing restrictions to other types of protesters.

“While bankruptcy reform is a pressing issue, this comes down to a question of fairness,’’ said David Varnam, a policy analyst for Focus on the Family. Varnam said revisions were were needed to make sure “a 65-year-old lady who was arrested for praying outside an abortion clinic” would not be treated the same as “a person who burned down an abortion clinic.”

For now, several lobbyists said they doubt the bankruptcy conference report can be salvaged. While the House might pass a revision to the conference report to mollify Smith and Pitts, such a measure is certain to be blocked in the Senate.

Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., R-Wis., is continuing to press for floor action on the unrevised conference report. “He wants them to bring it up for a vote,’’ a House aide said.