European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 13, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday november 13, 1991 the stars and stripes c Page 5credit card rates too High Bush says new York apr president Bush saying signals Are mixed on the health of the . Economy called tuesday for Banks and other financial institutions to lower interest rates on consumer credit cards. Bush made the Appeal As he delivered a Bare knuckled attack on democratic leaders in Congress accusing them of stifling efforts to Spur the Economy and of blocking his Domestic proposals. Speaking at a fund raising luncheon for his re election Campaign Bush said his proposals had been a mugged by party leadership locked in the tired old Liberal mindset and determined to go one up  he mixed his partisan attack on democrats with a jaw boning attempt to talk Down interest rates on credit cards which he suggested were too High. A a in a frankly like to see the credit cards rates Down. I believe that would help stimulate the consumer and get the Confidence moving again a Bush said. Credit card rates Are How commonly in the 18 percent to 19 percent Range 10 percentage Points or More above the prime rate that Banks charge their most credit worthy customers. The prime rate now is 7.5 percent. Bush earlier this month called on americans to buy More cars and Homes to help stimulate the Economy. Bush did not address the question of whether lower credit card rates might actually push Many already hard strapped americans even further into debt. A right now the signals Are mixed on the Economy he said. He said that despite Low growth figures inflation was Low and most interest rates were a flow now compared to recent  a a in a convinced Well see these Low rates kick in and boost this sagging consumer Confidence a Bush said. Bush hit the Campaign Trail again As a new Survey showed his standing in opinion polls a astronomical after the persian Gulf War a had tumbled to where he would be in a dead heat with an unnamed Democrat if the election were held now. Tuesdays $l,000-a-Platc a Bush Quayle �?T92�?� fund raising luncheon in Manhattan raised $2.2 million for Bush a re election fund organizers said. Bush called anew for passage of a Cut in the capital gains tax which he said would help put americans Back to work. Bush said a sometimes i get this sinking feeling that the democrats believe that they can win Only if times Are bad. They have a vested interest in seeing us  similar fund raisers were held in Houston on oct. 31 and in Dallas on nov. 1 and one is planned for Washington next week. Even though Bush was not expected to formally announce his candidacy until late january Campaign workers were trying to raise about $25 million by the end of the year for Bush a primary season Campaign expenses. A i am not going to be the javelin Catcher for the liberals who run the Congress anymore a Bush declared. Bush boasted that last tuesdays elections had been a a great Day for republicans in new York and new Jersey citing legislative gains. He did not mention the stinging defeat handed republicans in the Pennsylvania Senate race where former attorney general Dick Thornburgh a a close Busy ally a was Defeated by Democrat Harris Wofford. Bush also did not mention a new poll showing him in a dead heat with an unnamed Democrat. But spokesman Martin Fitzwater shrugged it off saying a polls go up polls go  a we be got a year to go a Fitzwater said. A Survey tuesday by the times Mirror Center for the people amp the press said that Bush a Stock has fallen in recent months and that he would be in a dead heat with an unnamed  owes America jobs labor Leader says Detroit apr american workers Are being a royally stiffed by president Bush who campaigned on a Promise to create 30 million new jobs during his time in office Al Cio president Lane Kirkland said monday. A giving him full credit for a Small growth in jobs before his recession began to destroy them he now owes 29,750,000,�?� Kirkland told the opening session of the Trade unions convention in Detroit. The meetings Host City has nearly 25 percent in Kirkland employment. A the has Only a year left to come across and the jobs he proposes to create in Mexico with his free Trade agreement and in the prisons of his most favored nation red China do not count a Kirkland said. A i have been keeping track and we Are being royally  striker replacement legislation As Well As National health care and Trade policy were key items on the Agenda. Delegates overwhelmingly approved by voice vote a Resolution to support Senate passage of the workplace fairness act sponsored by sen. Howard m. Mutzen Baum a Ohio. The Bill has 33 co signers so far but Metzenbaum said that without 60 votes it could die in a Senate filibuster. A this president will threaten a veto. He a the most veto prone president we be had a Metzenbaum told delegates in a rousing speech interrupted several times by cheers and hoots from the convention floor. Similar legislation sponsored by rep. William d. Ford d-mich., passed the House 247-14z in june. Both Bills re establish the priority of workers right to strike Over an employer s right to permanently replace them. The More than 700 delegates cheered when Kirkland said Bush a whereabouts arc not the Issue. Bush has been criticized for focusing on foreign affairs and ignoring Domestic issues. A the real Issue is not where he goes but where he stands a Kirkland said. Bush should pay closer attention to the Way Many foreign governments treat their working class said Kirkland president of the 14 million member labor organization for 12 years. Kirkland is unopposed in his bid for re election today. A the might observe that every other Industrial nation guarantees its citizens Access to health care a Kirkland said of Bush. A the might even discover the fact that americans most successful competitors Are far More generous with family leave and unemployment compensation and that the permanent replacement of strikers is virtually unheard of outside the United  stars and stripe10 years ago nov. 13,1981 a the space shuttle Columbia was launched into history As the first ship to return to space for a second flight. The Mission was Cut from a scheduled five Days to two because one of the ships generators failed.20 years ago nov. 13,1971 a president Nixon announced that americans offensive combat Rote in Vietnam had ended and that he would accelerate . Troop withdrawal Over the next two months bringing Home half the troops before christmas.30 years ago nov. 13,1961 a the United states in a race for the first manned lunar Mission announced plans to launch a rocket carrying a Chimpanzee. The flight was to be the last scheduled trial before an american astronaut was lofted into orbit.40 years ago nov. 13,1951 As . Forces ended a 36-hour barrage of communist positions Northwest of Ponchon . Troops and truce negotiators gave notice that they would continue fighting in Korea right up to the signing of an armistice. . To pursue Deadbeat diplomats who owe millions in parking tickets Washington a after 10 years in the mistaken belief that diplomats were exempt from paying parking tickets new York City has received a Green Light from the state department to go after the deadbeats. Diplomats at consulates and . Missions in the City have run up $6.3 million Tab in unpaid parking tickets Over the last three years rivalling the nearly $7 million the District of Columbia is seeking to collect. As in Washington new York records show the scofflaws Are led by the soviet Union and include a heavy proportion of nations receiving . Foreign Aid and wealthy Oil states. The Effort began after City officials saw an associated press Story last week noting that rep. David r. Obey d-wis., had threatened to Cut the foreign Aid of countries that persist in thumbing their noses at parking fines. While diplomats Are protected from arrest under diplomatic immunity they Are expected to abide by local Laws in the City where they Are assigned including paying fines and traffic tickets. A a everybody Here had been under the impression they had diplomatic immunity and that we  collect a said Janette Sadik Khan an official in new York City a transportation department. The policy of writing off diplomats parking fines As a collectible dates Back at least a decade she said. But last weeks Story alerted the City to the fact that the state department was helping the District of Columbia collect unpaid parking fines. Now new York transportation commissioner Lucius Riccio is a brewed up to go after the violators Sadik Khan said adding a it looks like there a a lot of Money Here to be  aiding that push is a change in the issuance of diplomatic License plates. The state department will begin in april issuing the distinctive red White and Blue plates on a one year basis instead of the current three year registration. This Means countries that fail to pay parking fines will be subject to having their tags revoked Sadik Khan said. In 1990, new York records show the 152 cars assigned to the soviet . Mission amassed 11,402 parking tickets a All unpaid. The Tab comes to $364,000. Israel the largest recipient of . Foreign Aid gets More than $3 billion a year from its chief Benefactor. But the country owes new York City $91,000 in unpaid parking fines from last year. Twins 16, kilted after crashing head on Tampa Fla. Apr teen age twin Brothers were killed when their All terrain vehicles collided head on authorities said. Two passengers were seriously injured. A Florida Highway patrol investigator suspects the boys were playing a a chickens Friday night but friends and relatives bristled at the suggestion. The 16-year-old twins Matthew and Michael Miller were not wearing helmets when the three wheel vehicles collided on a Rural Road in suburban scuff nor. A they were just absolutely the finest Young men you could Ever imagine a said Evelyn Hughes principal of Armwood High school where the twins went to school. Two teen age girls one on the Back of each vehicle were injured and remained in serious condition monday at Brandon a Humana Hospital. Investigators found no evidence of mechanical problems. A the physical evidence says they re going straight at each other a Highway patrol Cpl. . Meyer said. He found a 47-foot skid Mark at the Accident scene. A that does no to just happen by Accident a he said