European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 11, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday april 11, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 7 higher income Cap backed for social Security group Washington up a the House has voted to raise the limit on the amount of income older americans May earn without having their social Security benefits reduced. The Bill was approved thursday on a 340-68 vote and sent to the Senate. It would nearly double the exempt earnings Over the next five years. Under current Law people 65 through 69 years old May earn up to $10,200 from wages or self employment income without having their social Security retirement benefits reduced. People who exceed the limit have their benefits reduced by $1 for each $3 of income Over the limit. The Bill would raise the limit Over the next five years to about $20,000 in 1997. The measure also would expand social Security benefits for widows age 80 and older. The change in earnings limit was criticized by some members because of its estimated $7.3 billion Cost. But House speaker Thomas s. Foley d-wash., said the move was justified. Foley noted that the social Security system has a surplus and he said the country needs older americans to Washington apr House democrats pushed through a management overhaul of their scandal tarnished institution but president Bush is leading republicans in demanding More. The House on thursday night approved 269-81, a plan that hunks much of the old patronage system that has been blamed for the penalty free overdrafts at the chamber a Bank and embezzlement and alleged drug dealing by House postal employees. The inefficient and loosely supervised array of payroll Supply and other support services will be consolidated under a new director of non legislative and financial services. Control of the Post offices will be returned to the . Postal service. An inspector general will oversee the services. Both the services director Bonior and the auditor will be appointed jointly by democrats and republicans. The House Resolution does not require Senate or presidential approval because it deals solely with internal House rules. A this Bill represents the most important Reform measure taken up by this House in nearly two decades Quot said rep. David e. Bonior d-mich., the House majority whip. But republicans refused to Back the plan some Vot Washington up president Bush on an election year drive to Reform government granted Wisconsin a waiver from Federal regulations Friday and offered its welfare overhaul As a Model of National welfare Reform. A a it a a Good example for the rest of the country a Bush said of Wisconsin a controversial plan designed to Cut expenses and encourage welfare recipients to find work. A we can All learn from  Bush made the comments during a picture taking session at an Oval office meeting with Wisconsin gov. Tommy Thompson and health and human service Secretary Louis w. Sullivan. Sullivan hailed Bush a action As an example of the administrations commitment to Reform welfare and said a i Hope other states will take notice and Send in their waiver  the Wisconsin waiver the first granted permits the state to revise its federally funded welfare program. Thompsons parental and family responsibility initiative applies to first time teen age mothers enrolled in the Federal Aid to families with dependent Chil continue working. Demographic projections show a reduced work Force Over the next two decades he said. A we have to have better trained workers and we also have to be Able to encourage older workers to stay in the workforce a the speaker said. The change a has a solid fiscal justification As Well As one of  other supporters said the Bill would help older people who must continue working because their social Security checks can to support them. But opponents pointed to the plans Cost. Rep. Leon e. Panetta d-calif., chairman of the House budget committee said the House should not vote to provide the benefits a without paying for them. To do this is to break  rep. Donald j. Pease a Ohio said the Bill mostly would Benefit retired people earning More than $42,000 a year. A a done to kid yourself. This is not a measure to help poor struggling working class people who have retired and Are collecting modest social Security benefits a Pease said. Ing against it and 64 others simply voting  they said it was a Hasty Effort to address a political emergency and demanded that the majority party cede them More Power saying anything less was less than Reform. On thursday Bush submitted a Bill that would require Congress to comply with Laws from which it has exempted itself. This includes the minimum wage investigation by Independent counsels and restrictions on political activities of employees. Democrats who have counterattacked with hearings on administration perquisites charged that the republicans were just trying to drag things out for political advantage. While the House debate carried on a Post office employee was charged in Federal court with Selling crack cocaine to co workers. Three other House postal employees have pleaded guilty to embezzlement. Just last week the House ethics committee released names of 22 current and former members who abused free overdrafts available at the houses now defunct Bank. A list of More than 300 bad Check writers will be released soon possibly next week. The position of House postmaster one of five House officers will be eliminated. The other House officers a the clerk doorkeeper sergeant at arms and chaplain a will conduct Only their titular functions and hand Over administrative tasks to the new director of non legislative services. The republicans proposed an alternative that in addition to dealing with House administration would have changed rules of legislative procedure and Given their party More Power in that Arena. Their proposal was Defeated 254-159. Dren program in Milwaukee and three yet to be designated Wisconsin counties. Under it a Ardc benefits will be partially capped. Currently a Mother with one child receives $440 per month with two children $517, with three children $617, and so on. Under Wisconsin a new program a single Mother will get $440 when she has one child but the increase for two children would be reduced to $479. There would be no increase after that no matter How Many children. A an Ardc Mother with one child who marries could see her Grant increase by $77 a month to $517. But to qualify the husband must participate in a jobs program or Complete school and so does the Mother if the child is above age 2. They must also participate in sex education and parenting classes. Thompson defended his program from criticism it would Hurt mothers and children and told reporters a this will encourage people to stay in High school. And get a higher paying  a that is Why this program has so much Promise a he said.  2 aides allowed to sit tall in first class from wire reports Honolulu a most Hawaii officials Are no longer permitted to Fly first class on business but gov. John Waihee has made two big exceptions. They Are Muff Hannemann director of the office of International relations who is 6 feet 8 inches tall and attorney general Warren Price who is 6-foot-7. Waihee cracked Down on first class travel following revelations that state lawmakers routinely spent thousands of dollars on it. The Only other member of the executive Branch who flies first class is Waihee who is 5-foot-11.abortion limits of d Columbia . A the state House approved a measure thursday that would require doctors performing abortions to get a woman so informed consent after discussing risks and fetal development. They also would have to give women the Opportunity to read More detailed information about fetal development and about where to obtain child support and medical assistance payments for childbirth. However the House tacked on an amendment that could significantly weaken the Bill. The amendment requires that Money be earmarked in the state budget to pay for the printed information. Lawmakers could gut the Bill by failing to provide that  chief takes to streets san Francisco a the latest officer on the City a beat is the new police chief Richard Hongisto who has joined the nightly patrols and even made a few arrests. A i wanted to see for myself what the situation out there was a said Hongisto a former assessor police officer and sheriff who was appointed chief a week ago by mayor Frank Jordan. After a Day at the office Hongisto said he Heads for the streets and stays there As late As 3 30 . Since saturday he has taken part in six arrests for robberies and drunkenness. One night he said he pulled Over four Young men in a truck who yelled slurs at a pedestrian. He warned the men about hate crime  charged in death Leavenworth Kan. Felony murder and child abuse charges were filed thursday against the parents of a 4-year-old retarded boy whose Oody was found entombed in Concrete. The body of Steven Brown was found March 30 in Concrete in a Box on the Back porch of the family Home. William e. Brown 37, surrendered at the Leavenworth county courthouse county attorney Frank Kohl said. Alice m. Brown 28, remains in Osawatomie state Hospital where she was committed after taking a drug overdose March 29. An autopsy showed the underdeveloped malnourished boy Nad been dead about a month. No official cause of death has been determined. Police searched the House after Brown reported his son was  trial to move Elpaso Texas a a judge thursday granted a change of location for the trial of a convicted rapist charged with the serial murders of six women and girls agreeing the Man cannot get a fair trial in the City. Judge Peter pecans ruling followed a hearing wednesday at which several witnesses said Many people in Elpaso had made up their minds that David Leonard Wood was guilty. The bodies of the victims Wood is accused of killing were found in late 1987 and Early 1988, buried in the desert. Wood indicted in july 1990, insists he is innocent. If convicted he could be sentenced to death. Peca has set Woods trial for the week of sept. 7, but has not determined where it would be held. Woods attorney initially declined to ask for a change of venue. But lawyer Dolph Quixano said he changed his mind after publicity about Legal wrangling Over the admissibility of some key evidence. House reorganization passed Over gop Call for tougher plan Wisconsin to revamp welfare system