Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.news From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: news Tue, Mar 3 1992 Date: Tue, 3 Mar 92 06:00:08 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update March 3, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network BUSH VETOES CHINA TRADE BILL: President Bush Monday vetoed a bill putting strict conditions on trade benefits for China. Bush said if the USA presented China with "an ultimatum, the result will be ... further repression." When the Senate passed the bill last week it was eight votes short of the two-thirds needed to override a veto. The House overwhelmingly approved the bill requiring reforms in human rights and trade. CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURING CLIMB: The ailing U.S. economy may be showing signs of recovery, according to two reports Monday. Construction spending rebounded in January after three monthly declines, the Commerce Department said. And manufacturing activity surged in February for the first time since November, a key business survey said. "This is ... the beginning of something good," says Robert Bretz of Pitney Bowes. ECONOMIC PLAN DEADLINE NEARS: President Bush may throw down the political gauntlet if Congress ignores his March 20 deadline for passing an economic plan. Instead of urging cuts in the capital gains tax rate, the White House is considering a plan to exempt capital gains profits realized because of inflation. The House has passed the Democrats' bill to index capital gains taxes to inflation, with a tax hike for the rich. MOVE TO CITIES STILL STRONG: After 72 years under wraps, the 1920 Census was opened Monday. The count of 106 million people was the first to include many baby boomers' parents, and reflects the massive immigration to the U.S. in the early part of the 20th century. More people - 51% - lived in cities than rural areas for first time. That trend has continued. The 1990 Census showed 78% of Americans live in cities. EYE PUS MAY BE HISTORY: Grownups grossed out by new Kenner dolls have prompted the toymaker to change their names. Among the Savage Mondo Blitzer action figures whose names may be changed: Eye Pus, Puke Shooter and Blood Hockey. Kenner says it had "virtually no" complaints during testing. The toys went nationwide two weeks ago. But teachers at an Ohio elementary school say the names are vulgar. BUSH TO SPEAK TO EVANGELICALS: President Bush, battling challenger Pat Buchanan's sharp attacks on his character, Tuesday will speak to the National Association of Evangelicals in Chicago. Monday, the National Right to Life organization endorsed him. The White House says it's taxpayer-financed official business. But Bush likely will give essentially the same speech he gave on the campaign trail in Georgia. ADAMS URGED TO QUIT IMMEDIATELY: Seattle Democrats are encouraging Sen. Brock Adams to quit his Senate seat immediately in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations by eight women. The state's party executive board has scheduled an emergency meeting for Saturday. Adams, 65, known as a champion of women's issues, has said he will not seek re-election but vowed he would serve out his term. SENATE WORKS ON TAX CUT: Senate Democrats Tuesday begin action on a middle-class tax cut for working families. The House last week approved a Democratic plan offering tax credits to 90 million taxpayers. The Senate targets 20 million families with children, but the amount of the credit depends on the taxpayer's income and family status. The House gives up to $200 to individuals and $400 to couples. SCHROEDER TO CHECK RAPE CHARGES: Rep. Patricia Schroeder, D-Colo., and international human rights officials plan to arrive in Kuwait City as early as Friday to investigate claims by foreign housekeepers that they've been beaten or raped by their Kuwaiti employers. Schroeder plans to meet with the women and officials at the Philippine, Sri Lankan, Indian and Bangladeshi embassies, her office said Monday. COURT TO HEAR AIRLINE AD CASE: The Supreme Court Tuesday hears a case involving the power of states to enforce their own consumer protection laws against airlines for deceptive advertising. Since deregulation in 1978, the federal Department of Transportation has had authority over the nation's airlines. After thousands of complaints about deceptive ads, several states began their own regulating five years ago. RUSS URGES ANTI-CRIME EFFORT: House Sergeant-at-Arms Jack Russ, who helps supervise the U.S. Capitol Police, issued a plea for community anti-crime efforts from his hospital bed Monday, just hours after he was shot in the mouth during a robbery. Russ was walking his dog five blocks from the Capitol Sunday night when he was robbed at gunpoint by three robbers who shot him, apparently intending to kill him. KING TRIAL JURY HAS NO BLACKS: No blacks are on the jury in the trial of four white Los Angeles police officers charged with brutality in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King a year ago Tuesday. Some black potential jurors were dismissed because they were approached by members of the NAACP; others because of answers they gave to a 40-page questionnaire. A Hispanic and an Asian are on the jury. DOW JONES OPENS ON UPSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens Tuesday at 3275.27, after closing up 7.60 Monday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 228.20, down 0.01. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 416.79, up 0.70. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 635.47, up 2.00. STORM SYSTEM MAY THRASH ROCKIES: A major storm system could thrash the southern Rockies and southern Plains Tuesday. In the mountains of New Mexico and southwestern Colorado, heavy snow is likely. The Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic and Southeast will have pleasant weather again Tuesday. A few record highs are likely as sunny skies and unseasonably warm conditions dominate the weather. News Editor: Beth Mann. (919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM