Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.news From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: news Fri, Jun 12 1992 Date: Fri, 12 Jun 92 05:19:42 EDT Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update June 12-14, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network BUDGET AMENDMENT BILL DEFEATED: The proposal for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution was defeated in the House Thursday by nine votes, 280-153. Senate leaders said they won't debate the measure again this year. But most House members voted for at least one version of the amendment, which means momentum may build for budget cuts and tax hikes needed to cut the $400 billion deficit. GENE THERAPY HAS PROMISE: A technique that kills brain tumors in rats shows promise for treating otherwise incurable brain cancer in humans. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health used the gene-therapy technique to cure 11 of 14 rats, says a report in Friday's issue of Science. They plan to start human trials by late summer. The premise: Insert a herpes virus, then use an anti-herpes drug on the tumor. SEARS CHARGED WITH OVERCHARGING: The California Consumer Affairs unit Thursday charged Sears, Roebuck & Co. auto repair shops in California with routinely overcharging customers. Following an undercover probe, the agency asked the state to revoke Sears' auto-repair certificate and close all 72 California Tire and Auto Centers. It's "systematic looting of the public," says Consumer Affairs Director Jim Conran. PEROT AIMS AT SOCIAL SECURITY: Ross Perot Thursday suggested cuts in Social Security, taking on one of the nation's most politically active groups. "Let's assume we have people who just don't need it, I would first ask them to voluntarily give it up," the billionaire said on a call-in version of NBC's "Today" show. Of the $280 billion paid out last year, $230,000 (1:10,000th of 1%) was returned, U.S. records show. TEAR GAS FIRED IN PANAMA: Tear gas, gunfire and protesters Thursday forced Secret Service agents to move President Bush from a Panama City platform where he was about to speak on U.S.-Panamanian friendship. Neither Bush nor his wife, Barbara, was hurt in the confusion. On Wednesday, a U.S. soldier was killed and another wounded in an ambush attack on their military vehicle outside Panama City. BAPTISTS CONDEMN GIVING CONDOMS: Citing what they termed the "dangerous myth of safe sex" in the age of AIDS, Southern Baptists on Thursday condemned the distribution of condoms in schools. It was the final day of the Baptists' three-day annual meeting. Several urban school systems have begun passing out condoms, primarily as a way of reducing the risk of AIDS transmission. POWS IN PHOTOS ACCOUNTED FOR: Pentagon officials Thursday said they have reviewed several photographs of U.S. prisoners of war taken by a Vietnamese government photographer who is seeking political asylum in the USA. They say the POWs in the photos have been accounted for. However, Trung Hieu reportedly has dozens more photographs and video tape of POWs that could solve some of the 2,266 unaccounted-for cases. USA POISED TO AID YUGOSLAVIA: U.S. military officials said Thursday they are "standing by" to help deliver humanitarian aid to those caught in Yugoslavia's bloody civil war. President Bush said Thursday he was reluctant to have U.S. troops involved in such Yugoslav relief operations because "we are not the world's policeman," but he did not rule out the possibility of such involvement. CARDINAL JOINS ABORTION ACTION: New York Cardinal John O'Connor, one of the religious community's most outspoken abortion foes, makes an unprecedented foray into the debate Saturday when he marches with parishioners to protest at an abortion clinic. O'Connor will lead hundreds of supporters in prayer at the clinic. Abortion rights supporters call the move a politically motivated publicity stunt. NO MONEY, NO TALK: House members gave fewer speeches outside Washington last year, but still accepted free trips and gifts from friends, constituents and lobbyists. Financial disclosure forms released Thursday showed travel to speak dropped off sharply in 1991, after the House banned speaking fees. Lawmakers now must donate all honoraria to charity. Senate disclosure reports come out Friday. DOW JONES OPENS ON UPSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens Friday at 3351.51 after closing up 8.29 Thursday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 225.10, up 0.74. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 389.90, down 0.23. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 567.68, down 2.03. WET WEEKEND IN STORE FOR MOST: It will be a soggy weekend in many parts of the USA. Northern California to the northern Rockies will be cold through the weekend with showers. The country's midsection will cool off and see more storms. The south-central and southeastern parts of the USA will get rain, but it won't hit the mid-Atlantic states until Saturday night. The Northeast and Midwest should get dreary by Saturday. News Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) 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