The Democrats wanted Sid Yates of Chicago to offer the amendment.  Mr.
Yates was first elected to Congress in 1948 -- if he hadn't taken two
years off, he'd be dean of the House now.  This is his last term.  He's
been on Interior Appropriations for 32 years, and chaired it for 23
years, and throughout has been eloquent, talented, and effective in his
commitment to the NEA, even now in his 89th year.  So the Democrats
wanted him to have one last show.  (His chief of staff, by the way, is
the last New Dealer still working for the Federal Government.)

The Republicans, on the other hand, wanted to do a favor for Nancy
Johnson of Connecticut, who is in a very tight race in a district where
support for the NEA is a plus with voters.  So they wanted her to be
able to get the credit.

As the Republicans are in the majority, and as politics is usually not a
sentimental business, Johnson got to offer the amendment -- but member
after member, from both sides of the aisle, including Johnson herself,
paid warm tribute to Mr. Yates.  And speaking of sentiment, one member
actually broke down in tears and could not continue his statement.
Which was as extraordinary a moment as I've seen in 15 years of
House-watching.

The final vote on the amendment was notably bipartisan, with about 60
Republicans voting in favor.

Andy Finch
AAM Government Affairs
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> SO, Andy, was it a Democrat or a Republican who offered the amendment?
>