Mel Watt summarizes the 1997 Congress
. ? I
U.t Hap. AM Watt
By MEL WATT
Special lo Tut Chkosicle
The 1997 session of Congress (the first year of the
105th Congress) convened Jan. 7 and was gaveled to
a dose Nov. 13. Compared to the first year of the
104th Congress (which convened Jan. 4, 199S, and
did hot end until Jan. 3,1996), the 1997 session was
like a leisurely walk in the park. The House took a
record-low 284 recorded votes in 1997, compared to
885 in 1995 (the average over the last 20 years was
584).
While several things were accomplished in the
1997 session of Congress, the session mil probably be
remembered most for the number of things left to be
acted on later. Amidst all the smoke, mirrors, dust
and rhetoric, here is my quick summary of things
that passed, things that failed and things that wen
left undone.
Things that passed
The Balanced Budget Deal: Every analysis I have
seen lauds the balanced budget deal as the No. 1
achievement of this Congress. The notion that parti
san and philosophical differences could be put aside
to pass a bill which will both reduce taxes and
increase domestic spending, yet still balance the fed
eral budget in 2002, is clearly a major achievement.
There are good things about the deal: it expands
health coverage for children, it restores some benefits
for legal immigrants which were taken away last year,
and it provide* tax cut* ($300 par child tax credit,
education tax credits and capital gains and estate tax
cuts). But there are also some bad things about the
deal: the tax cuts disproportionately benefit the
wealthiest people, and despite the hype, the combina
tion of tax cuts and increased spending delays bal
ancing the budget until 2002, when the budget would
have balanced in 1998 or 1999 without the deat 1
voted no.
Appropriations; Congress approved the 13 appro
priation bills that provide funding for all federal
agencies and operations. Congress also passed emer
gency supplemental appropriations to provide disas
ter relief for flood victims and for peacekeeping
S*WMT<?A2
* W. fiiC
75 cents WINSTON-SALEM G KEENS BOKO HlGII POJNT Vol. XXIV No. 16
thth fYrpn: ~ in
JL- JL. M -A- from this library
r&R-RT-S0RT ?
l21i97 ie Choice for African-American News and Informa I address: wschron@netunlimil?d.nel
' ?' N C B00" MTv PUB BIB ???????????????????I ' __
VTNSTUN ?
Forsyth united Way
continues to ignore
Sickle Cell group
By SHARON BROOKS HODGE
The Chronicle Editor
The United Way in Forsyth County is raising more
money, but an agency dedicated to serving people with a
disease that affects mostly black people still is not a recipi
ent of those funds.
"Forsyth is the second largest county in our service area,
yet it contributes nothing to help pay for the services people
living there receive from us," said Gladys Robinson, execu
tive director of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of the
Piedrtiont.
According to Robinson, Forsyth is second behind
Guilford County in the number of people who turn to the
Sickle Cell Association for clinics, nursing services and
transportation for medical care. The Guilford County
United Way has included the Sickle Cell group in its budget
for next year, as it has done since 1989.
Even Alamance County, which has fewer residents rely
ing on the Sickle Cell Association, has found money to sup
port the organization's efforts.
The agency's mission is to educate the community about
the disease "and see to it that those affected with the disease
receive effective health care, and to provide assistance to
their social, physiological and psychological well being,"
said Jo Heather Layton, who handles the group's public
relations.
?T "According to our records, the Sickle Cell organization
approached us two years ago, but at the time we were not
accepting applications from health care groups," said John
Conrad, marketing coordinator for the Forsyth United
Way.
He could not explain why the United Way had not been
funding the organization before that time. Calls to United
Way president, Ron Drago, seeking comment on the matter
- were not returned.
According to the proposed spending plan for 1998, the
United Way does not intend to change its relationship, or
- - lack of one, with the Sickle Cell Association of the
Piedmont anytime soon. However, Conrad said that the
United Way may reconsider its decision not to fund any new
health organizations.
"We may do another needs assessment in 12 to 24
months," said Conrad.
Such a decision probably would not change spending
allocations for next year, he added.
Without financial support from the Forsyth United
Way, said Robinson, "We have to use our federal funds and
funds that come from other communities to provide services
for people who live in Forsyth County."
The fact that the Forsyth United Way gives no money to
the Sickle Cell Association is more important now than it
has been in the past, explained Robinson recently. That's
because the National Institutes of Health has decided not
to renew a $50,000 grant the organization had received
through the Duke Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center.
See SICKLE CEU on A2
Chi khan's author Caralo Boston Woathorford
domonstratos how ono can Croats a rood
instrumont from papor during hor childron't
workshop at Ifto Doha Arts Cantor.
Woman
in Charge:
Blacks expect
much from
Katie Dorsett
A Delivering isn't always easy
By SHARON BROOKS HODGE
The Chronicle Editor
GREENSBORO ? For 32 years, Dr. Katie
Dorsett taught at North Carolina .A&T State
University. This week, Dorsett, who is the highest
ranking African American employed by the state,
returned to her alma mater to deliver a few words
of wisdom.
Dorsett is secretary of the Department of
Administration, and graduate students in A&T's
School of Education invited Dorsett to share the
mission and vision of the agency she runs.
"It is our goal to connect the theories we have
discussed in class with real life practices that occur
every day in her department," said Dr. Gloria
Hope Blue.
"My agency is the most diverse agency in the
state," Dorsett said in reference to the plethora of
responsibilities that fall under her direction.
From building construction to facility mainte
nance or purchasing, as well as maintaining state
and federal surplus property, if it's necessary for
Sec rotary of Administration, Katie Dorsett visited N.C. A A T on Monday.
operating the state government, then it falls into
Dorsett s jurisdiction.
She has a $97.8 million budget and some 850
employees to manage. Consequently, said Dorsett,
some people believe she has an obligation or
responsibility to make sure some of those jobs and
contracts benefit African Americans.
"And I do accept that responsibility," said
Dorsett, who made history five years ago when
Gov. Jim Hunt appointed her to the post. In 1992,
Dorsett became the first black wo,man to hold a
state Cabinet position. Currently, she is the only
African American among the nine Cabinet secre
taries.
"Let me tell you about this gu^Twho called me.
I think it really brings this home," recalled
Dorsett.f"I got in one Saturday, and there was this
man on the phone. He said, 'What are you doing
down there in Raleigh? I don't have any contracts
yet. We put you down there, and I haven't gotten
any business.'"
Dorsett said she asked the man what kind of
work he did. Trucking was his response. According
# See DORSfTT on A3
Welfare reform no easy task in Guilford County
By SHARON BROOKS HODGE
The Chronicle Editor
GREENSBORO ? Welfare
reform has a price. And Guilford
County residents on the citizens' com
mittee charged with overhauling the
system have already realized that
determining what must be sacrificed
could divide both the panel and the
community.
Commissioner Chuck Winfree
believes the Department of Social
Services should start by reducing the
amount of money it spends on admin
istration. According to Winfree,
Guilford county spends $1.67 million
in administration. That figure is
greater and is a larger percentage of
the entire Work First budget than what
is spent in Durham. Forsyth and Wake
counties, only Mecklenburg spends
more on administering the welfare
reform initiative.
* Even though Mecklenburg has a
higher administrative budget, Guilford
has more full-time employees assigned
to the Work First program. There are
37 full-time employees in the Guilford
Work First program, 35 in
Mecklenburg 21 in Wake and 25 in
Forsyth.
Under guidelines set by the state,
counties may not spend more than 15
percent of their block grant allocation
on administration.
"My concern is that while we have
65 percent of the TANF (Temporary
See WELFARE on A2
Commiltm? m*mb?r Kathy Spitmr
Carole B. Weatherford conducts children's
workshop for Delta's adopted community
By FELECIA P McMlLLAN
Community Correspondent
The Winston-Salem
Alumnae Chapter of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority held a
Christmas, party for the chil
dren of Lakeside Community
on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the
Delta Arts Center on East
Third Street. Carole Boston
Weatherford, a local children's
author, poet, essayist and jour
nalist, conducted a program
entitled "Reading, Writing, and
Rhythm." The party was the
culmination of many activities
the sorority has held through
out the year in the Lakeside
Community as a part of their
adopt-a-family committee pro
ject.
Weatherford began her pre
sentation with a poem that she
had written when she was 6
years old. The children in the
audience, ranging in age from 6
to 13, chanted poetry, sang, and
played some of the percussion
instruments Weatherford
brought with her. Weatherford
wanted the children involve in
her presentation, so she had tne
Children read a poem ora story
and dramatize what they felt
about each work.
See LAKESIDE on A2
Pepper spray stayij
FROM STAFF REPORT 13
Pepper spay was probably not what mm# Warnie UtM
Patton's death in October.
That was the conclusion reached by a state medical exam- ]
iner. The results of Pattotrt autopsy were released oa J
Monday, only hours before the Winston-Sakstn Boat* ef m
A Mermen gwiy from * 1^9^^
t