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As a young girl in a rural Puerto Rican sugar-cane town, Velazquez wondered what lay beyond the mountains. In 1992 she became the first Puerto Rican woman in the House and has maintained a strong commitment to her Latino roots. She was arrested in 1994 while protesting President Clinton's repatriation of Haitian refugees, and has fought for a national strategy to combat financial crimes.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia NR NAFTA NO Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "What is true of minorities is that we are not in power, we're not in control of the legislative process, but that does not mean we are not fighting back."
TYRONE BUTLER (D) District 13 (Staten Island; part of southwest Brooklyn)
BORN: Jan. 15, 1948, Morehead, Ky. EDUCATION: Xavier U, B.A., 1970; Boston College, M.A., 1972 FAMILY: Wife, Anne Taylor-Butler; three children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Army, 1972; Army Reserve, 1972-78 OCCUPATION: Records and information-management consultant POLITICAL CAREER: Democratic nominee for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: 70 Bay Street, Staten Island 10301. Tel.: 718-876-9112
Passing effective anticrime laws, implementing education reform and preventing "corporate welfare" are what this Democrat vows to do in the House. Butler, who met with President Clinton in June as part of a Democratic congressional workshop on the new Families First agenda, claims Susan Molinari is as conservative as Newt Gingrich.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "Republicans in the 104th Congress have let American children down. They have made our kids the sacrificial lambs at the altar of the wealthy and the privileged."
SUSAN MOLINARI (R) District 13
BORN: March 27, 1958, Staten Island EDUCATION: State U of New York at Albany, B.A., 1980, M.A., 1982 FAMILY: Husband, Bill Paxon; one child RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Political aide POLITICAL CAREER: New York city council, 1985-90; U.S. House, 1990- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 060248 New Dorp Station, Staten Island 10306. Tel.: 718-980-0807.
Molinari was the youngest member of Congress when she won her father's seat in 1990, and has distinguished herself as an energetic legislator. Now the highest-ranking G.O.P. woman in the House, this savvy incumbent, who is married to Representative Bill Paxon (District 27), is a social moderate who supports abortion rights and gun control, and a fiscal conservative who backs a balanced-budget amendment.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "The unique American spirit that defied a king and challenged a continent and conquered space still beats in the heart of every one of us. But we must have a leader who shares our dreams."
JEFF LIVINGSTON (R)
District 14 (East Side of Manhattan; part of Queens and Brooklyn)