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When the G.O.P. stormed the House in 1994, 10-term veteran Goodling was rewarded with the chair of the Educational Opportunities Committee. From there he proposed lump-sum grants for states to administer their own school programs and opposed "opportunity-to-learn" standards in President Clinton's Goals 2000: Educate America Act. He hopes his new prominence in Congress will mean votes for him at home.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "[Being a committee chairman] means, instead of having all these ideas and not being able to push them through, I'm now in a position to do it myself."
FRANK MASCARA (D) District 20 (Southwest--Mon Valley; Washington)
BORN: Jan. 19, 1930, Belle Vernon EDUCATION: California U of Pennsylvania, B.S., 1972 FAMILY: Wife, Delores; four children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Army, 1946-47 OCCUPATION: Accountant POLITICAL CAREER: Washington County controller, 1974-79, commission chairman, 1980-95; sought Democratic nomination for U.S. House, 1992; U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1109, Washington 15301. Tel.: 412-229-8683
Mascara's background is the foundation of his politics: his father died in a steel-mill accident and his grandfather in a mining accident, so he knows first-hand the rough life of industrial workers in his district. He has vowed to work for their security--health care, jobs, portable pension plans--but has achieved his greatest visibility calling for a safer radar system at Pittsburgh International and other U.S. airports.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion YES Guns NR Gays NR Bosnia NO NAFTA NR Welfare NO* Medical Leave NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "[Six billion dollars for airport renovation] is a small price to pay for ensuring that we are protecting the flying public with the best radar system available."
MIKE MCCORMICK (R) District 20
BORN: Jan. 10, 1949, Monongahela EDUCATION: Clarion U, B.S., 1970 FAMILY: Wife, Cathie; two children RELIGION: Protestant MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Financial-consulting-firm owner; banker POLITICAL CAREER: Republican nominee for U.S. House, 1994. ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1284, McMurray 15317. Tel.: 412-941-8052
Undiscouraged by his defeat in the 1994 election--he lost by only 6%--McCormick is ready to take on the career politicians again. As the president and ceo of a local financial-consulting firm, he emphasizes his economic experience and believes that the 20th is ready for his kind of moderate Republican.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "We think it's long overdue to balance the budget, reform welfare and protect working families and senior citizens."
RON DINICOLA (D) District 21 (Northwest--Erie)