Washington news briefs for July 12, 2000

Wednesday, July 12, 2000 | 9:38 a.m.

Reid calls for work on key issues

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, is calling on Congress to complete "America's unfinished agenda." On Tuesday he urged his colleagues to tackle four remaining issues before the Senate adjourns in October. Congress is out of session in August.

The issues are repeal of the estate tax, a patient's bill of rights, increasing minimum wage and prescription drug coverage under Medicare.

"With less than 35 legislative days remaining, time is running short to enact an agenda that will have a real impact on the overwhelming majority of Americans," Reid said.

Reid, as the Senate minority whip, this week has been leading some of the floor debate for Democrats on the issue of repealing a "death tax."

A Republican plan would repeal the tax that heirs pay on estates worth more than $675,000; a slimmed down Democratic version would cut some estate taxes on small businesses and family farms and use estate taxes collected from the wealthy on programs for child care, college tuition deductions, retirement savings accounts and others.

Vote set to name post office

The House today was scheduled to vote on a bill that would name a Reno post office for former U.S. Rep. Barbara Vucanovich.

Vucanovich, who served in the House from 1983 through 1996, was the first woman from Nevada in Congress. Vucanovich, of Reno, who had never held elected office, was the first person to fill the 2nd Congressional District seat, which includes all of Nevada except for areas in the Las Vegas Valley.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, former Sen. Paul Laxalt and the congressman who replaced Vucanovich, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., are leading the effort to name the post office for her.

"Barbara's dedicated service to our nation is well known throughout the halls of Congress," Gibbons said.