North Carolina Now; 4077; Interview with U.S. Congressman Bill Hefner

The It's Tuesday October 15th. Tonight on North Carolina now Samaritan's Purse is healing the wounds of war torn nation. Good evening I'm reading it right thanks so much for joining us for this Tuesday edition of North Carolina now. Tonight we have an abbreviated program so that we may bring you ask you when see TV. It's an opportunity for you to call with any questions or comments that you may have regarding what we do here at

U.N. see TV. So grab a piece of paper and a pen. And later in the program we'll give you a telephone number so you can call us on tonight's program we'll delve into the realm of politics as we continue our series of congressional interviews. Tonight U.S. Congressman Bill Hefner will be our guest. But we start our program tonight focusing on a world renowned Christic relief organization which calls the North Carolina home. It's called Samaritans Purse a nonprofit organization with a mission of meeting emergency needs of people caught up in crisis situations. Some Americans purse recently came to the aid of our coastal residents hardest hit by Hurricane Fran. But well the organization is headquartered in a small stone office building in Boone. Its efforts reach far beyond our state's boundaries. The mission of Samaritan's Purse is to go to the aid of those hurting people

and this is the right has abandoned the hope. Like most of the children were born Samaritans Purse is a Christian relief organization headquartered in this unassuming office building in Boone. It's a 33 million dollar a year operation led by Franklin Graham who took over the fledgling organization in 1979 from its founder the late Bob here. Samaritans Purse provides food medical supplies. Let's have something for you. Dear friend you use of the quote shelter and other aid to places which Graham calls the ditches and the gutters of the world. Today we just try to go to the war areas and famine areas of the world helping people that are victims of war famine or natural disasters. The Samaritans Purse prides itself in the immediate response it can provide in

emergency situations around the globe with the ability to cut through the red tape that often ties the hands of government relief efforts. But Samaritans Purse also focuses on more long range relief efforts. For example in Romania plans are underway to build Rachel's house a home where children dying of AIDS will have access to special medical attention care and compassion. Over 50 percent of Europe's pediatric AIDS cases are in Romania and 94 percent of Romania's AIDS patients are children. And many of these children seen here will move to Rachel's house once construction is completed in 1997. In Rwanda hundreds of children orphaned by the violence of war are cared for at the Samaritans Children's Village. Here

immediate needs are met. Food clothing medicine education but also a more long term solution a saw and under a Samaritans Purse project called Lead Me Home. A team of detectives works to locate any surviving family members these children may have. So far more than 100 Rwandan children have been reunited with a family member. We enjoy helping people in their hour of need. But I want to do in such a way that I can tell them about God's son Jesus Christ which Graham strives not only to provide for material needs but also to fulfill the spiritual needs of those served by Samaritans Purse. Graham is quick at every chance he gets to mix a little of Vangelis some with his relief efforts. God love you guys. It is however this of Vangelis that draws many critics to Samaritans Purse. Among the staunchest General Norman Schwarzkopf during the Persian Gulf War Graham sent copies of the New Testament translated in

Arabic to U.S. troops hoping the bibles would be passed along to the Saudis. This angered Schwarzkopf because the action was in violation of the military's agreement to honor Islamic sensibilities during Operation Desert Storm. But Graham by no means apologizes for mixing the message of the gospel with his relief work is taking that person and helping them and bringing them to a point where they understand who God is and the provision that God has made for them through Jesus Christ. That's the satisfaction of the fulfillment I get and whether that's in a crusade setting where you're asking people to come forward to receive Christ or whether it's helping somebody and explain it to them when they make that same decision I want people to know that God loves them. Probably the best known of Samaritan's Purse relief effort says it's Operation Christmas Child project. She boxes are filled with toys gloves gum candy other small gifts donated by people like you. And then they're sent to

children of war torn countries around the world. Donations are being accepted now for Operation Christmas Child. We'll tell you more about that project in a couple of weeks but in the meantime set aside those shoe boxes and start collecting your toys. Well still ahead on North Carolina now a conversation with U.S. Congressman Bill Hefner. But right now Michel Louis is at the news desk where he has the latest news from around North Carolina. Good evening Mitch. Thanks Maria. Good evening everyone. Topping our news this evening a state panel is recommending the removal of a Wake County District Judge from the bench. Evidence in the hearing of Judge Susan Renfro concluded today after several court clerks testified about her courtroom behavior. The clerk said Renfrew was rude and didn't follow established court procedures including allegedly holding cases that she disagreed with another judge's ruling the Judicial Standards Commission must now make an official recommendation which will then be forwarded to the North Carolina Supreme Court. Republican Senator Jesse Helms is campaigning in the eastern part of North Carolina today. The senator spoke at a

rally last night in Goldsboro. He said he feels good about his campaign but that he can only win if his supporters vote. Helms strayed away from hot button conservative issues like abortion and homosexuality. Instead he focused on economic issues such as foreign aid and the federal deficit without mentioning his challenger Democrat Harvey Gantt by name Helms criticized against proposed policies. I'm concerned about what we have done and are doing and hurt it. Still want to continue to do. I wish the candidates around the state and the nation one in North Carolina. Q I don't think he'd run for the Senate I think he's running for two fer But over all he wants to do it anyway something along something here. Helms opponent Harvey Gantt was also on the campaign trail today. Gant made a swing through the southeastern part of the state meeting students workers and other voters. Oyster season has been delayed for showing fishermen preparing to

take to the waters off the coast of North Carolina. Today would have begun opening season and dare hide and Pamlico counties state fisheries officials have designated the waters off limits because of pollution runoff from Hurricane Fran. According to representatives of the state's shellfish sanitation section water samples don't look good and there's no word when the ban will be lifted. The minimum fine for a violation of the rules could cost $90 federal mediators may be called in to settle a dispute between a group of contractors and truckers. The truckers have been hauling debris and trash left over from Hurricane Fran at writes Will N Carolina beaches. They're angry because they haven't been paid in two weeks. One trucker says the contractor owes him about $20000. The Army Corps of Engineers says it may call in mediators if the dispute isn't resolved by the end of the week. There's a new statewide assistance program designed to help older residents pay their heating bills this winter. Those who are eligible will be given $150 out of a state fund to go toward their

energy bill and automatic strict screening process is under way of all candidates living in a household where the occupants are 65 or older and receiving food stamps. And now for a look at tomorrow's weather. The warming trend continues into Wednesday. Temperatures are forecast to reach a high somewhere in the mid to high 70s range partly to mostly sunny skies are expected throughout the Tarheel State all day tomorrow. In business news an organization has set up shop in the Greenville area to provide resources for businesses. The North Carolina manufacturing extension partnership is opening an office at East Carolina University. The Greenville office is one of five around the state designed to use University and government resources to help area businesses. The group is funded from a six year federal award of eight point eight million dollars from the National Institute for Science and technology as well as private funds and state taxes and record earnings are being reported by nations bank. The Charlotte based bank recorded earnings of six hundred twenty five million dollars in the third quarter of this year. That's up 18 percent from the

same period in 1995. The earnings translate to a purse share increase of $2 and 12 cents were common stock. And now for a look at what happened on Wall Street today. Now we continue with our series of political interviews tonight we bring you a discussion with

the Democratic incumbent in the 8th Congressional District. Here's USA TV's political correspondent Robin mini Anna with Congressman Bill Hefner. Congressman thank you for joining us this evening. Thank you Robert. This must have been an interesting session for Democrats in the house with all of the emphasis on what the House Republicans were doing. How did you find this last session. Well it was very interesting that I had never been in the minority before. And some of the things that the new Republican majority tried to do in my view was very very extreme and it was very frustrating for us because they had such discipline and they were able to own any issue that they brought up they were almost a hundred percent well they were a hundred percent on the first hundred days and it was very frustrating. I never experienced anything like that in the years that I've been in the Congress. Did you spend a lot of time trying to defend programs or were you able to bring up new initiatives as

well in the session. Well some of the programs that we felt very strongly about for instance like one of the first things they wanted to do was to cut the school lunch program they wanted to do that in a recession package in appropriations which I said on the preparation. They wanted to roll back the nursing homes to Nassau federal nursing home standards which in my view has been a very good thing because we used to have a lot of scandals for about how they were warehousing our seniors in their homes and we have established federal standards. They want to roll those back. They wanted to weaken the regulations on clean air and clean water and some of the things that they were doing. In my view we're not in step with what the American people wanted and they didn't tell people when they were running with their Contract for America that they were going to cut school lunch programs drastically cut student loans and tamper with the regulations on clean water and clean air. And so it was very frustrating to us to try to

keep the things that we knew worked and were very beneficial to the American people. What's on your mind what's your greatest accomplishment of the hundred fourth session. Well I think overall I remember two years ago they there was a pledge it sent out that you would pledge that you would reduce the deficit. And I signed the pledge that if Bill Clinton was elected and I was elected that we would work very hard to reduce the deficit. And we've done that for years in a row. And this year had it not been for the interest that we have to play on the debt we would have a surplus in the budget this year so for four years in a row the budget deficit has come down. And one thing I was real proud about was the boat made I don't know if you're familiar with this but Money magazine which is one of the largest conservative magazines in the con in the country gave me the rating as the number one congressman in the United States for voting on pocketbook issues and things that affect the constituents and

the American people. I was real proud of that and the overall voting record that I had to reach that accomplishment so a lot of the things that we were able to do like we were able to keep the Republicans from cutting Medicare. We were able to stop them from reducing this to the feeding programs for children student loans in areas these areas we were able to keep doing that the president told a couple of budgets which I admire him for doing because he was dead right on the issues. So those are the things that I'm proud we were able not so much what we accomplished but what we were able to keep from taking place. You've been in Congress since 1974 do you see that what people have become to come to expect from government has changed over the years. I suppose so. People still want to they have areas to where they think that they are and they have a right to expect the government to be of assistance to them to make the

level the playing feel. And I think basically we've done that. There are some things that need to be looked at from time to time welfare reform welfare needs to be looked at. And we did that and we'll have to continue to look at welfare. And we passed a minimum wage which we had passed in a lot of years but I think basically overall the American people just want their government to work in their behalf. And people get frustrated. But at this point in time I think the economy is working there well we've got the lowest unemployment we've had in a long while. Interest rates are very very low. There's a good environment for people to start a new business so I think the country overall is in pretty good shape. You mentioned welfare reform. There have been some critics who say that welfare reform as Clinton passed it went too far and others who feel like it didn't go far enough. What's your opinion. Well I think that we have to look very closely. My concern is there may

be some areas where children will be harmed. And certainly we don't want that to happen I don't think either party wants to harm children. But the mood was in the country that you had to do something for welfare to keep a welfare system. And if we have gone to four then we can move very rapidly to rectify any mistakes that we made. But I think we were absolutely mandated to do something about welfare. Has Clinton's proposed regulations of the tobacco tobacco hurt Democrats in the state running for office. Well I don't agree with giving the FDA the jurisdiction to declare tobacco a drug I don't agree with that jurisdiction at all. But I'm going to look at the entire picture. Agree with what Bill Clinton is trying to do other than the tobacco issue with what he's trying to do for Medicare and Medicaid and student loans and the environment. I agree with what he's trying to do more than I agree with what Bob Dole or Bob Dole would take the country but I strongly disagree with the

president on the tobacco issue. But our party we can disagree with that completely being thrown out the party in some instances this year if you were Republican if you disagree with Newt Gingrich. You know it's your committee assignment or your lost your seat on the commerce or ways and means for appropriations. We don't do that the Democratic Party we just disagree and fuss and fight but we still stick together. Congressman if you were re-elected to office what would you take back as your top priority. Well I think I would continue to try to set an environment where we can continue the job growth and make sure that we have a clean environment and protect the environment for our citizens to live in. And a strong emphasis on education because I think that's where we're going to have to go. We're living in a computerized age we're in a global economy. And if youngsters don't get the education the skills to compete it's got to be a very very sad situation for me so I would have a strong focus

on education. And of course continue to try to make the fight for Rome for crime to do away with the the drugs as best we can. And I voted for the crime bill to put more police on the streets and we're doing that. Just A No I think basically the things that most Americans are concerned about having a good job an education and a focus on making health care is as much affordable as we can. Representative Havner thank you very much for your time. Save me. Thank you very much. And interview with Congressman Hefner's opponent Republican challenger Curtis Blackwood. Well air on October 29. Women fast pitch softball players in North Carolina now have a professional league of

their own. City leaders in Durham and Charlotte announced this afternoon that they will host professional women's softball teams beginning next spring. The Charlotte and Durham teams are part of a six new teams throughout the southeast that make up the new women's professional fast pitch softball league. The league will hold its first game next June and league officials say they hope to expand the softball league nationwide in about two years. Well that's our program for tonight. Thanks for tuning in. If you have a question or comment about North Carolina now or all the programming on U.N. see TV please give us a call at 1 800 5 9 5 20 200. We'll be here until 9:00 o'clock tonight answering your questions and listening to your comments. And before we head out of here tonight I would like to remind you that the University of North Carolina is looking for a new president and your help is needed in the selection process. Tonight public hearings are being held throughout the state for people to voice their opinions about the qualities that the new president should have. If you would like to share your views you can

send them to the leadership statement committee Post Office Box twenty six eighty eight Chapel Hill North Carolina 2 7 5 1 5. And don't forget the North Carolina State Fair is just days away we'll be there live on Friday for the opening. And if you'd like to be there to advance tickets are already on sale so hope to see you at the fair and hope to see you again tomorrow night as we bring you another edition of North Carolina now. Have a nice night everyone. Right right right right.