UNIQUE AMONG
MICHIGAN'S
those who pay taxes to Uncle
Sam, helped solve the problem of
how to drastically cut welfare pro-
grams without offending politi-
cally important constituencies.
The Democrats are not mere
innocents in this. It was the Clin-
ton administration, after all, that
first proposed the idea of using
cuts in benefits to legal immi-
grants to fund welfare reform, a
policy the president later blamed
on the Republicans even as he
was signing their bill.
The spoken message was one
of fiscal moderation: We simply
can't afford all these benefits, leg-
islators explained. But the effect
was blatant discrimination and
a nod to traditional American na-
tivism.
Money also is the pretext used
by congressional Republicans
who are now trying to ax the
1989 law making it easier for
Jews from the former-Soviet
Union to gain refugee status.
In fact, the Lautenberg
Amendment is essentially free of
cost. But lawmakers who couldn't
kill it by arguing on the merits
shuffled numbers on the budget
sheets to assign it a cost — which
then made it more acceptable to
ax the law.
In effect, an unholy coalition
has been created, consisting of
cynical politicians eager to stir up
anti-immigrant sentiment as a
lightning rod to deflect voters' po-
litical angst, and more moderate
political leaders who don't want
to take the heat for budget cuts
the nation has decided are es-
sential.
That has given the process a
momentum it lacked in earlier
years — a momentum that Jew-
ish leaders see as a direct threat
to their own communities' inter-
ests.
In practical terms, the barrage
of restrictive legislation poses po-
tenti 21 economic problems for Jew-
ish groups here, and danger for
Jews in other parts of the world.
Jews continue to support thou-
sands of Jewish immigrants, pri-
marily from the former-Soviet
Union. Many are elderly and liv-
ing near the poverty line. For
them, the welfare-law cuts that
will become effective this August
could prove devastating.
Every time programs for im-
migrants are cut, Jewish social
service agencies are called on to
make up the difference. If current
trends continue, Jewish donors
will be called on to cough up mil-
lions more in the next few years.
Jewish groups also worry that
the tide of restrictionist policy
could close the narrow window of
opportunity for Jewish refugees
that was opened with great effort
by Soviet Jewry groups in the
1970s and 1980s. Once the win-
dow is closed, they believe, it will
be politically difficult to reopen it
— even if a turn to ultra-nation-
alism or a return to Communism
produces a new emergency for
the 2 million Jews remaining in
the former Soviet Union.
But more alarming than any
of these factors is what this new,
fiscally tinged nativism implies
about the American future.
Jewish leaders almost across
the board believe that the accel- .
erating effort to use newcomers
as ideological and fiscal scape-
goats represents a dangerous le-
gitimization of discrimination
and bigotry.
Immigrant bashing is a foot in
a door we thought we'd closed
decades ago. Animosities stirred
up by these reckless politicians
won't target just Mexican gar-
deners in San Diego and Somali
cab drivers in Washington; even-
tually, every minority will be
threatened, Jews included.
"Congress is playing with fire
when it targets legal immigrants
to take the brunt of budget cuts,"
said an official with one Jewish
group in Washington. "It's not a
fire easily contained." ❑
JAMES D. BESSER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
T
SPECTACULAR
RESTAURANTS
& BANQUET
CENTERS
The perfect lakeside setting for
elegant bridal showers,
rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions.
Call (810) 463-9660
for complete assistance to make your
wedding a memorable occasion.
North River Rd., just east of 1-94 expressway.
************* * *************
V. FREE HOT DOGS
vien,
WITH THIS COUPON FRI., SAT. & SUN., JULY 4, 5 & 6
BUY ONE POUND GET ONE POUND FREE!
FREE FRUIT OR VEGGI TRAY
WITH ALL
PICNICS AND BAR-B-QUES
• Min. 25 Persons
41(
• DINE IN CAFE
• CARRY-OUT
• CHOICE OF WINES
• GOURMET FOODS
GIFT BASKETS & TRAYS
PA to the promises Yassir Arafat
made in his agreements with Is-
rael.
Jewish groups that support an
extension are holding back, wait-
ing to see what the administra-
tion's strategy will be, and
whether the opposition in Con-
gress is more talk than action.
There are indications the Clin-
ton administration may seek a
"graduated" formula that will tie
specific levels of compliance to dif-
ferent levels of aid.
PALESTINIAN AID page 90
• Menu Available At Vineyards
18E Y
CAFE 'A\ g CATERING
32418 Northwestern H .
CATERING FOR
ALL OCCASIONS
BY SHIRLEE BLOOM
VISA
855-9463
***************************
r SUPER SPECIAL('
Mum Is The Word
On Palestinian Aid
he Clinton administration
is playing its cards close to
the vest as the deadline for
renewal of the Middle East
Peace Facilitation Act nears. The
law, which permits diplomatic
contact with the Palestinian Au-
thority (PA) as well as financial
aid, must be renewed by the end
of July.
So far, the State Department
has not signaled whether it plans
to fight for renewal of MEPFA
without changes or propose a
new formula for linking aid to the
LARGEST AND MOST
25%
OFF
ENTIRE BILL
With Coupon
Not Good With Any Other Offer
Good 7 Days a Week
•Steaks • Seafood • Veal
•Chicken • Chops • Pasta • Etc.
RED DEVIL
Restaurant
Serving Detroit For
50 Years
Complete Banquet Facilities
Catering & Carry-Out Service
15337 Fenkell, E. of Greenfield
r
Fax: 626-8468
(Between Middlebelt & 14 Nfile)
IMES NUM
COUPON
FAMILY ITALIAN DINING & PIZZA
'RATED #1 BY THE ONES WHO COUNT-OUR CUSTOMERS"
I
4033 W.12 MILE, 3 Blks. E. of Greenfield
I
Berkley
548-3650
I
DAILY LUNCH & DINNER SPECIALS
I
SQUARE PIZZA ROUND PIZZA
I PIZZA • RIBS • FISH
I
HOMEMADE
GARLIC
BREAD
SMALL
OR
LARGE
SMALL
•
MED
•
LARGE
I
I
I
ON FOOD PURCHASES I
I
I 1
OF $6 OR MORE
I
'1 OFF
DINING ROOM, CARRYOUT
• 1 COUPON PER TABLE
• ONLY ONE COUPON PER PURCHASE • NO SEPARATE CHECKS
I • COUPON NOT VALID WITH DAILY SPECIALS
• EXPIRES 12-31-97
273-8844
VISA
0-,
I
JN
I
JN Expires 7-31-97
NMI MI= II ■ 1 NEM
■ I 111•111 EMU IIMINE
MN!
89