June 1994, Page 66

Jews and Israel

By Sheldon Richman

Clinton Angers Jewish Leaders by Linking Israeli Aid to Health Care Reform

President Clinton raised eyebrows when he linked his health-care reform with aid to Israel during a meeting with the 50 members of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. According to Washington Jewish Week, Clinton, while pitching his health plan, pointed out that its cost controls might obviate the need to cut foreign aid to Israel in future years.

The newspaper quoted Seymour Reich, president of the American Zionist Movement, as saying that Clinton "suggested that continued aid to Israel and Egypt might be difficult at current levels" if the cost of health care keeps rising. Reich's notes from the meeting had Clinton telling the leaders, "If we continue to have increased health care costs every year, it might make it more difficult for us to honor our [foreign aid] commitments."

Some people attending the meeting were disturbed by the ambiguity of the linkage. Said Lynn Lyss, chair of the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, "[Clinton's statement] made me very uncomfortable. I wasn't clear about what he was trying to say. " But WJW reported that Lyss later said she saw "nothing nefarious" in the statement. She chalked it up to Clinton's eagerness to have his reform passed. "He can't help bringing it into conversations," Lyss said. "I don't see this as any kind of warning or red flag."

Some American Jews have expressed concern that the president's health-care plan, which seeks both to limit the number of medical specialists and to assure medical school slots for minorities, could adversely affect Jewish medical school applicants. That issue apparently did not come up at the meeting with Clinton.

Another issue that did not arise in the meeting was the president's denial of clemency for convicted spy Jonathan Jay Pollard. Reich said he regretted that Pollard, who is serving a life sentence for turning U.S. secrets over to Israel, was not discussed. He said he would have brought up the subject himself, but the question-and-answer period ended abruptly.

During the meeting, Clinton reaffirmed his 1992 campaign support for Israeli control of a unified Jerusalem, Alfred Moses, president of the American Jewish Committee, called the meeting "very positive" and praised Clinton for his familiarity with the issues discussed.

NatPac Appointment Highlights Pro-Israel PAC Problems

The largest pro-Israel political action committee—National PAC (NatPAC)—has a new director. He is Charles Brooks, 36 a former legislative assistant to Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA). Brooks assumes the helm at a time when NatPAC has had to cut its staff and move to smaller quarters because of the fund-raising difficulties that have plagued it as well as other pro-Israel PACs. He succeeds Richard Altman, who has become general counsel for NatPAC.

Brooks minimized the PAC's financial problems, calling its situation "good, stable." WJW reported that last year NatPAC raised and spent $665,000. In the previous two-year election cycle, it raised about $2.2 million.

WJW reported also that the percentage of money actually donated to candidates by pro-Israel PACs has become something of an issue. In 1991-92, only 30 percent of the money raised went to campaigns.

WJW quoted Brooks as saying that NatPAC's chief purpose "is to disperse money to our friends who are in Congress and to future congressmen." He pledged nonpartisanship, although, besides working for Specter, he also has been on the staff of the Republican-affiliated National Jewish Coalition. He said the only criterion for who gets money will be "support for Israel."

The percentage of money actually donated to candidates by pro-Israel PACs has become something of an issue.

While working for Specter, Brooks founded and co-directed the Senate Caucus on U.S. /Israel Security Cooperation, which provides information to senators and sets up symposia on strategic cooperation between the two nations. His work on the caucus has won him accolades from Democrats in Congress. Among those who have Brooks is Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-111), one of Israel's staunchest supporters in the Senate. Between 1988 and 1989, Brooks was executive director of another political action committee, RuffPAC, which was concerned with economic issues.

More on PAC Woes

WJW also reported that another pro-Israel PAC, the Roundtable Political Action Committee, contributed only about 16 percent of the money it raised to congressional candidates. The Roundtable PAC is one of the 10 largest pro-Israel PACs in the nation, and its percentage of contributions to money raised was the lowest of those 10. RPAC raised $450,000 since 1989. In 1993, it raised $63,000 but gave none to campaigns.

Where did most of the money go? The Federal Election Commission says that $55,000 went for the salary of executive director Gary Geller. In the last five years, about four times as much was paid to Geller as was given to election campaigns. Other pro-Israel PACs contribute a much larger percentage of money raised. Washington PAC, whose treasurer is Morris Amitay, executive director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) until 1980, had a contribution rate of 84 percent, WJW said.

Geller explained that the percentage of money contributed to campaigns fell beginning in 1988 when the faltering economy reduced the amount of money raised. WJW reported that PAC officers are "embarrassed" by the problem and have undertaken reforms. One of those reforms was to halve Geller's pay and make his job part time. The PAC also gave up a $500-a-month office in Manhattan for the basement of Geller's Brooklyn home.

WJW quoted Edward Zuckerman, editor of the Political Finance and Lobby Reporter, as saying PAC spending on things other than campaigns does not concern most people. "It's not always the assumption that all the money is going to the candidates, " he said. Zuckerman noted that what else contributors get for their money is also important. Roundtable PAC issues a biweekly fax update of congressional goings-on and holds fund-raisers for candidates in Congress.

Sheldon Richman is a Washington, DC-based writer.