By Eric Pianin and Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post Staff Writers. The Washington Post. Monday, June 26, 2000; Page A17
Once he was a symbol for the GOP Revolution--the fresh face who bumped off Democratic House Speaker Thomas S. Foley and helped the Republicans wrest control of the House in 1994.
But now Rep. George R. Nethercutt (R-Wash.) has become something of a burr under the leadership's saddle. And while party leaders certainly hope he will win reelection in November--which is essential to their prospects for retaining their narrow hold on the House--Nethercutt has become a target
of leadership venom.
At issue is Nethercutt's relentless, three-year drive to lift trade sanctions against Cuba over the strong objections of House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) and other leaders. Nethercutt's district is heavily agricultural, and one of his top concerns is helping farmers find new overseas
markets. But DeLay despises the Castro regime and argues that easing the 38-year-old sanctions would do nothing to foster economic and social reforms in communist Cuba.
Joined by nearly 100 other House members from both parties, Nethercutt this year demanded that the leadership allow a vote on sanctions. But after proponents succeeded in attaching a measure lifting the sanctions to the agriculture spending bill, the leadership kept it off the House floor.
Sparks flew early last week after Nethercutt's allies leaked word that he had prevailed in a showdown and that the leadership would go along with a compromise plan. While the leadership, indeed, had agreed in principle to drop their opposition to the sales of food and medicine to Cuba, there was
still a lot to be done in working out a compromise.
A DeLay aide complained that Nethercutt had "overplayed his hand," jeopardizing prospects for a final agreement. Nethercutt said he apologized to the leadership for what he termed an inaccurate press report, insisting he had never claimed that he had won a big victory.
At the same time, however, Nethercutt is miffed about the way he has been treated at times and complained about having been excluded from some of the important decision-making on sanctions.
"I tried my best not to have this be personal," Nethercutt said in an interview. "I've tried to articulate what I feel is important for the country but also for my region. . . . But I do think what's been hard at times is the uncertainty of discussions going on outside my
presence, and trying to get a handle on what the procedures are going to be."
Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (Va.), head of the National Republican Congressional Committee, concedes that tensions between Nethercutt and the leadership have created something of a problem for the GOP.
"But our caucus is filled with dilemmas," he added. "Members don't represent the leadership, they represent their constituents. Trying to pass legislation with a six-vote margin and yet mollifying members is not always a congruent equation."
The affable Nethercutt was granted a seat on the House Appropriations Committee after his first election, a rare honor for a freshman, but one that GOP leaders deemed an appropriate reward for toppling Foley. While he has differed sharply with the leadership over the Cuba sanctions issue, he has
voted with his party more than 90 percent of the time and frequently takes conservative stands.
Which is why some of his allies are baffled by the leadership's treatment of him while he's facing a tough reelection campaign.
BLILEY ONLINE: Right after the House approved legislation this month changing the way businesses conduct business on the Internet, Commerce Committee Chairman Thomas J. Bliley Jr. (R-Va.) made a stunning admission: He doesn't know how to use a computer.
Bliley, who championed the bill applying the same legal standards for electronic contracts that currently exist for paper ones, said he plans to sit down with a member of his staff in December and start mastering the art of Web surfing. Bliley will have plenty of time after the November
elections--he's retiring this year.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Both chambers will keep up their frenetic pace in working through assorted spending bills, but the big fireworks should come in the House, where leaders have promised votes on a new prescription drug benefit for the elderly and a plan to require more disclosure of tax-exempt
groups involved in politics. The House and Senate may also consider bankruptcy reform legislation.
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