May 1, 1990 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 9095 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS CONGRESSMAN BEN CARDIN: chuckle." "It's kind of a paradox; he's not some people," said Representative James A. GREAT ADDITION TO THE the typical politician." Hayes, D-La., a former colleague on the WAYS AND MEANS COMMIT- But Representative Steny H. Hoyer, D­ Public Works Committee. Md.-5th, who served as Senate president in In December, Mr. Cardin finally realized TEE Annapolis shortly before Mr. Cardin ran the his dream of a seat on the Ways and Means House, sees in his close friend an astute pol­ Committee, one of the Hill's most powerful HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK itician, who combines intellect and hard panels, with a policy reach that extends to work with an "intuitive feel for what moti­ Social Security and health care, trade and OF CALIFORNIA vates people." taxes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The man who once "ran the state," in the He came out swinging early. In a heated Tuesday, May 1, 1990 words of a Maryland legislator, settles into a exchange with Richard G. Darman, director chair in his office above North Baltimore's of the Office of Management and Budget, Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, Congressman East Belvedere Avenue. Short and husky, Mr. Cardin sharply questioned the Bush ad­ BEN CARDIN's recent appointment to the Ways with wispy gray hair and a wide smile, he is ministration's plans to cut the capital gains and Means Committee has also been a gain as approachable as the comer grocer. tax. for the Health Subcommittee, because of the "I try to be myself. I don't try to put on a "He asks thoughtful questions, he digs be­ Congressman's deep interest in improving show," said the congressman, a bit defen­ neath the surface," said Representative health care for all Americans. sively. "I enjoy all aspects of political life." Sander M. Levin, D-Mich., a fellow Ways I recently enjoyed reading the April 3, 1990, Politics is in his genes. Both his father, and Means member. "He's already making a Meyer, and uncle Maurice were elected to mark." Baltimore Sun piece entitled, "Cardin genial, the House of Delegates and created a politi­ "It really is a perfect match for what I but he grabs hard issues." From his work on cal organization in the Forest Park-Ashbur­ want to do," said Mr. Cardin, who plans to the Health Subcommittee, it is clear that the ton area. concentrate on perhaps the two thorniest article accurately reflects a hard-working, bril­ The younger Cardin hoisted campaign issues in Washington: the budget deficit and liant Representative. signs as a toddler and held office as a health care. The article follows: schoolboy. "Theodore McKeldin [the In January he called for removal of the former governor and Baltimore mayor] was Social Security trust fund from the budget CARDIN GENIAL, BUT HE GRABS HARD ISSUES at my bar mitzvah. He'd be at our house and calculations and for reduction of the deficit <By Tom Bowman> would talk politics all the time," he recalled. with a mixture of new taxes and spending One Friday night each month, a group of "My father would talk politics all the time." cuts. men assembles deep in the Baltimore area As a young married couple, Ben and Many question the political will for such a with a deck of cards and some poker chips Myrna Cardin considered moving out of Bal­ move. Representative Byron L. Dorgan, D­ etched with the letters "BLC." timore into the new apartments rising along N.D., recently told his Ways and Means col­ The initials stand for Benjamin L. Cardin, Liberty Road. But Meyer Cardin, political leagues that using Social Security surpluses D-Md.-3rd, who jokes that no matter what patriarch, cautioned against the move. "He was "fundamentally dishonest" but politi­ cards are dealt, he'll go home with all the said, 'You should stay in the city you might cally necessary since Democrats "don't want chips. want to go into politics,'" Myrna Cardin re­ to make choices either." "He does anyway; he's the best card called. "Dealing with the deficit probably will not player," says Baltimore County Sheriff J. The 22-year-old law student was elected to be a popular thing to do because it means Edward Malone, a player in the game that the House of Delegates from the Cardin increasing taxes and/or reducing spending," began in the early 1970s. "You can't read stronghold in 1966. concedes Mr. Cardin. "We're elected to do him. You can't read whether he's got it or Mr. Cardin set out to prove himself, not to just the opposite." he's bluffing." overcome a notion of family favoritism, he Similar difficulties surround health In politics, Mr. Cardin often seems to walk said, but to rise to the strong tradition of policy. off with all the chips. In Annapolis in 1979, 5th District lawmakers. "I had to feel "I was very much in favor of the cata­ he became the youngest speaker of the worthy of the seat," he said. strophic health care program," said Mr. House of Delegates at the age of 35. A Arriving in Annapolis, Mr. Cardin devel­ Cardin, referring to the law that was decade later on Capitol Hill, his star has oped a reputation as an intense-if some­ scrapped by Congress last fall after out­ been on the rise through a combination of what bland-legislator. He evolved from his raged senior citizens objected to bearing all reputation, skills and his recent elevation to family's backroom politics of patronage and the costs for the program. Mr. Cardin-who the powerful Ways and Means Committee. organization into a legislator who found his caught some heat from constituents-vainly Along the way he also has been hard to niche "in substantive issues rather than pol­ pushed a plan that would have reduced the read at times, more complex than his genial itics for politics' sake." Medicare premiums through increased to­ demeanor would reveal. Prince George's District Judge Gerard F. bacco taxes. Laid back and shy-almost compulsively Devlin, then a fellow House member, re­ The congressman lapses into a lengthy nice-he is a devoted family man whose members a legislative retreat in Ocean City discussion of health care issues. ("That tender talk with his wife on a car phone can with this new delegate from Baltimore. "Ev­ turns him on," said his wife.) He chats make aides blush. A successful politician, he erybody was on the beach and Ben was pre­ about costs and policies in other countries. seems removed from the egocentric tenden­ paring a report," he recalled adding with a Facts and figures spill out: The federal role. cies of many colleagues: his long career has laugh, "I think he took his tie off." The private role. He's on a roll. been marked by inclusion and compromise. "I prefer to work on a bill than to try to "Why not let people under 65 buy Medi­ Yet he was not shy about wielding power win favor from my colleagues from being a care?'' he finally asks. "I would favor the de­ in Annapolis to push through a bill or gavel social person,'' Mr. Cardin said. velopment of a national program provided a recalcitrant lawmaker. And today, at times The nose-to-the-grindstone style also has that we allow private insurers to write simi­ frustrated by the slow pace in Washington, served him well two decades later in Wash­ lar policies to compete with the federal gov­ he longs for the return of a strong House ington, where he is viewed by colleagues and ernment." speaker. staffers as a "nuts and bolts" legislator. Ben Cardin often seems absorbed in the Quietly driven, Mr. Cardin zealously pur­ Fellow lawmakers point to his work on na­ intricacies of legislation. But in his district, sued his Ways and Means seat even before tional bills-such as reparations for Japa­ the politician shifts toward the practical, he was sworn in. He "cracks the whip" for nese-American internees during World War working his constituents like the ward heel­ more briefing material, said a former aide. 11-and to local concerns such as money for ers from the political heyday of his Cardin When he picks up a book he can never read cleanup of toxic chemicals in Baltimore's elders. a few pages: he must finish a chapter. harbor. A recent night found two dozen South "We used to call him Dr. Jekyll and Mr. "He's a very professional legislator with Baltimore voters seated in folding chairs in Hyde," recalled his wife Myrna, with a an attention to detail, a quality lacking in the sparse basement of a Methodist church. e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 9096 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS May 1, 1990 Before them is the man they elected with 73 I commend Jack Kemp's remarks to my col­ comproinise and split our differences with percent of the vote. leagues. He underscores for all of us the im­ enemies and adversaries-but we are re­ "Ben's a good man," said George Jones, portance of remembering this dark chapter in minded that Neville Chamberlain and past president of the Beechfield Community history and calls on us to honor the victims by Eduard Daladier came to learn at Munich in Association, lighting up a cigarette and ges­ September of 1938 that not every enemy turing toward the speaker.