Overdue Bill

Congress moves on jobs

Responding to what appeared to be a politically necessary proposition whose time had come, the House, with the Reagan Administration looking on, last week passed a $4.9 billion jobs bill. First proposed by President Reagan in mid-February, then rearranged and fattened a bit by the Democrat-controlled House Appropriations Committee, the package sailed through by an overwhelming 324-to-95 vote.

Proponents claim that the appropriated funds could create up to 400,000 jobs in fiscal 1983. The largest single item, a supplemental $1.25 billion in fiscal 1983 for community development, is intended to produce 80,000 jobs in light...