Russia's President Faces an Uneasy U.S. Congress
Instead of a big package of aid for his country, Congress is giving Russian President Boris Yeltsin a lesson in the mixed blessings of legislative democracy, American style.</br></br>When Yeltsin mounts the podium in the House chamber today as the first Russian leader to address a joint meeting of Congress, he will be greeted with applause, for himself and for the historic moment he represents.</br></br>So why, Yeltsin might ask, are these friendly people balking at passing legislation sought by President Bush more than two months ago to authorize a $12 billion increase in the U.S. commitment to the International Monetary Fund and other steps to aid republics of the former Soviet Union?</br></br>The answer can be found in a rule made famous by former House speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill Jr. (D-Mass.): All politics is local, even global politics - especially when it deals with the politically touchy issue of foreign aid.</br></br>Yeltsin's bid for help as Russia makes the difficult transition from a state-controlled to market economy came at an awkward time here, coinciding with election campaigns, a lingering recession, severe budget constraints and mounting pressures for spending to ease unemployment and urban tensions.