All day, it had seemed doubtful Gorton would persuade his colleagues to slip the gold mine into a bill aimed at more urgent matters, such as paying for the war in Yugoslavia. But Gorton is known as a master at using money bills to write new laws. The idea is that Congress has to approve these bills, and the president has to sign them. Adding a little local project here or a wrinkle in environmental law there may anger some critics, but usually not enough to invite a veto of the entire law. Gorton takes a lot of heat for it.
Some people say it's sneaky.
But often he gets his way. Last night, he did it in the midst of an influence-peddling scene that has been replayed countless times during the 210 years of Congress. Shuffling papers, racing from one legislator or staffer to another, Gorton wrote the Crown Jewel Mine into existence on a scrap of paper less than an hour before it passed in a committee vote. It was approved while still in Gorton's handwriting. The meeting was supposed to be closed to all but politicians, staff and press.