Democracy Now! September 17, 1998

(14 Miutes) Bankruptcy Act A debate on the consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act, backed by corporate giants Mastercard and Visa. If passed, it will make it more difficult to declare fresh-start bankruptcy. GUEST: Phil Corwin, partner at Federal Legislation Associates, who represents the American Banking Association, which backs the bill. GUEST: Mary Rouleau, legislative dir. for the Consumer Federation of America, which actively opposes the bill. (19 Minutes) Debate on theWestern Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act / Human Rights Information Act. Following the Senate passing the Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act, questions are raised by human rights activists. Congress will also be voting on the Human Rights Information Act which seeks to declasify US government records on the US involvment in human rights violations in Guatemala and Honduras. GUEST: Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL), sponsor of the Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act (in the House). GUEST: Carlos Salinas, Advocacy Directory for Latin America and the Caribbean for Amnesty Internaional USA. (17 Minutes) Iran / Afghanistan Conflict Army divisions from nine Iranian provinces are heading for the border with Afghanistan for military maneuvers that could begin as early as this weekend. US Secretary Madeleine Albright may be meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi. GUEST: Dr. Azar Nafisi, Prof. of Cultural Studies at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.