U.S. Rep. William O. Lipinski, an advocate of banning Japanese cars to help American automakers, acknowledged Monday that he does indeed own a 1983 Italian-made Fiat.
”Yes, the congressman does have that automobile. It hasn`t been used in a while. He`s not even sure if it runs,” said George Edwards, manager of Lipinski`s Democratic primary campaign against U.S. Rep. Martin Russo, Paul Del Debbio and Aloysius Majerczyk in the Southwest Side and southwest suburban 3rd Congressional District.
Russo on Sunday produced photos of the two-seat Fiat X1/9 with the Illinois vanity plates ”WOL” and called his opponent a hypocrite for owning it.
Lipinski has called for a five-year ban on the importation of Japanese cars, while Russo advocates a less radical approach to reducing the U.S.-Japan trade imbalance.
”We`re saying, `Something has to be done. This might be an approach,`
” Edwards said of the proposed moratorium.
”We have never been isolationist. We never said, `Ban all imports,`
” Edwards said. ”Does the congressman (Lipinski) have any Japanese products? I`m sure he`s got a tape recorder. I`m sure he`s got a VCR.”
For at least the past six months, Edwards said, Lipinski has driven a Plymouth Horizon.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that Russo by Dec. 31 had received $28,250 in campaign contributions from Democratic House colleagues, including $5,000 from a fund controlled by House Speaker Thomas Foley.
The Foley contribution was made before the new congressional map was approved, however, and a Foley spokesman said Lipinski would receive the same amount.
Lipinski had received just one contribution-$1,000-from a House member.
