American Notes Washington

Congress may not be able to solve problems like the federal deficit, but at least 38 of its members are determined to do something about a truly crucial issue: parking at Washington's National Airport. In a letter co-signed by 37 of his bipartisan friends, Illinois Republican Philip Crane asked Federal Aviation Administration Chief Donald Engen to bar Supreme Court Justices and members of the diplomatic corps from using a choice 88-space lot near the terminal gates.

"The Congressional Parking Lot," as Crane dubbed it, is reserved free for high-ranking officials. (Ordinary citizens pay as much as $15 a day for more distant locations.) Arguing that Congressmen must be available on short notice for last-minute votes, Crane asserted that "Supreme Court Justices and ambassadors are traditionally driven to the airport" and that their aides should not hog the spaces, forcing Senators and Representatives to scrounge for other spots. Engen, who doubtless is studying the problem carefully, has yet to reply. Perhaps the next item on Crane's agenda: box seats at Redskins games.