Funding bill helps Oklahoma congressmen's projects

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Some Oklahoma projects pushed by Representatives J-C Watts and Ernest Istook got a boost when President Clinton signed a funding bill into law. <br><br>The measure Clinton signed

Saturday, December 23rd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Some Oklahoma projects pushed by Representatives J-C Watts and Ernest Istook got a boost when President Clinton signed a funding bill into law.

The measure Clinton signed Thursday will provide money for Watts' ``community renewal'' proposals.

Watts says they'll help investment and job creation in poor rural and urban areas.

Watts had originally hoped 100 communities nationwide would be funded by the proposal, but the bill included funding for only 40. The legislation exempts certain business from capital gains taxes for five years in an attempt to keep employers in the areas.

Meanwhile, Istook's measure could still have a hard road.

A part of the law requires that libraries getting public technology funds install filtering software on computers to prevent minors from accessing pornographic sites.

But the American Civil Liberties Union has promised to fight that law, citing free speech rights.

Istook says the measure applies only to minors and should meet any challenge.