
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 11, 1990                   TAG: 9005110721
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/10   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

SENATE OKS CHANGING CIVIL SERVANTS' RIGHTS

Nearly 3 million federal employees and postal workers would be allowed for the first time in half a century to campaign actively for their favorite politicians under a bill passed by both the Senate and House.

The two chambers still have to settle differences in their versions of the bill before trying to muster votes for overriding a threatened veto by President Bush.

The Senate's 54 Democrats garnered support from 13 of the 45 Republicans to pass the legislation by a potentially veto-overriding 67-30 vote Thursday. Both Virginia senators, Republican John Warner and Democrat Charles Robb, voted for it.

The bill would still prohibit federal workers from engaging in political activities while on the job and from running for public office or soliciting campaign funds from the public.

But they could in their off time begin holding office in local, state and national political organizations, attend their conventions as delegates and solicit campaign funds from co-workers on behalf of candidates or federal employee union political action committees.

The House passed by a veto-proof 297-90 vote a year ago a similar but broader bill that also would remove the prohibitions on running for office and soliciting campaign funds.

"Hopefully we can sustain a veto" later, said Senate Republican leader Bob Dole of Kansas. In Bush's first 16 months in office, congressional Democrats have been unable in 10 attempts to override any of his vetoes.

Bush's senior advisers have said they would urge him to veto any change in the law as "undermining the integrity and independence of the traditionally non-partisan civil service."

GOP leaders contended the bill is a "pot of gold" for the Democratic Party because federal employee and postal unions already contribute nine times more money to Democrats than Republicans through their political action committees.

The eight days of debate, much of it focused on union PACs, before Thursday's final vote provided a preview to what is sure to be more rancorous battle as the Senate takes up rival versions of campaign finance reform legislation today.

"It's ironical to me we have legislation before us to expand PACs to make possible for federal employees to dun other employees . . . at the very time . . . we will be considering campaign reform legislation to eliminate or at least reduce PACs," said Sen. William Roth, R-Del.

by CNB