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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 4, 1992                   TAG: 9203040314
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WESTERN VIRGINIA ON THE POTOMAC

Q: The Department of Veterans Affairs recently decided against a proposal to allow specialist doctors in some instances to treat some non-veterans at rural health clinics, after they had finished seeing veterans. Where did you stand on this before the proposal was rejected? Where do you stand now and why?

\ Boucher: "This is a very big issue in the veterans' community." The policy reversal temporarily derails Boucher's plan to treat non-veterans at satellite clinics staffed by doctors from the veterans' hospital in Salem. Still, five clinics across rural Southwest Virginia should be opened by summer, he said, but "it's very clear that when doctors go to these clinics they can only treat veterans."

\ Olin: "I feel non-veterans should not be treated at veterans' hospitals. I think the action [to treat non-veterans] was premature." A veteran of World War II, Olin said such a policy should be considered only after the still-large ranks of veterans from that war and the Korean War have passed through the system.

\ Payne: "I think [dropping the idea] was the right thing to do. I think it was a matter of time [until] veterans expressed concern about that policy. I think it was good to be changed before it was implememnted."

\ Q: Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Robert Mosbacher, who now is working for President Bush's re-election campaign, met with a gay and lesbian group, an action the administration has taken issue with. How do you feel about that meeting, and have you met - or would you meet - with gay and lesbian groups wanting to discuss public policy with you?

\ Boucher: "I meet with all people who want to discuss public policy who are my constituents and have a concern. My door is open to people with all points of view."

\ Olin: "I have the practice of meeting with any of my constituents who want to meet - pretty much. And that includes all men and women. That's everybody."

\ Payne: "I think we have a responsibility in government to represent all the people." As for Mosbacher's recent meeting, Payne said, "I don't see it as significant. I was not aware of it."

\ Q: The Bush administration has backed off a proposal the IRS favored that would have required churches to report donors who give more than $500 per year to a church. Do you feel churches should be required to report contributors of that size?

\ Boucher: "I think the same requirements should apply to all charitable organizations. The reporting requirements should not be onerous or burdensome for any of the organizations."

\ Olin: "I think it' s unnecessary. I'm glad they withdrew it."

\ Payne: "I think ther ought to be fairness and equity. Churches should be treated in the same manner as other groups. I hear the concern that people don't want their church list known, but I don't think it would be used for another purpose."

by CNB