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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 25, 1993                   TAG: 9302250121
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

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HATCH ACT OVERHAUL FAILS ON 1ST TRY

House Democrats were set back Wednesday in their attempts to quickly approve an overhaul of the Hatch Act that would allow federal workers to engage in partisan political activity.

The legislation was brought up for a vote under a special procedure that did not allow floor amendments. A two-thirds majority vote was needed to pass the bill, which the Democrats failed to get. The vote was 275-142.

Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., who led opposition to the bill, said Wednesday's vote turned on the "question of fairness." In preventing House members from offering amendments, Wolf said, Democratic leaders created "the feeling of ramroding it through."

House Post Office and Civil Service Committee Chairman William L. Clay, D-Mo., said "the sole reason the bill did not pass today is the desire of the Republican Party to tie up the Congress." He noted the bill had been approved in the past with bipartisan support and charged that the Republicans were "intent upon perpetuating gridlock."

Democratic aides said the bill, which would permit federal workers to run for office, manage campaigns and raise campaign money, would be returned to the Rules Committee and brought back for a vote next week. - The Washington Post

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