Thursday July 20 2:23 PM ET Miss America Cites Intimidation By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - On the eve of her House testimony in support of a veterans employment bill, Miss America Heather French says a high-ranking Clinton administration official was ``trying to intimidate'' her into changing her position. While French did not waver in testifying July 12 for a bill the administration opposed, the Republican chairman of a Veterans' Affairs subcommittee has demanded an explanation from Labor Secretary Alexis Herman and the panel's top Democrat has told the official to resign. French said in an interview Thursday that she spoke in a conference call July 11 with Espiridion Borrego, assistant secretary of labor for veterans' employment and training, and two other Labor Department officials. The officials had asked to speak with her, but she said she did not know the topic would be the legislation. Borrego testified the next day in opposition to key sections of the bill, which would make major changes in veterans training and employment programs. The Labor Department, not the Department of Veterans Affairs, has jurisdiction over these veterans' issues. ``He (Borrego) never said, 'I would like to change your opinion,''' but did say the bill ``would cause more than 3,000 veterans to lose their jobs and become homeless,'' French said. ``I took that as if he was definitely trying to shake my testimony.'' The conversation was ``very uncomfortable. I felt they were trying to intimidate,'' said French, who is engaged to Kentucky Lt. Gov. Steve Henry, a Democrat. Borrego did not return a telephone call requesting an interview. Carl Fillichio, the Labor Department spokesman, said Borrego ``maintains that he never tried to discourage French from testifying before the subcommittee. Any misinterpretation of his conversation with French was regrettable.'' Fillichio said the department was in contact with the committee members and that the department's solicitor and ethics officer ``are conducting a thorough and efficient review of the matter.'' The day after the hearing, Rep. Jack Quinn, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs subcommittee on benefits, wrote Herman that Borrego tried to convince French to change her mind ``after she had already submitted her written testimony.'' Quinn told Herman that the Labor official ``misrepresented what the subcommittee's legislation would do, insisted that French furnish him a copy of her testimony in advance of the hearing and told French that since she would be appearing with you at a function ... it would make her support of the ... bill even more problematical.'' He said Borrego's conduct was ``outrageous'' and that it ``undermines the integrity of the ... hearing process.'' Rep. Lane Evans of Illinois, the subcommittee's ranking Democrat, wrote Borrego to demand his resignation the day of the hearing. Evans said the subcommittee staff informed him that Borrego ``suggested'' to French ``that her appearance before the subcommittee may not be in her best interest.'' Such conduct ``could only be taken by someone unfit for a politically appointed office, regardless of party affiliations,'' Evans wrote. French, the daughter of a Marine veteran who was wounded in Vietnam, has made homeless veterans her cause and testified several times before Congress about their plight. She said she thought the conversation would be about her appearance with Herman in Cincinnati last week. Instead, she found herself on the phone with Borrego and two other Labor Department officials about the legislation. Fillichio would not identify the two other officials. French said she has worked with Borrego previously and he knew of her strong support for the legislation. ``He was trying to maybe soften me from my view of the bill'' that is supported by major veterans organizations, she said. ``It was to me unspeakable to think I wouldn't be on the veterans' side.'' Borrego did not threaten to cancel the appearance with Herman and the event took place, French said, adding she did not mention the phone call to the secretary. Borrego also criticized provisions that already had been removed from the legislation, which is still in the Veterans' Affairs Committee, she said. The 21st Century Veterans Employment and Training Act would provide priority to certain veterans in all federally funded employment and training programs. It also would require government contractors to take affirmative action to employ qualified veterans, set an appropriations level for veterans' employment and training and provide grants to states for their programs. Borrego said the administration has ``significant concerns'' about the legislation. The priority system should be changed to one that assures services to veterans under state government programs, Borrego said. He also had problems with provisions to measure programs' performance and with a diversion of funds to demonstration projects in 10 states. - The bill is H.R. 4765. On the Net: Congressional site: http://thomas.loc.gov Labor Department site on veterans' issues: http://www.dol.gov/dol/vets/ Heather French's subcommittee testimony: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/schedule106/july00/7-12-00/witnes s.htm Espiridion Borrego's testimony: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/schedule106/july00/7-12-00/eborre go.htm Heather French's Web page: http://www.missamerica.org/missamerica/index.html ================================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> *Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day. ================================================================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. 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